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Da Boot Sports 1/1/2024 By: Jason Watson Jr. TAMPA, FL - Brian Kelly and the LSU football team traveled to Tampa Bay for the New Year’s holiday to compete with the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl game. The event provided excellent opportunities for the schools and multiple programs to garner national attention under the spotlights to celebrate their excellent seasons. The bands, cheerleaders, dancers, coaches, staff, fans, and obviously, football players got treated to a week-long excursion that included bowling, amusement parks, beaches, parades, and so much more. In front of an attendance of 31,424, the Tigers donned their famed purple jerseys complimented by gold helmets and pants, while the Badgers dressed in classic white and red. LSU won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to get the game underway. Garrett Nussmeier began his LSU starting gig with a strike to Malik Nabers for a 9-yard pickup. The LSU offense rolled early, quickly moving the ball from their 7-yard line to near midfield in a few short plays. However, after a deep shot to Brian Thomas was ruled incomplete, the Tiger drive stalled out and was forced to punt. Nabers stood just 10 yards from breaking the program record for receiving yards in a career. Wisconsin didn’t take long to remind LSU fans how rough the defense is around the edges. The Badgers and senior quarterback Tanner Mordecai orchestrated a 5-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by two deep passes of 41 and 20 yards. Badgers went up 7-0 with 8:28 left in the first quarter. The teams exchanged three-and-out drives following the score, and although it seemed Wisconsin may have attempted a 4th and short from the midfield logo, their first-charged timeout of the half altered that decision. LSU took possession back, and on the first play of their third drive, Nabers delivered with an 11-yard snag for a first down, etching his name further into the LSU record books. With the reception, Malik surpassed Josh Reed’s record, putting himself in great company. LSU once again drove the ball across midfield, but penalties and an aggressive Badger front seven caused a turnover on downs after the Tigers went for it on fourth and one. Wisconsin took two plays to strike again. This time, it was Mordecai to Will Pauling (SO) for a 53-yard TD following missed tackle attempts by Sam and Burns. At the end of the first quarter, the Tigers trailed 14-0. Mordecai began the game 6-6 for 135 yards and two touchdowns before putting up his first incompletion. LSU drove down the field and got points on the scoreboard. They got creative with goal-line play calling, and the touchdown came from none other than…, you guessed it…, Harold “The Linebacker” Perkins. Although you can find him roaming around on the other side of the ball for the Tigers, Perkins spent some time as running back in high school, so toting the rock is second nature for him. 14-7, Badgers. A momentum shift was in the air, and you could smell it. LSU’s defense allowed Wisconsin to march downfield, but to no avail, as the Badgers had to settle for a long field goal attempt that got shanked wide to the left, and LSU took over field position. With 3:56 remaining in the opening half, the Tigers began on their 33-yard line and used strong running from Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson to tie the game back up at 14 apiece. Jackson capped off the drive with a 12-yard scamper. The tie would not last as the Tiger defense allowed Wisconsin to strike back with a 41-second drive to give Mordecai his third touchdown pass of the first half. The Badgers go back up 21-14 off a 9-yard reception, Pauling’s second TD. Things didn’t improve for LSU as Nussmeier threw his first interception of the bowl game on the ensuing drive. Fortunately for the Tigers, Wisconsin couldn’t produce anything with the short field after failing to convert a fourth and short. LSU kneeled out to the locker rooms, trailing 21-14. The second half started with much of the same: big plays from Wisconsin’s offense and poor defensive execution from the Tigers. Sophomore running back Jackson Acker gashed the Tiger defense for a 33-yard run, resulting in a touchdown. Wisconsin extended its lead 28-14. LSU got its first “statement” play of the game on their first drive of the second half when Nuss “Bus” lobbed a beauty right into the bread basket of Brian Thomas Jr. for a 38-yard bomb of a TD. LSU’s offense had found its mojo but needed stops from its defense if they wanted any chance of overcoming the deficit. A stop is what they got. LSU’s defensive line caused a lot of pressure on Mordecai and forced a punt. LSU took full advantage and completed a 14-yard TD pass to Chris Hilton Jr. with a toe drag. The Tigers tied the game back at 28. LSU special teams took their turn to be an Achilles’ heel after allowing the following kick return out beyond the Wisconsin 40. After a 15-yard unsportsmanlike on Sam got tacked on, the Badger drive began on the LSU 45. LSU’s defense showed strong on the goal line, allowing only a FGA off the short field position; Badgers went back on top 31-28. LSU took the ball over and played themselves into a 3rd and 15 before the third quarter clock had expired. Going to the fourth, the Tigers trailed by 3. LSU couldn't pick up the 3rd and long and had to punt the ball back. The Tigers stop Mordecai and the Badger offense once again, putting the football back in Garrett Nussmeier’s hands. Unfortunately, the Tigers fall victim to another three and out. LSU punted the ball back to Wisconsin, who looked to run the clock and ice the game away. LSU’s defense played its best in crunch time and forced Wisconsin into a third and long and an eventual punt. The only bad thing for LSU was that the Badgers had their best punt of the day, pinning the Tigers back on their 2-yard line. Nussmeier was able to work out of the limited room and put the Tigers in a position to win the game. Hilton Jr. hauled in a massive 43-yard reception on his way to the ground at the Wisconsin 7. Brian Thomas finished the drive with a 4-yard TD grab, putting the Tigers up 35-31 with 3:08 remaining in the contest. Both teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense, but somebody has to come out on top. Would LSU be able to hold the Badgers out of the endzone once more? As much as we’ve all dogged on the defense this season, they stepped up big when it mattered. Wisconsin quickly got the ball across midfield and looked like a threat to score and steal the bowl from LSU, but Mekhi Wingo and the Tiger defense shut that door down. The Tigers forced finished the game with three straight sacks on Mordecai and forced fumbles on two of them. Nussmeier took the final kneel down of the contest and LSU was named 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl Champions. Garrett Nussmeier finished the game 31-45 for a career best 395 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. Although he did throw one interception, Nuss did enough to earn him the bowl game MVP award and rightfully so. LSU’s football campaign comes to a gratifying conclusion, picking up their tenth victory of the year. Happy New Year’s Tiger fans and Geaux Tigers! Below we have game photos, Brian Kelly and Garrett Nussmeier's post game press conference and the Trophy presentation. Please "LIKE" us on Facebook.... Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.... Follow us on Twitter aka; X at @dabootsports1 Also, if you would like to become a sponsor or interested in making a donation to help fund the publication please contact Terrill at [email protected] Thanks for supporting Da Boot Sports!!! PLEASE Tune in to Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for 'Talking Tigers Podcast' tomorrow night, Tuesday, 7:30pm, as our host David Penn, co-host Ron Sancho and special guest, former Tiger Colon Jeter review LSU's win over Wisconsin and talk LSU football. Don't miss it! This will be our final football podcast of the 2023 football season, as we will start our Basketball Podcast shows next week with both men's and women's teams beginning SEC play. Those podcast shows TBA.... Photos Below By ReliaQuest Bowl Staff Photos Below By: Da Boot Sports Writer, Jason Watson Jr. 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 DA BOOT SPORTS SUPPORTS AUTISM AWARENESS
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