HOUSTON – In its last four games, the No. 20 LSU football team had failed to score more than 19 points, resulting in a 1-3 record in November.
In the first half of their AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, the Tigers (8-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) have notched 21 points, resulting in eight-point advantage against Texas Tech.
Led by long scoring plays by sophomore running back Leonard Fournette and sophomore receiver D.J. Chark, LSU leads the Red Raiders (7-5, 4-5 Big 12 Conference), 21-13, at halftime on Tuesday night at NRG Stadium.
After forcing a three-and-out on Texas Tech’s opening possession, Fournette and the LSU offense marched down the field quickly. The consensus All-American bulldozed a man on a 35-yard gain and threw a halfback pass to sophomore receiver Malachi Dupre, which drew a pass interference. Fournette, who finished with 81 yards on 14 carries, capped the six-play, 66-yard drive with two-yard touchdown.
The Tigers and Red Raiders traded punts on its next two possessions, but Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes cut the lead on a 46-yard toss to receiver Jakeem Grant. The Red Raiders’ two-point attempt failed.
But LSU immediately responded as Chark took his first collegiate touch 79 yards to the house on the first play of the next drive. The Tigers extended their lead to 15 points on a 44-yard screen pass from Harris to Fournette midway through the third quarter. Harris finished the half completing 8-of-11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Mahomes would not go away quietly later in the quarter, marching the Red Raiders 90 yards down the field for the second time on the night. The drive was capped off by a three-yard touchdown reception by Grant on a screen. Mahomes finished the half with 14-of-26 passing clip for 173 yards and two scores.