Live Gameday Updates/Thread: LSU Football vs South Carolina
Fourth Quarter
South Carolina has only punted once in this game yet it feels like there's been improvement from the defense.
Still plenty of work to be done but I'm sure they'll take what they can get at this point.
TJ Finley just playing pitch and catch today. He's dropped in some nice passes tonight but a lot have been on the money to wide open receivers. "TJ Finley" chants start breaking out.
Finley up to 265 yards passing and three touchdowns as LSU is inside the five-yard line.
John Emery touchdown puts the finishing touches on this one. LSU has dominated on offense and held up on defense
Scoring Update: LSU 52, South Carolina 17.
Third Quarter
Elias Ricks misses a tackle and South Carolina does just enough to pick up a first down. Ali Gaye with a nice pass breakup on the next play.
Kevin Harris picks up 49 yards as he gets to the outside. South Carolina in the redzone on the opening second half drive. Kevin Harris scores from one-yard out.
Scoring Update: LSU 31, South Carolina 17
Trey Palmer with a 95-yard kickoff return to put the Tigers back up three scores. Palmer muffed the kick and then picked it up and ran it back. It's the first kickoff return since 2014 when Leonard Fournette did it against Notre Dame.
Scoring Update: LSU 38, South Carolina 17
LSU gives up a big pass play to start the drive but freshman BJ Ojulari picks up his third sack of the game and the South Carolina kicker misses his third field goal of the night.
LSU riding with Tyrion Davis-Price on this drive and he's got three carries for 25 yards. Nice job by Finley to extend that play and he delivers a first-down throw to Jaray Jenkins.
Davis-Price caps off this drive with a four-yard touchdown, which he deserved. Had 64 yards rushing on that drive
Scoring Update: LSU 45, South Carolina 17
Second Quarter
TJ Finley honestly looks like a two-year starter. Small sample size but LSU might have a future star emerging. Finley now 10-of-12 for 120 yards, completed passes to six different receivers
LSU now with a 3rd-and-6 inside the 10-yard line.
Finley to Marshall for a touchdown pass beautifully placed. This guy sure not looking like a true freshman tonight.
Scoring Update: LSU 17, South Carolina 7.
Collin Hill sacked for the second time by BJ Ojulari.
BJ Ojulari and Andre Anthony drop quarterback Collin Hill on consecutive plays. False start pushes South Carolina to 3rd-and-24 situation.
LSU forces a South Carolina field goal attempt, a 54-yarder.
54-yard field goal falls short, LSU defense gets back-to-back stops and sets offense up in great field position. Tigers get the ball at the 37.
Finley makes his first mistake as an interception is returned 56 yards. Might've gone for six had Finley not run him down .
Big chance for the defense here. Defense holds Gamecocks to a field goal try. Kick is good from 45 yards out but defense does its job.
Scoring Update: LSU 17, South Carolina 10
LSU up to 94 rushing yards in the first half and have been really impressive on first and second down in particular. Emery leads the way with 61 yards on 10 carries to lead.
LSU faces a third-and-five after the timeout. All Terrace Marshall does is score. A 51-yard touchdown from the junior puts LSU back up two scores. That's nine touchdowns on the season.
Took a five-yard first down catch, made about three guys miss and turned it into a touchdown.
Scoring Update: LSU 24, South Carolina 10
Elias Ricks to the house. Ricks' third interception this season is a big one as Tigers have seized control of this game.
Scoring Update: LSU 31, South Carolina 10
Gamecocks with a nice response to the pick six but face a third-and-5 in the Tigers redzone. Derek Stingley with the pass breakup. Kick is no good as Tigers bend but don't break, still lead 31-10.
LSU offense playing it conservative to close the half, will go into the half leading South Carolina 31-10. A great start to this one for the purple and gold, pick 327 yards of offense, led by true freshman TJ Finley.
Half: LSU 31, South Carolina 10
First Quarter
South Carolina wins the toss and deferred to the second half. TJ Finley will get the ball first.
John Emery draws the start at running back and picks up four on the first play of the game. Finley completes a first down pass to Arik Gilbert.
Emery with a couple of hard run, the latest of which picks up 14. Orgeron talked about running the ball better on first and second down and Tigers are doing just that.
Tigers go for it on 4th-and-1 and Finley gets enough on the sneak. LSU in the redzone for first time tonight.
There's a fumble on the snap but South Carolina was offsides. Third-and-goal from the one coming up.
Finley keeps it and scores. Great first drive for the freshman.
Emery gains 35 on the ground and Finley goes 3-for-3 for 19 yards on the drive. More importantly LSU goes 2-of-3 on third downs.
Scoring Update: LSU 7, South Carolina 0
Gamecocks pick up 36 yards on the first run on the game. South Carolina already in LSU territory. Not a great start for this defense.
Holding penalty negates another nice gain on an end around by South Carolina. Ball at the LSU 45.
Kevin Harris goes practically untouched for a 46-yard touchdown. That's a woof start for this defense after two weeks of preparation
Scoring Update: LSU 7, South Carolina 7
Chris Curry goes for six yards on first-down carry. Those are the kind of runs LSU needs on first-down. LSU easing Finley in with some quick reads and the freshman is capitalizing early.
Finley hits Jaray Jenkins on 2nd-and-15 for 22 yards. beautiful read there and LSU is in Gamecock territory . The ball really just zips off of Finley's hand, he's looked very impressive in the first quarter.
Quarterback keeper picks up nine. Finley is more mobile than I think Ed Orgeron let on.
Three penalties haven't come back to bite LSU on this drive...yet. Holding against South Carolina gets LSU out of a third-and-11 pickle.
Finley takes a shot for Gilbert in the corner of the endzone but can't capitalize. Cade York field goal gives LSU a 10-7 lead
Scoring Update: LSU 10, South Carolina 7
LSU has chewed up 12:01 of the first quarter clock which is what you want with a struggling defense. Only problem is Gamecocks scored in 54 seconds on their first drive
LSU has South Carolina at 3rd-and-10, pick up a much needed sack for confidence. Tigers force a three-and-out. BJ Ojulari picks up the sack.
Arik Gilbert was just called an ineligible receiver. I'd bet my life savings that's the first time he's had that called on him .
End 1: LSU 10, South Carolina 7
Pregame
After a 1-2 start to the 2020 season, LSU is hoping to find some answers on both sides of the ball, but will have to do it without starting quarterback Myles Brennan. The junior will be out tonight against the Gamecocks with a "lower body injury" and the team will be relying heavily on freshmen TJ Finley and Max Johnson.
Finley, the Ponchatoula native, will draw the start and hope to guide LSU to a 4-3 record when starting a true freshman at quarterback. The last true freshman to start in a game was Brandon Harris in 2014.
"TJ's a hard worker, he's very cerebral, always studying football and he's always had a cannon for an arm," Orgeron said. "I think he's come a long way and I do believe he'll do well."
The captains for tonight's game include Ed Ingram, Terrace Marshall, Glen Logan and Tory Carter.
Myles Brennan is on the field throwing very lightly. Orgeron said on Thursday Brennan would likely dress for the game but not play.
It's a pretty overcast evening with temperatures expected to be in the 60s throughout. Only a 10% chance of rain.
LSU is 11-0 after a loss under coach Ed Orgeron. There are plenty of answers the Tigers will need to find this evening to keep that streak going.
Here is some footage of Myles Brennan getting in some pregame throwing in.
Some lineup notes, Siaki Ika gets the start alongside Glen Logan at defensive tackle. Gamecocks feature a run heavy offense so it's not surprising to see the Tigers go big in the middle.
Looks like Cam Wire is working with the first team offensive line. Haven't seen Dare Rosenthal, who started the Mississippi State and Missouri game. Expect true freshman Xavier Hill to potentially back up Wire.
The last time LSU lost back-to-back home games was 2015.
