On a balmy Baton Rouge night in early December, the LSU Tigers took the field for their first home game in a month and a half. Their opponent, SEC West rival and No. 1 ranked Alabama. The Tigers enter the game as 29.5 point underdogs. However, a bright spot here, no team under head coach Ed Orgeron has lost two straight games. The Tigers are 13-0 under Orgeron following a loss.
LSU was originally slated to play this game on Nov. 7th then was rescheduled to play on Nov. 14th, this is the third date the two teams have been scheduled to play.
Entering tonight’s contest the Tigers rank an impressive fourth in the SEC in total offense (425.1) fifth in passing (313.4) and sixth in scoring (30.4)
The Tigers won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Tide would get on the board first with a scoring drive of 75 yards, and never looked back. “LSU beat us last year,” said Coach Nick Saban “So they probably have some confidence that they can play well against Alabama. We’re going to have to change the way they think when it comes to that.” The Alabama head coach said in his pre-game interview.
The Tide would go up by 21 before the Tigers would get on the scoreboard, but it finally happened. The Tigers got their first points against the Tide, at home, since 2014. Breaking a six year drought. However, this may have come quicker than it did. On their first possession, facing a 4th and short, the Tigers decided to hand the ball off to running back Ty Davis-Price out of the shotgun, who was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. “We should have snuck the ball,” said Orgeron. “We should have gone for it.”
LSU would score on its next possession keeping the game somewhat close. A freakish play where Kayshon Boutte outran his defender to the end zone, but dropped the ball at the one yard line. Like a sprinter breaking the tape at the finish line. Luckily, Jontre Kirklin spotted the ball on the ground and raced from the 50 to scoop the ball up and score for the Tigers.
At this point, down two scores. On the flip side, Alabama would continue to do what it has done all year long; pile on points in bunches.
Bama quarterback Mac Jones bolstered his resume for the Heisman, completing 20 of 28 for 385 yards and four touchdowns, before sitting down early in the fourth quarter. Not to be outdone, running back Najee Harris also added three scores of his own.
Before the game former Bama receiver Jerry Jeudy told Smith he needed to have a 300 yard game, and be “real disrespectful against LSU.” Smith had eight receptions for 231 yards and three touchdowns tonight against the Tigers.
On the other side of the ball, LSU fullback and heavy metal enthusiast Tory Carter had carrier high receptions and receiving yards tonight.
John Emery finally had the break out game that Tiger fans have been waiting for him to have. Seven carries for 79 yards and a touchdown. His longest was a 54 yard run in the second quarter, where he broke two tackles of the left side and followed his blockers all the way down to the end zone. Capping off the long run by a block to spring him by Kayshon Boutte.
With this win the Tide have clinched the SEC West and will play Florida in the SEC Championship.
Final Score: Bama 55 – LSU 17
Up next for the Tigers, a trip to Gainesville to play the SEC East Champs, Florida.
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