The No. 25 LSU football team didn’t let a sluggish start and early deficit derail its Saturday night in Death Valley.
Specifically, Leonard Fournette didn’t let it derail his first Saturday night back in Death Valley.
“Buga” was a human highlight reel in LSU’s (5-2, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) matchup against No. 23 Ole Miss as he led the Tigers to a 38-21 victory.
Fournette eclipsed 100 yards in each of his first two games against OIe Miss, but this time he only needed the first half to do so. After breaking off 171 yards in the first half, he broke LSU’s single-game rushing record with 284 yards on 16 carries.
“I’ve never been a part of a player like Leonard,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron. “He’s dynamic. I believe he’s the best player in the country.”
But it was a slow start for the LSU offense as it managed just 11 yards on its first two drives. Meanwhile, Ole Miss surpassed the 100-yard mark within the first nine minutes and jumped out to a quick 10-point lead.
Ole Miss senior quarterback Chad Kelly accumulated 196 passing yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
After conceding 221 yards in the first half, the Tiger defense held Kelly and the Rebels to 104 second-half yards and allowed just one third down conversion out of six attempts.
“We just had to settle down and get comfortable,” said sophomore defensive end Arden Key, who picked up his eighth sack of the season. “I felt like we were over hyped. We were making a lot of mistakes, so we came in [to the locker room], got on the drawing board and fixed it.”
On LSU’s third possession, No. 7 put the team on his back, sparking that turnaround.
His second carry of the game was a toss off right tackle, which he used to show his four-week hiatus yielded positive results in his injury recovery.
The junior sprung free through a hole in the Rebel defense and beat everyone to the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown, his longest rush of the season to that point.
“He was out to prove some people wrong tonight and show that he’s one of the best running backs in the nation,” said senior tight end Colin Jeter. “Leonard turns it up on gameday to an extra gear. … I was having a hard time chasing him.”
The Tigers outgained Ole Miss, 515 to 325, behind Fournette’s ground attack, which helped open up passing lanes after the Rebels were forced to commit eight defenders to the box.
LSU junior quarterback Danny Etling completed 19 of 28 passing attempts for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Etling’s touchdown went to junior wide receiver D.J. Chark – a forty yarder – his third score this season.
Fournette then supplanted the longest rush of the season set in the first quarter with a 76-yard run for six.
Ole Miss junior defensive end Marquis Haynes kept the Rebels in the game with a forced fumble on Etling, setting senior running back Akeem Judd up for a two-yard touchdown. The Rebels converted the two-point conversion to tie it up, 21-21.
“Just flush it and learn from your mistakes,” said senior center Ethan Pocic.
Then He broke free again.
Once again setting his longest rush of the season, Fournette went 78 yards to the house on LSU’s first offensive play of the second half.
“We had some really good play calls,” Pocic said. “They wanted to bring that safety into the box. When you do that, if you break that second line of defense with Leonard, it’s hard to catch him.”
The Tigers controlled the second half, outscoring Ole Miss 17 to zero, forcing five three-and-outs and forcing Kelly’s second interception.
Guice spelled Fournette for most of the second half, finishing with 16 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.
“We hung tight together,” Orgeron said. “They kept on battling. It was great to have Leonard back, obviously … It was an overall great team win. We’re three and [zero].”