Timely plays help No. 5 LSU escape pesky Florida team 42-28 in Death Valley
Freshman cornerback Derek Stingley was in a position he probably hasn't been in much during his young football career, a target.
The freshman was a frequent target of Florida quarterback Kyle Trask on Saturday, particularly to start the third quarter when Stingley was targeted four times on one series, allowing four receptions and a touchdown that gave Florida the lead.
Yet the freshman stud didn't panic, waiting for his time to pounce.
With LSU clinging to a 35-28 lead, the Gators were on the move, striking the Tigers time and time again and converting on multiple third and long situations. On a third-and-one, Trask looked in Stingley's direction once more, only this time to no avail.
Stingley intercepted Trask in the end zone, sending 100,000 plus of the LSU faithful into a mad frenzy and giving Joe Burrow and the offense a chance to ice the game.
And the senior didn't disappoint. On first-and-10 at its own 46-yard line, Burrow connected with sophomore receiver Ja'Marr Chase on a 54-yard bomb that put LSU up two scores with a little under six minutes to go.
It was two moments that won't be easily forgotten in Baton Rouge.
The touchdown pass from Burrow was one of three on the night for the senior, who made another case for his Heisman candidacy, throwing for 293 yards on 21-of-24 completions and the three scores.
What was supposed to be a battle of the defenses turned quickly into a SEC shootout between No. 5 LSU and No. 7 Florida, with the Tigers getting the last laugh and winning an epic battle 42-28.
The one big goal Florida came into Saturday's needing to do was slow the game down and keep the LSU offense off the field. The Gators accomplished that in the first half as their offense controlled the game clock for 20:13 compared to the Tigers 9:47.
Trask, running back Lamical Perine and tight end Kyle Pitts caused fits for the LSU defense in the first half.
Tackling in the first quarter roared its ugly head for the Tiger defense, particularly on the Gators second drive, which resulted in a touchdown. Perine slipped and slithered his way out of tackles the entire first half, combining for 51 yards from scrimmage and most importantly, extending drives.
Pitts was equally effective in the pass game, hauling in four receptions for 84 yards by the half's end.
What could've been a first-half momentum swing for the Tiger defense took place with 5:56 to go in the second quarter. Florida was driving the ball rather effortlessly against the LSU defense for the second time. The ball got down to the one-yard line, second-and-goal.
The defensive line stuffed Perine and QB Emory Jones on back-to-back plays setting up fourth down. Yet on fourth down, Jones was able to find Perine in the back of the end zone, while being tackled.
Linebacker Patrick Queen was able to get his paw on the ball but was unable to break the play up, allowing Perine to make the play and tie the game up.
The question of how the offense would adjust to the first elite defense it's faced this season was answered quite quickly. Joe Burrow and the Tiger offense moved the ball quickly and efficiently, scoring on three of its first five possessions.
The combination of Burrow and receiver Justin Jefferson has been well established and the pair put on a clinic in the first half. The two combined for five catches, 68 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter that put LSU up 14-7. In total, the pair connected for 10 receptions, 132 yards and two touchdowns, another mile mark for a great LSU duo.
In fact the pair were so potent on that drive, they combined for 57 of the Tigers 82 yards.
Florida's defense had allowed 276 yards and 9.5 points per game coming into Saturday. By the end of the first half, LSU had accumulated 266 yards and scored 21 points.
The second half started much like the first half went, as the teams traded touchdowns to open the third quarter. The LSU defense was in desperate need of a stop and the pass rush was finally able to do some damage, forcing a three-and-out capped off by freshman Marcel Brooks's first career sack.
The play not only uplifted a struggling unit, but the electric crowd as well. And the offense wouldn't fail to capitalize as the offensive line opened up a hole the size of Texas for freshman Tyrion Davis-Price to sprint his way towards a game-leading 33-yard touchdown.
Florida converted on 9-of-16 third-down conversions Saturday night, none of which were more important than the two the Gators converted in the fourth quarter.
Yet the game came down to that magnificent play by a freshman that will now live in folklore because of it. It was an electric night in Death Valley that will live on for a long, long time.
