It has been scientifically proven that Tigers are the most
vengeful creatures in the animal kingdom. After a seven overtime loss to the
Aggies last season, the Tigers are looking for just that….vengeance. LSU comes
into tonight’s game riding a 12 game winning streak dating back to their win
against UCF. Their last loss, against Texas A&M in College Station.
Expectations are high for the Tigers as they are trying to
prove to the College Playoff Committee that they deserve the coveted No.1 spot.
While no one from the committee has been able to give an objective answer from
one week to the next. The most common thing that we have heard from them is
“the eye test” and LSU is out to prove all their doubters wrong.
The Aggies won the toss and deferred to the second half. LSU
would start their opening drive at their own 25 yard line. On the very first
play of the game, A&M is called for a horse collar penalty. From the start
it looked like things could get chippy against the Aggies. Quarterback Joe
Burrow would get the Tigers out of the gate fast with passes to Justin
Jefferson for 10 yards and then to Ja’Marr Chase for 30 yards to get LSU down
to the five yard line. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire would cap off the
drive with the touchdown run. Putting the Tigers on the board first. The Tigers
would continue to pour on the offensive onslaught, as they scored on their next
four possessions. Four touchdowns, and one field goal was the outcome of their
five drives.
The Tigers looked to be in the driver’s seat as they went
into halftime up against their SEC West opponent 31-0. The Aggies were held to
just 40 yards in the first half, and completely scoreless. Coming out in the
second half, the Aggies were looking to bounce back as a 45 yard pass to Isaiah
Spiller doubled to offensive production of the first half for the Aggies. With
that momentum, Texas A&M was able to squeeze into the end zone two plays
later, with a one yard run by Spiller. This would be the first and only time
A&M saw the end zone tonight.
The defense for the Tigers was absolutely dominant, allowing
only 169 total yards by the Aggies. Also recording multiple interceptions (3)
and sacks (6) on the night. The defense also recorded a safety late in the
game. Quarterback James Foster bobbled a snap in his own end zone and was
flushed then trying to conserve the down, threw the ball away. Unfortunately,
he did not escape the pocket and did not get the ball back to the line of
scrimmage. Being in the end zone, at the time of the pass caused him to give up
the safety. “I am so proud of Coach Aranda and the staff. They worked very hard
I am just so proud of them.” Coach Ed Orgeron said in his post-game press
conference. “I thought we rushed the passer very well. We dialed up some
blitzes. We put some pressure on the quarterback. We didn’t allow them to beat
us one-on-one. I thought our defensive backs made some tremendous plays on the
football.” Orgeron went on to say. This was the lowest the Aggies have been
held to dating as far back as the 2014 season. When they were shut out against
Alabama 59-0, and held to 172 yards of total offense.
Joe Burrow still continues to set records, and
still is not done. Tonight he set the SEC single season passing record for
yardage, and tied the SEC record for touchdowns. The LSU career passing record
could easily fall if Burrow keeps up this pace and the Tigers continue onto the
National Championship game.