By Jeffrey Rhodes, Sports Showtime Producer
After last season’s thriller in Gainesville, which saw LSU blow a fourth quarter lead before scoring the game winning touchdown in the last minute, Les Miles and the Tigers wanted to put Florida away early.
Mission accomplished.
“Today was all about the Tigers,” Miles said.
LSU got on the board early, scoring on their second play from scrimmage when Jarrett Lee found Rueben Randle downfield for a 46 yard touchdown.
LSU scored the first 24 points in their 41-11 demolition of the Florida Gators.
It would have been 28 points when punter Brad Wing ran a fake punt in for a touchdown, but the score was called back for excessive celebration before Wing scored.
Wing said he didn’t mean to taunt the Gators, he was just excited.
Coach Miles said that he didn’t call that and that the run was Wing’s decision.
The running game paced LSU, with Spencer Ware leading the Tigers with 113 yards on the ground. Florida as a team rushed for 113 yards.
Ware’s dominant day and two first half touchdowns allowed the Tigers to attack downfield in the pasing game, as Lee and Jordan Jefferson combined to throw for 215 yards.
This was the second consecutive week since Jefferson was reinstated that both he and Lee saw playing action.
Lee said that the rotation doesn’t throw him off any rhythm and he’s all about doing whatever it takes to make a play to help the Tigers win.
Jefferson’s lone touchdown pass came in the fourth quarter on a jump pass, reminiscent of former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
Miles downplayed the play after the game. When a reporter asked him if it was poetic justice, Miles responded, “Augustus?” possibly referencing former LSU women’s basketball star Seimone Augustus, who was named WNBA Finals MVP last night.
Miles went on to say that he enjoyed the jump pass from Jefferson as much as Lee’s bomb to Randle.
The win runs LSU’s record to 6-0 for the second consecutive season.
The Tigers return to action Saturday at Tennessee at 2:30 on CBS in a rematch of last year’s thriller won by LSU 16-14.
Contact Jeffrey at [email protected]
Picture courtesy of LSUsports.net
