LSU wins 2019 SEC Championship! Playoffs Next!

​12/7/2019
By: Terrill J. Weil
Da Boot Sports!


        ATLANTA, GA: Georgia received the opening kickoff as LSU won the toss and deferred. The Tigers defense picked up where they left off last week, shutting down the Bulldogs after five plays forcing a punt.  Joe Burrow and the offense took over and as usual, went the length of the field for the first touchdown of the game. On 2nd & 10 from the Georgia 23 yard line, Burrow dropped back to throw. After having all day long to sit back and wait, he found JaMarr Chase in the far corner of the end zone for the score. With the PAT, LSU had a early 7-0 lead.  Both teams then traded possessions, before Georgia drove into LSU territory. When the drive stalled,  Blankenship attempted a 52 yard field goal that he missed, pushing it to the left.  The Tigers took advantage of the Bulldog's missed scoring opportunity, as they went 65 yards in 5 plays, scoring on a 7 yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Terrace Marshall Jr. to extend their lead to 14-0 as the 1st quarter came to a close. 
      The second quarter began with Georgia putting together a nice drive, deep into LSU territory, settling for three points as Blankenship split the uprights from 39 yards out. The Bulldogs were on the board, 14-3 with 11:58 to go in the first half.  The Tigers had a rare three and out possession, when Terrace Marshall drop a pass from Joe Burrow on 3rd & 6 that would have extended the drive.  Georgia took over at their own 20. After gaining a 1st down, the Bulldogs had it 2nd & 8 at their own 43 yard line. Grant Delpit came free on a blitz,  sacking Jake Fromm, sending him to the bench as he was shook up on the play. The drive ended on the next play, forcing a Bulldog punt.  From their own 20 yard line, the Tigers offense began a nice drive, highlighted by a 13 yard run by Joe Burrow to pick up a key 1st down. The Georgia defense stiffened and forced the Tigers to attempt a 41 yard field goal. Cade York's try for the three was good, and with 2:22 to go in the 1st half, LSU had a 17-3 lead. Georgia then would be the first team to commit a turnover in the ball games as Joe Bromm was intercepted by Derek Stingley Jr. at the LSU 13 yard line.  From there LSU managed the clock well and moved the ball 57 yards in 10 plays, before Cade York missed a 48 yard field goal attempt. The half ended with an empty Bulldog possession. At the half, the score stood at 17-3 Tigers. 
      30 Minutes left to battle for the 2019 SEC Championship. The Tigers looked to make a statement with the first drive of the second half.  Eating up 6:36 off the clock, LSU drove 65 yards in 15 plays, and Cade York punched through a 28 yard field goal to increase the Tigers' lead to 20-3.  The Tigers inched a little closer to winning the SEC Title as Georgia blew another scoring opportunity. The Bulldogs went 56 yards in 12 plays, but Blankenship missed a 37 yard field goal.  On the next play, 1st & 10 from their own 20 yard line, Joe Burrow added several more votes to his Heisman Trophy campaign as he avoided a heated rush, rolled right and made a fantastic throw down field to a wide open Justin Jefferson, who after making a nifty move or two, out ran the Bulldog secondary to the Georgia nine yard line. The play covered 71 yards. Three plays later, Burrow hit Marshall for a 4 yard touchdown. 27-3!  The Tigers kicked off to the Bulldogs and on the next play, LSU drove another nail into Georgia's coffin. On 1st & 10, Derek Stingley Jr. stepped in front of Jake Fromm's pass. He returned the interception 14 yards to the Bulldogs' 13 yard line.  It took Burrow three plays to add to his record setting touchdown total as he hit Justin Jefferson in the end zone for the score, with 45 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. The quarter ended with LSU in total control, 34-3.
      Georgia lead off the final quarter with a nice scoring drive, going 75 yards in 13 plays. The touchdown coming on a 2 yard touchdown pass from Jake Fromm to George Pickens.  LSU added another three points from Cade York, as they ran another 3 minutes plus off the clock, inching so ever closer to their Championship Celebration!  With 5:30 to go in the game, the Tigers began a clock eating drive as all of the red in the Mercedes Benz Stadium quickly disappeared,  leaving only purple & gold colors in the stands. As LSU ran out the final seconds, confetti began to fall and the celebration began. These LSU Fighting Tigers dominated the #4 team in the nation in their own backyard. A dominating performance that the playoff committee can't ignore. Will LSU take back over the #1 spot tomorrow?  In my opinion, they deserve it. They have an offense that no one can stop. A defense peaking and proving the experts who criticize them wrong. Played one of the toughest schedules in the nation.  A hungry, hard working group of young men, lead by Ed Orgeron. The head coach who most Tiger fans didn't want LSU to hired. These Fighting Tigers are 13-0 and are not finished yet.  They are the 2019 SEC Champions!! 
      Joe Burrow took Game MVP Honors as he finished the game with, 28/38, 349 yards passing, & 4 touchdowns. Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran hard in the 2nd half and finished with 58 yards on 15 carries picking up some big first downs late to help run the game clock down. He also added 61 yards receiving.  Justin Jefferson had 7 grabs for 117 yards & a touchdown reception.  Terrace Marshall has a solid night with 5 catches, 89 yards, & two touchdowns. The Tigers' offense finished with 481 total yards, (132 on the ground/349 through the air).  The defense played lights out, as they harassed Jake Fromm all game long and shut down Georgia's explosive ground game. Derek Stingley Jr. had two interceptions, and the Tigers had three sacks. Patrick Queen, K'Lavon Chaisson, & Grant Delpit each with one a piece.  Tune in tomorrow on ESPN, 11am central time to watch the final College Football Selection Show, as we find out who the Tigers will play & where on Decemebr 28th.