For the first time this season, the No. 6 LSU football team’s passing game stole the spotlight from the running attack as the Tigers head into the locker room leading the No. 8 University of Florida, 28-14.
LSU sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and sophomore running back Leonard Fournette compiled 100 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.
Florida struck first after the Tiger defense forced a punt but junior cornerback Tre’Davious White muffed the punt as the return man. The Gators recovered the ball at the 13-yard line and Treon Harris to senior tight end Jake McGee scored four plays later on a four-yard pitch and catch on a fourth-and-1 play.
After Miles opened the playbook on the Tigers’ second drive, sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris led LSU on an 11 play, 88-yard drive for a touchdown.
Harris connected with junior wide receiver Travin Dural three times during the five minute, nine second drive for 48 yards. Fournette ended up punching it in from the two-yard line as the quarterback in the wildcat formation.
The LSU defense held strong again on Florida’s third offensive drive, sacking Treon Harris on second down and holding Florida to a short gain on third down to force a three-and-out.
The Tigers picked up where they left on off their last drive, orchestrating a 67-yard drive kept alive by a Fournette scamper for 25 yards to the Florida 33. Sophomore wide receiver Malachi Dupre ended the drive with a nine-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone, his third of the season.
Junior defensive end Lewis Neal made his presence felt again on the ensuing Florida drive, sacking Treon Harris for the second time of the night and forcing another three-and-out.
The Mad Hatter pulled out another signature trick play, calling a flea flicker that led to a 52-yard gain from Brandon Harris to Dupre.
With their lone coverage break downs on back-to-back plays, the Tigers gave up an 80-yard touchdown drive in 44 seconds for Florida to cut the LSU lead to seven on a 19-yard touchdown pass to McGee.
Treon Harris leads the Gators’ attack with 115 passing yards, 19 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Tigers, however, put another seven points on the board when Brandon Harris threw a bomb to Dupre, who hauled in his second touchdown of the game, this one from 50 yards out.
Dupre has four catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns on the night.