Tiger Stadium never lost hope.
The max-capacity crowd of 102,321 was peppered for LSU’s chance to end a five-game losing streak against top-ranked Alabama — its biggest conference rival and the nation’s winningest program in recent years at 21 consecutive games, dating back to last season.
The Tigers believed their chance to defeat the NCAA’s goliath, ending the losing streak, reviving its season and further ensuring the job security of interim head coach Ed Orgeron was real Saturday.
And what a primarily-scoreless, fun, testy, defensively-superior football game it was as the Tide (9-0, 6-0 SEC) rolled on and defeated No. 13 LSU, 10-0, thus deflating the Tigers (5-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) to another three-loss season.
“It’s very frustrating,” LSU defensive end Arden Key said. “It’ll be the sixth year we lose to them. We thought we had them. That wasn’t the case.”
For the first three quarters, all packed in Tiger Stadium endured 45 minutes worth of scoreless football.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts scored the only touchdown, capping off a 12-play, 90-yard drive with a 21-yard score in the fourth quarter by gashing LSU’s defense, which held to Tide well below their average of 43.9 points per game before Saturday, to a seven-point lead.
As Orgeron put it simply: LSU’s defense played well. Its offense did not.
“Our defense played awfully well,” Orgeron said, “except for a few third downs on the quarterback runs. On offense, we did not play very well, obviously.”
Against the Tide, LSU’s offense simply couldn’t do what it had planned.
“We couldn’t get the ball in space like we wanted to,” Orgeron said. “We didn’t block very well. We didn’t complete passes. We had opportunities in the first half in the plus territory to make some points and get ahead. We didn’t. We missed a field goal. We couldn’t convert. It just wasn’t a very good performance on offense. But I thought we played our butt off on defense.”
Hurts, twice on third downs with nine or more yards to go, busted LSU’s defense for 11 and 23 yards, respectively. Hurts — who finished with 114 rushing yards and 107 passing yards — hurt LSU with his feet before his arm.
“We did what we could do for 60 minutes,” Key said. “Alabama is a good offensive team, sooner [or later] they were going to score.”
Later in the final quarter, a Crimson Tide field goal bumped the Tide’s lead to 10 points.
And the first half was, well, uneventful.
Eight of the first half’s 13 combined drafts ended in punts. LSU finished with eight punts, including four more in the second half.
Both teams missed a field goal in the first 30 minutes and no points were scored as the Tigers’ offensive struggles finding openings and momentum.
LSU’s offense completed 51 plays on offense for 125 yards Saturday. Alabama’s menacing and chiseled defensive line blew up LSU’s offensive strategy on multiple occasions, forcing Tiger quarterback Danny Etling — who finished 11-24 for 92 yards and an interception — to work under immense pressure en route to completing 7-of-13 passes for 64 yards through the first 30 minutes.
Etling was sacked five times Saturday and was hurried three other times, which was less than ideal for LSU’s offensive line.
“When we give him time, he finds guys downfield,” offensive guard Will Clapp said. “That’s when he’s a great quarterback. We’ve got to give him more time.”
Despite Etling’s rough night, Orgeron said a conversation regarding bringing in reserve quarterback Brandon Harris was never had.
Alabama held LSU’s offense, which posted three double-digit wins in as many games prior to Saturday, to 33 rushing yards and 92 passing yards. Junior tailback Leonard Fournette plunged for 35 rushing yards — four more than his mere 31 yards last season against Alabama.
“It’s definitely got to be a rough night for him,” Clapp said. “We thought we had a great game plan. We needed to open up holes and execute better. We’re going to put this one on us.”
