TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With a little more than 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette took a first-and-10 handoff, bounced off the right side of the line and used his next-level speed to outrun Alabama defenders on the edge for an 18-yard gain.
On the next play, Fournette took another first-down handoff from the Crimson Tide four-yard line, took a few steps and was greeted by a host of Alabama defenders behind the line of scrimmage for a two-yard loss.
For the first time in his historic 2015 season, the latter of those plays was a microcosm of the Heisman Trophy hopeful’s night at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Fournette was held to a season-low 31 yards on 19 carries in a 30-16 loss to then-No. 4 Alabama.
Facing a raucous environment for the first time in more than a month, LSU coach Les Miles couldn’t put a finger on the lack of success for his star tailback.
“I’d like to tell you there was well-blocked holes,” Miles said. “I’d like to tell you that we gave Leonard an opportunity to run and that we did that. We’ll have to see, but I’m not putting it all on the offensive line either. It may have been some of things that we did, and it may have been Alabama. I know there was several plays where they were sitting right on top of us.”
A fourth-quarter touchdown helped improve his stat line, but Saturday’s defeat was by far Fournette’s lowest rushing total since a nine-yard performance against the University of Arkansas in Week 12 of last season. Excluding the one-yard score, Fournette had 10 different carries of one yard or less, including five rushes that went for negative yardage.
Prior to the 18-yard scamper on his 16th carry, which set up his touchdown run, Fournette’s longest run was four yards.
The challenge of facing a top-five defense was evident to the LSU offensive line, but the results were stunning for a group that helped spring the nation’s leading rusher, said senior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander.
“It something that we’re not used to,” Alexander said. “I don’t know what was going on. We definitely have to be better. It definitely starts up front. I put it on us. I put it on the offensive line, tight ends and fullback.”
With senior tight end Dillon Gordon out for the season with a foot injury, the task of blocking the swarming Tide front became more difficult when sophomore fullback John David Moore appeared to re-injure his left knee in the second quarter and did not return.
Even in passing situations, Alabama consistently applied pressure to sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris, notching two sacks and five quarterback hurries on top of seven tackles for losses. Moreover, LSU converted just three-of-11 third-down attempts.
“It really just comes down to, like coach [Nick Saban] has probably said all week, just dominating our box,” said Alabama senior linebacker Dillon Lee. “Everyone just went on their one-on-one battles. Once everyone was winning their individual battles, we were all together as a defense. Our gap control was really sound tonight, and they were always backed up on third down.”
Despite just nine yards on nine attempts from Fournette in the first half, LSU trailed 13-10 and received the ball first to start the next half. But on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Lee undercut Harris’ pass to sophomore wide receiver Trey Quinn for the quarterback’s first interception of the season.
The momentum once again shifted back in the Tide’s favor, allowing for game-clinching touchdown from Alabama junior running back Derrick Henry.
With the holes closing as fast as Fournette could touch the ball, the offensive success rested on Harris’ shoulders, and the lead became insurmountable.
Miles, though, won’t let Fournette take blame for a loss that snapped LSU’s perfect record.
“There’s a lot of football left to play,” Miles said. “It’s a team. It’s not Leonard’s fault. It’s all of us.”
In junior wide receiver Travin Dural’s mind, Fournette simply needs to keep his head up and continue to plug away.
“It’s not what happens to you,” Dural said. “It’s how you handle what happens to you.”