Three Observations From No. 14 LSU's Victory Over Texas A&M
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels ran out of the tunnel one final time in Death Valley with the Tigers defeating Texas A&M in the regular season finale 42-30.
For Daniels, he was contained early with the Aggies limiting his touches, but come the final frame, it was another day at the office for the Heisman candidate.
Three Observations from Week 13:
Jayden Daniels Comes Alive Late, Does It Again
Texas A&M’s game plan went accordingly through the first three quarters. The Aggies limited Daniels’ touches and controlled the clock, but once the final frame rolled around, Daniels got to work.
The Heisman frontrunner dominated the final 15 minutes on his way to propelling the Bayou Bengals to a regular season finale victory.
It was a mixed bag for LSU’s QB1. He dominated utilizing his wheels, but also made sure to connect with his one-two punch on the outside in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
It was another masterclass showing from the trio of Daniels, Nabers and Thomas Jr. on their way to another impressive day at the office. Daniels led the Tigers to three straight touchdown drives in the second half to break away and walk out of Death Valley with a victory in his finale game in Baton Rouge.
The Numbers:
Jayden Daniels: 16/24, 235 yards and four touchdowns. 11 carries for 120 yards.
Malik Nabers: 6 receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Brian Thomas Jr: 5 receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Third Down Woes Plague the Tigers
Through three quarters, the Aggies were 9-of-14 on third down, but another key component was their ability to convert on fourth down. After going 3-for-4, the Tigers’ defense simply couldn’t get off of the field.
LSU had been taking Harold Perkins off of the field on third downs to go to the nickel slot, and after it proved to be ineffective, the staff elected to put him as a spy late in the third quarter. A player who is a proven game changer, his usage has been a concern all season long with the Tigers utilizing his skill set too late on Saturday.
Perkins ended the day with nine total tackles and 1.5 tackle for loss, handling business when called upon and it carried into the fourth quarter when this program needed him most. A tackle for loss and crucial sack on back-to-back possessions gave the Tigers life down the stretch to pull away late.
LSU Makes the Most of Its Touches
The game plan was clear for the Aggies: Hold onto the football and limit Jayden Daniels’ touches. It’s safe to say their goal coming into the game was accomplished after dominating the time of possession.
Texas A&M: 36:39
LSU: 23:21
It was a mixed bag for the Aggies after powering through the LSU defensive line with their rushing attack, but also utilizing backup quarterback Jaylen Henderson as a dual-threat option. Henderson controlled the pace and played near flawless football until a fourth quarter interception swayed the momentum LSU’s way.
Henderson ended the day 25-of-35 for 294 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He was the game manager they needed, and with LSU’s abysmal defense proving to be true once again, he exposed them until the final period.
On the ground, it was Louisiana native Le’Veon Moss who controlled the pace for the Aggies with 45 yards on the ground with a score of his own. Texas A&M ended the day with 96 rushing yards and a pair of scores.
