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.
By the end of the first half of the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, the Tigers (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) had notched 21 points, but it resulted in just an eight-point advantage against Texas Tech.
By the end of the game, LSU had 56 points, which was an LSU bowl game high, and 638 yards of offense. Led by their workhorse tailback’s record-breaking night, LSU needed almost every bit of the yards and points it racked up against the potent Red Raider attack through nearly three quarters.
But once the Tigers smelled victory, they slammed the door shut on Texas Tech (7-6, 4-5 Big 12 Conference). 
“That was a hell of a game, huh?” said LSU coach Les Miles as he sat down for his postgame news conference.
LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette recorded five total touchdowns, rushing for 212 yards on 29 carries and catching a 44-yard touchdown pass to power the Tigers to 56-27 win on Tuesday evening at NRG Stadium. 
With Fournette’s 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, he became LSU’s single-season rushing touchdown leader. The second-year standout, who finished with four rushing touchdown against Texas Tech, completed the season with 1,953 rushing yards on 300 attempts.
Fournette, as he almost always is, was coy about his big night. 
“I would say tonight was productive,” Fournette said with a smile. “Our whole focus was to win the game, just to boost us for next season, and I think we did an excellent job.”
But LSU’s convincing victory was a tight contest midway through the third quarter.
After LSU sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris tossed an interception at the LSU 20-yard line, Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw his third of four touchdown passes three plays later to close LSU’s lead to 21-20.
Fournette, though, gave LSU the quick response it needed with his longest run of the season since the South Carolina game on Oct. 10. Still, the Red Raiders were right back in position to score as Mahomes, who completed 28-of-56 passes for 370 yards, pushed the Texas Tech offense to the LSU 16-yard line.
Mahomes, who weaved in and out of would-be tacklers all night despite being sacked six times, made his own worst error of the night. The sophomore signal caller forced a pass into tight coverage, allowing junior cornerback Tre’Davious White to deflect the pass to junior safety Rickey Jefferson for an interception.
“The beginning of the play, we were in a middle-field coverage,” Jefferson said. “I saw the quarterback give a little signal to the receiver, and I alerted [White] that was going to happen. So, I had middle of the field coverage, but I just slid over because I knew it was going that way. [White] made a great deflection. That’s my brother. He gave me my pick, and I appreciate that.” 
Fournette delivered his fourth touchdown on the next series following a 46-yard pass from Harris to sophomore receiver Trey Quinn. With offensive coordinator Cam Cameron coaching from the sideline, Harris had one of his best statistical performances since the end of October, completing 13-of-22 passes for 254 yards with a touchdown and the lone interception.
In fact, it was Harris’ idea to bring Cameron down to the sideline, even if made players like Fournette nervous. 
“To be very honest with you, Brandon Harris kind of asked for it,” Miles said. “It really kind of put it back on the table in my opinion. We had thought to it and Cam was, ‘I’ll go either way you want to go.’ He’d been very comfortable on the sideline in the NFL. I enjoyed him on the sideline except he has this high five. It hurts. He has these big old paws. You better watch out.”  
After Fournette’s fourth score, LSU took firm control with Harris’ 26-yard scoring keeper giving the Tigers a 22-point lead to close out the third quarter.
After Red Raider receiver Jakeem Grant hauled in his third touchdown of the night, the Tigers tacked on two more touchdowns to seal the victory, which were both two-yard scores from Fournette and sophomore running back Darrel Williams.
But the first half came to close with the Tigers clinging to a one-score lead.
After forcing the 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 penalty despite falling incomplete.
Fournette capped the six-play, 66-yard score with two-yard touchdown, but he believed he his halfback pass should have been a touchdown. 
“I was so tired, that’s why I threw the ball like that,” Fournette said. “I apologized to him about that. It should have been a touchdown, but I’ll get it back to him.”
The Tigers and Red Raiders traded punts on its next two possessions, but Mahomes cut the lead on a 46-yard toss to Grant. But 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.
“We saw the opportunity for a speed play,” Miles said. “D.J. has unusal speed. You could see that when he got in front. It was very difficult to catch him. We think that’s we’ll use guys like that pretty routinely. We’re just getting him started.” 
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.
But LSU was able to hold on to its lead throughout, paving the way for an offseason Miles and his players are embracing.
“I think this is the right turn,” Miles said. “I think certainly you can see the program itself is being manned by real quality young men and that they’re looking for the kind of success they had tonight in a bountiful way and by numbers.” 
For Fournette, his goals for next season are the same as they were entering this year.
“Win a championship,” Fournette said. “Win a championship with the team. I haven’t won a championship since my park ball days. I was seven or eight years old.”