Vanderbilt was the favorite entering Saturday’s game against LSU for the first time since the 1950’s and the Commodores made even more history today with their first win over LSU since 1990 by a final score of 31-24. This win for Vanderbilt put an end to a 10 game losing streak to the Tigers.
The LSU defense, which has carried the Tigers to a 5-1 record and a Top 10 ranking heading into the game, easily had their worse performance of the season as they could not slow down Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia, who accounted for three total touchdowns in the win. Pavia was 14/22 for 160 yards and a touchdown while having 17 carries for 86 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground.
The Commodores’ offense controlled the flow of the game winning the time of possession 36:31 to 23:29 and converting 8/16 on third down. Overall, Vanderbilt had 399 total yards of offense including 160 yards on the ground. LSU’s defensive front was missing two of their key players in the trenches including Whit Weeks and Bernard Gooden and Vanderbilt was able to take advantage while LSU’s defensive line could not contain Pavia in the ground game.
“This game was all about details. Their details were better. We had a plan for Vanderbilt’s offense. We didn’t execute it to the highest level.”
“We felt like we game planned and knew what his abilities are in terms of his abilities to scramble. There were people assigned to that and just did not execute it to the highest level. He (Diego Pavia) is a really good quarterback.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
It was bad timing for a down performance by their defense as it was Garrett Nussmeier’s best game of the season as he threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns including a 62 yard strike to Zavion Thomas and a 24 yard throw to Trey’Dez Green.
LSU also had a 52 yard run to set the Tigers inside the two yard line, but the Tigers had to settle for a field goal from Damian Ramos, who went two for three in field goal attempts.
The entire game, LSU was out of sync and could not play complementary football. Early on when the offense was scoring, Blake Baker’s defense could not get a stop and in the end when LSU’s defense got back to back stops in the fourth quarter trailing by seven, Joe Sloan’s offense could not answer.
“We had the big penalty obviously. We had the completion for a first down and got a holding penalty on that one. The offense mustered some things that we have been lacking, but when our defense made a couple of stops, we couldn’t turn those into positive possessions. More importantly, it was also not cashing in on first and goal at the one. We have to score a touchdown there. We jump offsides and it is what it is. We can pick a couple of plays, but the bottom line is that we didn’t score touchdowns when we kicked field goals and we didn’t play well defensively to give us enough possessions to win the game.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
It was an embarrassing performance by LSU overall as the Tigers were outplayed and outcoached by Vanderbilt in all different angles of this game.
Under the leadership of Clark Lea, Vanderbilt continues their unbelievable run improving to 6-1 for the first time in 75 years while also having the opportunity to shoot up in the rankings.
“Ultimately, we have a lot of season left and we’re going to celebrate this win. I think we’ve earned the right to celebrate it, but this game won’t define our season, and there’s a lot more for this team to accomplish.”
Vanderbilt HC Clark Lea
Also, this was a statement performance by Pavia, who has put himself now in the Heisman Trophy discussion while even striking up the pose during the contest.
“You can’t watch him play and not realize what a game changer he is. There are a lot of good players. There’s only a handful to me that can take a game over, and he’s one of those.”
Vanderbilt HC Clark Lea on Diego Pavia
To add insult to injury for LSU, Vanderbilt blasted “Callin’ Baton Rouge” at the end of the game for the many Tiger fans dressed in Purple and Gold that were making the trip to Nashville, Tennessee.
It was a missed opportunity as it is now a must win out situation for LSU if they want any glimmer of hope for a College Football Playoff appearance, but that looks like too tall of a task still knowing that Texas A&M, Alabama, and Oklahoma are still on the horizon.
“This is a competitive group. They are going to play hard. They are still in it. They got Texas A&M at home. They get a week off and then, there is a four game race to the finish for a SEC championship. It’s a disappointing loss. There is no doubt. It is going to sting, but they need to bounce back right to reality and know that they have to play mistake free against an outstanding A&M team.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
LSU will return back to Tiger Stadium to take on the Texas A&M Aggies.
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