TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — As the adage goes, “When you come at the king, you better not miss.”
No. 19 LSU and senior quarterback Danny Etling missed in the Tigers’ 24-10 loss to No. 2 Alabama. Etling failed to connect with senior receiver DJ Chark downfield multiple times and it cost them.
“[It was] pretty disappointing,” Etling said on the missed opportunities.
On the Tigers first drive, Etling under threw a pass to Chark inside the Alabama 10 yard line, and LSU was forced to punt.
The on the ensuing Alabama possession, senior safety John Battle missed a sack on Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, who escaped the pocket and picked up a first down.
The next play Hurts connected with Henry Ruggs III for a 47-yard completion. Three plays later, Alabama was in the end zone.
The Tigers held it together the rest of the first quarter and found success on third down, but an Etling interception at the end of the quarter set the Tide up with another scoring opportunity.
Alabama punched it in a few plays later on a 9-yard run by junior running back Bo Scarbrough.
LSU responded on its next possession with Etling converting three third downs. However, the Tigers had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by freshman Connor Culp.
The score stayed the same until 2:55 left in the third quarter after Hurts scrambled up the middle to extend the lead to 21-3 Alabama.
Once again the Tigers responded. This time it was senior running back Darrel Williams, who took the snap as the wildcat quarterback and busted a 54-yard run. The senior then found a hole two plays later, falling into the end zone.
After an Alabama field goal, the Tigers again took a shot downfield to Chark, but the pass was once again under-thrown and Chark failed to catch it.
The Tigers, who out gained Alabama 306-299, failed to close the gap the rest of the game. Etling finished 12-of-26 for 137 yards and an interception. Freshman Myles Brennan replaced Etling on the Tigers’ final possession, completing three passes for 18 yards.
LSU falls to 6-3 on the season and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference. They will head to home to play Arkansas (5-5, 1-4 SEC) next Saturday.
“We are going to finish,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron. “There is a lot belief in that locker room.”