LSU and Florida matched up with the Tigers sitting as double-digit underdogs. The result that followed could've been predicted. What isn't is how we got there.
The Tigers (4-3; 2-2 SEC) put up a season-high 49 points, ran for more than 300 yards and stood up despite every indication they'd be knocked down in a 49-42 victory over Florida (4-3, 2-2 SEC).
The sky appeared to be falling for LSU. For at least a week, the Tigers and Ed Orgeron appear to have righted the ship.
With that in mind, here are my top 3 takeaways from this year's stunning upset of the Gators.
1. TDP WITH THE GAME OF HIS LIFE
It wasn't that long ago that the Tigers had five running backs they'd consider running out an any particular snap. In effect, that says they didn't really have any.
Those questions are gone. Ty Davis-Price is the guy, it just took him a while to arrive. It was reasonable to wonder whether his 147 yards in a blowout loss to Kentucky was a mirage. But his follow-up performance of 287 yards and 3 touchdowns on 26 carries against Florida showed it was anything but. The Tigers have finally found a way to unlock the run game, better late than never.
That mark sets a new LSU record for a single game -- finished off as he helped salt away the victory on a final drive -- surpassing Leonard Fournette's 284 yards in 2016. Former Tigers running back Derrus Guice had his mark of 285 stripped from the LSU record book, but that would've fallen as well.
Davis-Price was particularly impressive in the second half, skirting through gaps on a variety of inside-zone runs while utilizing improved blocking from a much-maligned offensive line. All three of his touchdown runs were long sprints to the end zone, two from outside the red zone. TDP's first score was from 18 yards, his second from 40 and the third from 25 yards out, keeping LSU's nose out in front as the Gators punched back all day.
This LSU squad has a lot of issues on both sides of the ball, many of them exacerbated by injuries to key players. But it LSU can move the ball on the ground, control the clock and allow Max Johnson to attack in plus situations, it's a lot easier to see this team rolling up a few wins down the stretch.
Related
━━━━
2. LIVING ON TURNOVERS
LSU's defense struggled to stop the Gators' offense. That's not in question.
Florida rolled up 488 yards of total offense, with multiple scoring drives of 10-plus plays while shifting between quarterbacks Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. The Tigers offense kept their nose in front due in large part to Ty Davis-Price's monster day. But it was an opportunistic defense that really keyed an undermanned LSU squad into upset territory.
The Tigers picked off passes on back-to-back plays in the first half (Micah Baskerville and Jay Ward), one each of of Jones and Richardson. Each was returned well into Florida territory and led to Max Johnson touchdown passes to wide receiver Jaray Jenkins.
Next up was Dwight McGlothern, who picked off another Jones pass early in the third quarter. He decided to skip the middle-man (the LSU offense) and bring it in for a score himself. The Tigers nearly forced a fumble to help seal the result early in the third quarter. And linebacker Damone Clark secured the most important takeaway with an interception of Richardson as Florida drove for a tying score in the final minutes.
Outside of those takeaways? It was a struggle. Without Eli Ricks or Derek Stingley Jr., the Tigers had a tough time covering in the secondary. They lost composure in several moments, most notably on a Hail Mary just before halftime that gave the Gators momentum heading into the break. They did limit Jones, but struggled to contain Richardson in the second half.
Still, in a shootout game, the defense directly led to 21 points going up the board. Hard to ask a lot more than that under the circumstances.
Related
━━━━
3. TIGER BAIT?
The same way Bo Nix appears to see LSU as a reset button for any in-season woes, that's what it looks like Florida has become for the Tigers.
A season ago the Tigers went to Gainesville following back-to-back demoralizing losses and without the services of a key play-maker. Those losses came to Texas A&M and Alabama, with wide receiver Terrace Marshall opting out the rest of the season.
This time the game was in Tiger Stadium. The losses were to Auburn and Kentucky, and it was wide receiver Kayshon Boutte ruled out for the rest of the year with a lower-leg injury.
The Tigers entered both times as double-digit underdogs, and played like anything but. There's just something special about LSU-Florida, and the Tigers lived up to the hype. Special props to Jaray Jenkins, who had a limited receiving game but snagged three touchdowns.
The stadium attendance appeared a bit light early on, and even with late arrivals Tiger Stadium never reached the packed house fever pitch you'd hope for in an SEC rivalry game. Still, the fans on-hand were plenty loud. Was it a product of the early start? Maybe the team performance?
There's a cliche that goes: "Throw the record books out when these two teams meet up," and that's clearly the case for this SEC rivalry. The past few years that's come at the expense of Florida -- even when the shoes stay on the players' feet.
Related
