Marching into Week 8 of the college football season with a 5-2 overall record, No. 20 LSU had something to prove in its humbling battle against No. 3 Texas A&M.
The Aggies traveled from College Station to Baton Rouge with an unfortunate history tied to them, given that they hadn’t won a game in Death Valley since 1994.
That 30-year-long losing streak changed Saturday night, as they slammed the Tigers in a 49-25 win.
Here are three takeaways from LSU’s loss to Texas A&M.
LSU’s offense still struggling to keep up
The words “Nussmeier, sacked!” were called out in Death Valley over and over again.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was sacked seven times, four of which were in the fourth quarter alone. The highest number of sacks taken in a game this season was previously three during LSU’s 23-7 victory over Louisiana Tech.
While the offensive line failed to protect its quarterback, there were still some opportune moments on its side during the first half of the game. Shortly after redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. secured an interception just before the end of the first half, the line paved the way for a 28-yard run from sophomore running back Caden Durham.
Overall, though, the sea of maroon and white drowned out LSU’s offense as LSU managed three touchdowns and 278 yards compared to six touchdowns and 426 yards by the end of the game for the Aggies.
The defense had its moments but was inconsistent
Whether it was failing to close pockets of space, which allowed Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed to run in the first touchdown of the game, or a lack of reaction time, LSU’s defense has certainly seen better nights.
The defensive highlights of the night were in the second quarter, with senior safety A.J. Haulcy’s interception of Texas A&M’s close touchdown and freshman safety Jhase Thomas’ impressive securing of a safety after blocking a punt.
While those bursts of energy were certainly something for Tiger fans to celebrate, they weren’t enough as the Aggies repeatedly drove through the defense, staining the night with a purple and gold loss.
If LSU wants to improve its defense, it’s going to have to maintain energy throughout its gameplay. Otherwise, it’ll be known as a defense with ‘good moments,’ rather than a solid defense overall.
A.J. Haulcy stepped up for the defense
With star linebacker Whit Weeks out of the picture for now, someone on the defense had to step up against Texas A&M, and that someone was Haulcy.
Storming into Tiger Stadium with 52 total tackles this season, Haulcy brought the heat as he secured a momentous interception in the second quarter. This drove the momentum momentarily in the Tigers’ favor as the Aggies had been threatening to score on LSU’s 3-yard line.
Following that interception, Haulcy secured 12 total tackles on the night, leading LSU’s defense.
Had there been more coordination on the defensive side of the ball, viewers would have likely seen bigger and better things from Haulcy beyond what he managed to bring to the field.
