In an all-around performance, LSU football defeated Baylor 44-31 in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on New Year’s Eve.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who announced he’s coming back for his senior season, led the Tiger offense, passing for 304 yards and three touchdowns.
It was only this time last year that Nussmeier made his name known with an outstanding performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl. But now with a season of starting experience under his belt, Nussmeier showed his dominance and capability in the pocket once again.
LSU relied heavily on the passing game to defeat Baylor, highlighting its receivers abilities to beat out the Bears’ defensive backs.
While backups and freshmen were getting a shot in this bowl game, receiver Chris Hilton Jr. was a familiar face who had a career-high 113 receiving yards. He had many big plays, including a 41-yard touchdown.
Nussmeier also connected with tight end Trey’Dez Green for two touchdowns, and Green ended the day with 53 receiving yards on six catches.
With tight end Mason Taylor going to the NFL draft and Ka’Morreun Pimpton transferring to TCU, Green had the opportunity to start.
Not only was Green a key blocker throughout the game, but he stayed a consistent target for Nussmeier in the passing game. As a freshman, Green will be a key part of this program, as he showed his versatility on offense against the Bears.
On the first drive of the game, Green caught a six-yard pass on 4th-and-5 to keep the LSU offense on the field. Five plays later, Nussmeier and Green connected again in the end zone to put the Tigers up 7-0.
Right before the half, Baylor tightened LSU’s lead with a short run up the middle into the end zone. The score was 28-14.
However, on the scoring play, defensive star Whit Weeks went down with an ankle injury. The stadium went silent as Weeks, the heart of the defense, laid on the field.
Both teams kneeled down, and as Weeks was about to be carted off the field, the entire LSU team ran out onto the field to support him. Weeks was smiling, encouraging his teammates and high fiving them.
LSU didn’t let this setback hurt them.
On the next play, Zavion Thomas returned the kickoff for 95 yards, and LSU went up 34-14. He high fived linebacker Tylen Singleton as they crossed the goal line into the end zone. LSU’s energy and spirits were back up.
On every return, Thomas battled for extra yards, never going down on the first touch. His speed and force was key on each play.
On the defensive side, freshman Davhon Keys stepped up in this game and created a 40-yard interception return, putting LSU up 14-0 in the first quarter.
As well, multiple backups created big plays on defense, which helped carry the Tigers. Safety Jardin Gilbert and linebacker West Weeks led the Tigers with seven tackles.
At the beginning of the third quarter, LSU fumbled the ball at the Bears’ 37-yard line, which Baylor turned into a touchdown drive, decreasing the Tigers’ lead to 10.
While LSU went on to score again in the fourth quarter, the Bears returned a punt for 84-yards into the endzone, but it was called back after two penalties on the play.
LSU ended its season with a 9-4 record, and this post-season win was huge.
