Has your heart beat returned to a normal rhythm? What a ballgame in Columbia, Missouri!! You knew it would not be easy, but LSU found a way to pull off a 49-39 victory to keep alive its hopes to repeat as SEC West champs.
Here are three plays that led to a big road win.
Harold Perkins interception
It looked LSU was going to give up another 700 yards of offense as Missouri scored touchdowns on its first three drives and barely broke a sweat. Mizzou QB Brady Cook was sharp and his top receiver Luther Burden was unstoppable.
Coach Brian Kelly said they got out of man-to-man defense and started playing zone and they also mixed up their coverages after the first quarter.
On Missouri’s second drive of the second quarter, Harold Perkins picked off Cook ending his SEC record streak of consecutive passes without an interception at 366.
Perkins’ interception seemed to settle LSU’s defense down. In the first half, Mizzou had five drives and scored 24 points, second half, LSU allowed just 14 points.
Jayden Daniels’ gutsy first down run on 3rd and 9
The fourth quarter was a roller coaster of emotions, but LSU QB Jayden Daniels was calm and his run for 14 yards with about 10 minutes left in the game was huge.
LSU trailed 32-27 and the Tigers were facing 3rd and 9 from its own nine-yard line. On the drive before, Daniels injured his ribs when slammed to the turf on a play that should have produced a flag.
You were wondering if Daniels should even be playing, but with no one open on 3rd and 9 he took off and picked up a critical first down. On the next play, he hits Malik Nabers for 35 yards and Daniels completed the drive with a 35-yard touchdown run. A two-point conversion pass to Nabers and LSU led 35-32.
After the game, Kelly called Daniels a warrior. He played like the best quarterback in college football on Saturday. Daniels was 15-of-21 for 259 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Also. no turnovers, while Missouri’s quarterback turned it over twice.
I don’t think Daniels will win the Heisman Trophy, but he should get an invite to New York City for the trophy presentation.
Bradyn Swinson’s forced fumble
LSU only had two sacks, but edge rusher Bradyn Swinson’s sack and forced fumble all but locked up the game.
After LSU took a 42-39 lead, Missouri still had about three minutes left to score the game-winning touchdown and even the biggest LSU supporter doubted the Tigers could stop Mizzou from scoring.
On 3rd-and-6 at the LSU 46, Swinson got around the left tackle and knocked the ball away from Cook. Missouri recovered but faced 4th and forever and would turn the ball over on downs.
LSU’s defensive line showed some improvement. They at least had two sacks, one by Maason Smith, who also had a pass defensed and a quarterback hurry on the afternoon.
Bonus key factor, Logan Diggs
The best way to help a struggling defense is to run the ball on offense and keep your defense off the field. The strategy worked as Tigers running back Logan Diggs rushed for 134 yards and one touchdown. LSU won the time of possession, 32:20 minutes to 27:40. Missouri ran 20 less plays than Ole Miss in the Tigers loss at Oxford.