In a colossal top-10 matchup between the No. 6 LSU football team and the No. 8 University of Florida, it took the full 60 minutes to determine who would reign over the Southeastern Conference as the only undefeated team remaining in the league.
Four quarters and 749 combined yards later, the Tigers (6-0, 4-0 SEC) emerged from the depths of Tiger Stadium with the win as they defeated the Gators (6-1, 4-1 SEC), 35-28.
“We showed flashes in all three phases: offense, defense and special teams,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “We just need to play consistently. If we do that, we can be 6-0. We’re 6-0 anyway.”
For the first time this season, the LSU rushing attack was forced to share the spotlight with the passing game as sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris was 13-of-19 for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tiger running backs combined for 221 yards, 180 of which came in the hands of sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, who also punched in two touchdowns.
Florida struck first after the Tiger defense forced a punt on the first drive of the game but junior cornerback Tre’Davious White muffed the punt. The Gators recovered the ball at the 13-yard line, and senior tight end Jake McGee scored four plays later on a four-yard pitch and catch from sophomore quarterback Treon Harris on a fourth-and-1 play.
After Miles opened the playbook starting on the Tigers’ second drive, Brandon Harris led the Tigers on touchdown drives in the their final four drives in the first half.
“We had a special teams mistake with [No. 18],” Miles said. “They gathered it in and give them seven to start the game out. Offensively, we moved the football, scored and we’re tied. ”
Fournette punched in the first score from two yards out in the Wildcat formation to cap off an 11 play, 88-yard drive. He added another touchdown two drives later from the six-yard line.
Sophomore wide receiver Malachi Dupre stole the limelight in the first half, scoring LSU’s second touchdown, reeling in a 52-yard catch on a flea flicker to set up Fournette’s second touchdown and catching a bomb just before halftime.
“I feel great,” Dupre said. “Especially knowing I helped my team get the victory. In the second quarter when I got my two touchdowns, I just knew we needed big plays.”
Meanwhile, the LSU defense forced Florida into back-to-back three and outs while the offense poured on the points. Junior defensive end Lewis Neal led the charge, picking up 1.5 sacks in the first half and finishing with three.
“It’s a huge confidence booster,” said junior defensive end Tashawn Bower. “We all work hard together, and obviously we’re all competing amongst each other. If one guy has a great game like that, we’re all going to try to have great games like that.”
With their lone first-half coverage break downs coming on back-to-back plays, the Tigers gave up an 80-yard touchdown drive in 44 seconds for Florida to cut the LSU lead to seven on a 19-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Treon Harris to McGee with 1:34 left in the first half.
The Tigers, however, put another seven points on the board before halftime when Brandon Harris threw a 50-yard bomb to Dupre for their second scoring hookup of the night to give LSU a 28-14 lead at halftime.
Florida came out of the second half with more intensity and took advantage of an LSU breakdown in coverage to get in scoring position.
Despite Neal tallying another sack, the Gators were able to get back into position after a 17-yard scamper by Treon Harris on second and 18. Junior running back Kelvin Taylor eventually got into the end zone, cutting the Florida deficit to seven.
Then Florida freshman wide receiver Antonio Callaway evened the score at 28 with a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown following LSU’s third consecutive three-and-out to start the second half.
Miles, though, made 102,321 fans in Tiger Stadium feel déjà vu as he called a fake field goal from the 16-yard line. Senior quarterback Brad Kragthorpe and holder lateralled the ball to junior kicker Trent Domingue, who took it in for the go-head score, untouched.
“That was amazing,” said sophomore safety Jamal Adams. “I thought we [were] going to kick a field goal. I was telling the defense we got to be ready. That was all God right there. Phenomenal, that’s all I can say.”
The Gators punted to LSU on their next offensive drive and turned it over on downs on the ensuing drive. Florida had a chance to tie it up with one last drive before the game ended. But starting at its own 10-yard line, Florida couldn’t advance passed midfield before being forced to throw a potential game-tying hail mary.
The pass went out of bounds as the clock expired, and LSU added another tally in the win column.
“At the beginning of the season I thought we were alright,” Fournette said. “But we are better than what I thought. We just have to stay disciplined and stay focused and not forget what our dream is.”