LSU BATTLES BACK TO WIN CRAZY GAME AGAINST GAMECOCKS, 36-33

9/12/2024

Photo By: LSUsports.net

Da Boot Sports
9/14/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil

COLUMBIA, SC - LSU hit the road for their first SEC contest of 2024, as they took on a good South Carolina football team in Columbia.

The Tigers showed poise, heart and a never give up attitude as they battled back for an exciting 36-33 win against the Gamecocks.

Trailing 33-29 with 3:46 left in the game, Garrett Nussmeier lead the Tigers on a 8 play, 55 yard touchdown drive, taking the lead for good on a two yard touchdown run by Josh Williams to put LSU up, 36-33 with 1:12 remaining. South Carolina moved into field goal range, but missed a 49 yard attempt on the last play of the contest.

Garrett Nussmeier finished the game going, 24-40 for 285 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

The Tigers finally had a solid day running the football, rushing for a total of 132 yards on 32 carries with three rushing scores. True freshman Caden Durham led the team with 98 yards on 11 attempts and 2 touchdown runs. Kaleb Jackson had 27 yards on seven carries. Josh Williams rushed for 20 yards on ten carries and a touchdown and Zavion Thomas had one rush for 12 yards.

Mason Taylor led the Tigers in receiving with 58 yards on six catches and a touchdown, Aaron Anderson had a great game catching five balls for 96 yards. Kyren Lacy finished with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown and CJ Daniels had 53 yards on four catches.

The defense struggled in the first half, but stepped up their play over the final 30 minutes. They gave up 398 total yards to the Gamecocks, but made big plays when needed while collecting five sacks and three turnovers, (2 fumbles and an interception). Whit Weeks led the team with 11 tackles. Bradyn Swinson was a force finishing with five tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss. Greg Penn III had five tackles, Sai'vion Jones had five tackles and a sack. Ashton Stamps contributed four tackles and Sage Ryan had three tackles and a huge sack, forcing a fumble.

LSU won the toss and deferred. The Gamecocks took the opening kickoff and quickly went on a 7 play, 75 yard drive in 2:46, culminating with a LaNorris Sellers 4 yard touchdown run. 7-0 Cocks with 12:14 left in the opening quarter.

The Tigers were forced to punt the ball back to the home team after a three and out. Zy Alexander then ended the next South Carolina drive with a nice interception in the end zone.

The Tigers avoided disaster to start their next possession. Garrett Nussmeier was intercepted by O'Donnell Fortune who raced 25 yards into the end zone for an apparent score. But a personal foul penalty on the Gamecocks gave the ball back to LSU. However, the Tigers' offense was unable to take advantage of the break, as a sack on 3rd and ten forced a LSU punt.

The Cocks increase their lead on a 28 yard field goal by Alex Herrera, after driving 65 yards in 13 plays. 10-0 Carolina with 13:49 left in the first half.

With no sign of life by the LSU offense, the Tigers were forced to punt again. South Carolina blocked the punt and returned the ball to the LSU ten yard line.

Raheim Sanders scored up the middle on the first play of the drive for a 10 yard touchdown. 17-0, Gamecocks at the 12:19 mark of the second quarter.

LSU finally found a spark, driving 75 yards in eight plays to get on the score board. On 3rd and nine from the Carolina 26 yard line, freshman running back Caden Durham took the hand off the made an incredible run to get into the end zone. 17-7 South Carolina with 8:08 left until the halftime break.

The LSU defense then came away with their second turnover of the game, when the Tigers' blitz reached the quarterback on 3rd and 12. Sage Ryan hit LaNorris Sellers from behind, forcing a fumble. Harold Perkins Jr. recovered the ball at the Gamecocks' 18 yard line.

LSU had to settle for a Damian Ramos 28 yard field goal to cut the Carolina lead to 17-10 with 4:28 left in the second quarter.

The Gamecocks answered immediately, as South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers took off up the middle and raced untouched for a 75 yard touchdown on the first play of the drive. 24-10, Cocks with 4:15 left on the clock.

The Tigers battled back, driving 75 yards in six plays to get in the end zone on a 12 yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to Kyren Lacy. The extra point failed due to a bad snap. LSU now found themselves trailing, 24-16 at halftime.

LSU took the second half kickoff and drove right down the field on a beautiful nine play, 74 yard drive, but turned the ball over on downs at the one yard line.

The Tigers began their next drive on the South Carolina 45 yard line, thanks to the defense forcing a quick three and out deep in Gamecocks' territory. LSU then cut the lead to 24-22 on a 9 yard touchdown run by Caden Durham, his second of the game. The two point conversion failed.

The Tigers took their first lead of the contest on the first play of the 4th quarter. LSU finished off their 80 yard, ten play drive with a two yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier to a wide open Mason Taylor. 29-24 LSU, with 14:56 left in the game.

The Tigers didn't have the lead long, as South Carolina answered quickly on a 66 yard touchdown run by Rahiem Sanders. The two point conversion failed and with 13:51 left in the game, South Carolina now held a 30-29 advantage.

With South Carolina now holding the momentum, the Tigers committed their first turnover of the day. An errant snap by center DJ Chester gave the ball back to the Gamecocks.

Carolina was able to extend their lead to 33-29 as they settled for a 42 yard field goal. 33-29, Cocks with 10:34 to go.

The Tigers came up with another big turnover when Bradyn Swinson caused a fumble and Major Burns recovered the ball on the Carolina 12 yard line. But LSU gave it right back to the Gamecocks when Nussmeier threw an interception in the end zone a few plays later.

The defense was able to stand tall late, getting the ball back for the offense to set up the game winning drive.. 36-33, Victory for LSU!!!

With the win LSU is now 2-1 overall and 1-0 in SEC play.

Next up, LSU will return home to Tiger Stadium to play UCLA on Saturday, September, 21. Kickoff time will be announced on Monday morning.

Brian Kelly's post game press conference is posted below...

Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel GEAUX TIGERS!!!

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

A huge Thank You to Cardio Health Solutions owned by Ron Sancho for sponsoring and believing in our publication!

CARDIO HEALTH SOLUTIONS
The company who cares for your heart and what your heart cares for!!

Cardio Health Solutions (CHS) utilizes PET and CPET technology to detect all forms of cardiovascular disease even in its earliest stage. We also provide financing, support, and management services to practices interested in exploring the functional capacity of their patients through detection and ancillary imaging.

GEAUX to https://www.cardiohealthsolutions.net/ for more information, or call
1-800-578-0654