Spencer Ware is the thunder. The 223-pound sophomore smacks the defensive line and barrels over defenders, often gaining several yards after first contact.
Michael Ford is the lightning. The sophomore from Leesville brings speed and finesse to the running game, flashing to the outside and extending plays to the sideline.
Together they form a duo that senior right guard Will Blackwell plans to call “Thunder and well.”
No. 4 LSU was fortunate to have both backs, who combined for 195 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 40-27 victory against No. 3 Oregon on Saturday. Ware and Ford provided the majority of an LSU offensive output that totaled 273 yards.
“Our role is to carry the team, and we carry the ball with pride and dignity,” Ware said. “We eat up the clock and pound the ball right at momentum.”
LSU dominated the ground game — outrushing the Ducks 175 to 95 — despite facing an Oregon rushing attack that ranked fourth in the nation in 2010, averaging 286.2 yards per game. The Tigers’ defense held Oregon junior running back LaMichael James, who averaged 144.2 yards per game in 2010, to just 54 yards on 18 carries.
“They played good, solid football. That’s it,” said Oregon coach Chip Kelly. “That’s a good defensive front. They did a really nice job. They were sound in the schemes and really gap-control plays.”
Ford, who scored multiple touchdowns for the second time in his career, said the offense was not intimidated facing Oregon and expects the duo to continue to frustrate teams.
“Anytime you get in the end zone or break a long run, it feels great, no matter who it’s against,” Ford said. “It’s always important to establish a running game to get the offense moving. We came in very confident and said we were going to run it right at