With a little help from a new-look offensive line, it was finally Jeremy Hill’s, and LSU’s, turn.
With his team holding a 16-14 lead over then-No. 3 South Carolina, the LSU freshman running back stood behind junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger and awaited the snap. He’d already reached pay dirt in the third quarter to put the Tigers up temporarily, but what followed would assure the win.
He took a power pitch, the same one he scored on earlier in the game, but this time he took to the right side behind Trai Turner and Vadal Alexander, two freshmen linemen. The Gamecocks defense, which had been on the field for most of the game, was “huffin’ and puffin,’” Hill said.
He banged up into and past the heart of the defense, then turned on the burners, outrunning the secondary. In no time, Hill was celebrating in the end zone once again.
“When you can put long drives together, and you can continue to wear on really a quality defensive front, you can break plays like Jeremy Hill’s,” said LSU coach Les Miles.
Five minutes of in-game time later, Hill was celebrating in the student section. Riding Hill to victory, No. 6 LSU defeated No. 9 South Carolina, 23-21, on Saturday night in its most complete performance of the season.
It was a bludgeoning of which the Tigers were on the receiving end against No. 3 Florida last week.
The defense was worn down by the Gators’ persistent rushing attack, forced to stay on the field for 37 minutes and 24 seconds. The possession time was flipped in LSU’s favor Saturday, allowing the defensive unit to keep Heisman candidate Marcus Lattimore bottled for 35 net rushing yards.
“The only reason we probably won is because the offensive linemen … playing so great like they did,” said junior defensive end Sam Montgomery. “Zach Mettenberger rarely got touched today.”
The offensive line allowed only one sack to the Southeastern Conference’s best pass rush and helped the Tigers rush for 258 net yards, which is a surprise considering the shuffle it continued to be subjected to leading up to this game.
An already reeling front-five was without veterans Josh Williford, the junior who was concussed by the Gators, and Alex Hurst, who Miles said had been dealing with “personal issues” all week.
“Only thing I can tell you is he wasn’t here, and we wish him the very best,” Miles said of Hurst after Saturday’s game. “He has a, you know, he’s sidelined for some time.”
Senior lineman Josh Dworaczyk, who’s also in a relatively new role starting at left tackle, said the team realized it was do-or-die this week. Instead of going to see a movie like the line typically does on Friday nights before a game, they stayed in and watched film.
He pointed in particular to the two freshmen, who were relied upon heavily down the stretch when LSU repeatedly ran power to their side.
“Trai’s “Bull” and “Dozer’s” Vadal,” Dworaczyk said. “Man, those two are some road graders. … It’s incredible the way they got the movement, and Hill was able to bust through.”
When junior starting running back Spencer Ware went down with what Miles called a “significant body cramp,” Miles said the team was fortunate that Hill was ready to step in.
“Once you come here, you know you’re going to have to wait your turn to play,” Hill said of the team’s depth at running back. “But once you get that opportunity, you’ve got to take advantage of it and run with it.”
Starting the season as the team’s fifth-string running back, Hill led the Tigers on the ground Saturday with 124 yards on 17 carries. He also took a screen pass 21 yards on an early third-and-10.
Hill came to LSU at a disadvantage. He should’ve been in the mix last season, but a sexual assault arrest forced him to sit out until this spring.
He deflected questions asking if he was ever in doubt that this night would come following the arrest, but it’s clear the game’s significance was not lost on him.
“I’ve just got to keep it in my memory,” Hill said. “I’ll never forget this night, kind of my first night showing the world what I can do. But it’s not about me, it’s about the team, and I think the team did a good job tonight.”
