GAME BLOG: LSU vs. USC

FINAL: LSU 23, South Carolina 21

By RICHARD FISHCER and CODY WORSHAM

With their backs against the wall, LSU avoided losing a second straight game for the first time since 2008 and knocked off South Carolina 23-21 in Tiger Stadium.

After scoring a failing grade in Gainsesville last week, LSU’s offense showed up in a big way and outgained the Gamecocks 406-to-211 including a 258-to-34 advantage on the ground.

Jeremy Hill broke out as a star on the Death Valley turf with 124 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. His 50-yard four-quarter dash to pay dirt was essentially the game clincher.

Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Kenny Hilliard combined for 129 more rushing yards, as it was an all-day running onslaught for the Tigers.

LSU QB Zach Mettenberger was better through the air than he had been in recent weeks, but he still only completed 12-of-25 passes for 148 yards and a brutal pick that set up a Gamecock TD on a one-yard drive.

One the other side of the ball, LSU was beyond fantastic. The Tigers sacked Carolina QB Connor Shaw sacked times and held all-world RB Marcus Lattimore to 13 yards and a score on 13 carries.

Below is our chronological game blog.

Good evening and welcome to Tiger Stadium for tonight’s game between top-10 foes - LSU and South Carolina.

The Tigers are coming off a 14-6 loss in The Swamp, while South Carolina defeated Georgia 35-7 at home last week.

Can LSU get back on the right track, and can South Carolina handle success for one of the first times in school history?

There are going to be two big keys for tonight’s game.

LSU needs to get first downs and keep its defense off the field, first and foremost. LSU’s defense faltered in the second half last week, but it was because the Tigers kept going 3-and-out on offense.

Secondly, I’m interested to see how Steve Spurrier deals with a floundering offense through the first half. Can he keep playing conservative even if the LSU defense holds the Gamecocks to a low score at halftime?

He’ll have to keep in mind that LSU’s offensive line will be a trouble. Tackle Alex Hurst probably won’t play tonight, so that means LSU will have long-time guard Josh Dworaczyk at left tackle along with true freshman Vadal Alexander at right tackle and redshirt freshman Trai Turner at right guard (because Josh Williford is a game-time decision with a concussion). Good luck blocking South Carolina’s tremendous front-four. LSU can’t run enough draws and screens tonight, so will Les Miles open up his offense from last week? We’ll find out tonight.

Richard Fischer will have your offense and special teams reports, and Cody Worsham will take the Tiger defense. Check back after each quarter for updates.

1st quarter notes:
LSU 3, South Carolina 0

Offensive notes:

The expected O-line of Josh D. (LT), Trai Turner (RG) and Vadal Alaxander (RT) starts. Alex Hurst and Josh Williford are nowhere to be seen. RB Spencer Ware, FB J.C. Copeland, WRs James Wright, OBJ, and TE Chase Clement start. Jarvis Landry in for OBJ on second play. Jeremy Hill in at FB on 3rd and 4 - a beautiful middle screen to Ware. Michael Ford next RB in. Kadron Boone next WR in. Dickson, Kenny Hilliard in near the goal line. No Nic Jacobs.

Kenny Hilliard can’t punch it in on third and goal, so Miles brings in Ware under center but Alexander false starts. That backs LSU up, and Miles elects for the field goal.

Good to see LSU change things up early. Quick screens and wildcat plays is a pleasant surprise. If LSU can continue to move the ball like this, the Tigers will have a strong chance.

Terrence Magee comes in at WR on the next drive, and Mett hits Hill on a screen for a first down. Love LSU’s new-look offense……. Then all was well until Mett threw a pick near the end of the quarter. Looked like Jimmy Legree saw that play coming a mile away, and he jumped it. Very predictable, and Legree brought it back to the LSU one.

Gamecocks knocking on the door as we enter the second.

Defensive notes:

First drive

No surprises in LSU’s starting defensive lineup. Freshman Lamar Louis makes his first career start at Sam linebacker, replacing Kwon Alexander, who is out with a broken ankle.

On LSU’s first drive, Logan and Downs get great penetration on third and short, and Minter cleans up for the loss. Carolina will have to get creative on third down.

Second drive

Starters remain on for second drive. No nickel yet from Tigers. They’re thinking stop the run first, clearly.

Shaw is fast, but Montgomery faster. South Carolina’s QB fumbled the ball out of bounds on 1st and 10 with pressure in his face, as Big Sam chased him down. Shaw looks quick to tuck it and go, rather than let the play develop downfield.

LSU is too excited on second down, however. Textbook draw from Gamecocks, as LSU’s DTs over-penetrate. That’s called using a team’s speed against it.

Crossing pattern with SC tight ends gets first down. Soft zone there on third and short, probably playing for the run, so Spurrier will take what he can get.

Edwards in for Montgomery after the first down on SC’s second drive. Nice stuff by Eric Reid who was in the box from the get go on the sweep from Lattimore.

2nd and 9 Tigers stay 4-3 even with four wides in for SC. Edwards blows up Shaw on read option for third and long.

LSU rushes four on third down, but Shaw gets impatient and tries to create with his leg, Reid and Barrow stop him short of the chains. Another win for LSU.

Third drive

Barrow with huge penetration on first down, shuts down Lattimore for a loss of three. As good as Minter’s been all season, Barrow’s been every bit as impressive beside him. That’s a huge play, needless to say.

Special Team notes:

Alleman makes a 23-yard field goal

Great coverage on LSU’s second kickoff. Andre Ellington can’t get past the 12. Craig Loston with the tackle.

2nd quarter notes
South Carolina 7, LSU 3

Offensive notes:

Jacobs makes his first appearance on offense in the second quarter. As does Connor Neighbors at FB. LSU powers it down the field with big holes for Ware. Mett misses Landry for a TD on a sluggo. He had the CB beat. Next pass is a bubble screen knocked down by Clowney. Alleman misses a 32-yarder, and LSU comes up empty.

Russell Shepard makes his furst appearance midway through the second. A 14-yard Hilliard run is ruined by his negative-one-yard rush on third down. O-Line got no push. Not his fault. Plus Carolina knew a run was coming. Woulda been a fine run and punt at near midfield scenario had Wing not followed it up with the worst punt of his career - 10 yards.

LSU is out-gaining South Carolina 178-69 at half and has more than 18 minutes of time of possession. That means you won’t see a tired defense in the second half like you did last week. At the very least, that’s a plus.

Defensive notes:

First drive

No surprises in LSU’s starting defensive lineup. Freshman Lamar Louis makes his first career start at Sam linebacker, replacing Kwon Alexander, who is out with a broken ankle.

On LSU’s first drive, Logan and Downs get great penetration on third and short, and Minter cleans up for the loss. Carolina will have to get creative on third down.

South Carolina’s third drive continued…

Just 23 yards for the Gamecocks in the first quarter, with only one first down. LSU’s front four dominated the line of scrimmage, keeping SC’s line on the first level and freeing up Tiger linebackers to do what they do best: knock the stuffing out of ball carriers.

Tigers can’t hold up with terrible field position, however, as Carolina takes advantage of LSU’s goalline D by spreading the field, rolling out Shaw, and finding Ace Sanders matched up on Craig Loston. Sanders beats him and scores the touchdown.

For the season, opponents have scored every time they’ve made it inside the LSU redzone. That’s 11 for 11, worst in the SEC, though you can hardly blame the Tiger defense there. Those seven points are squarely on Zach Mettenberger’s shoulders.

Fourth Drive

Edwards still in for Big Sam, who is out with a bit of an injury. Martin on for Loston as well, probably both a rest for Loston and a precaution against the pass, because Martin is better in coverage. He makes a big tackle on second down to force a third and short for the Gamecocks, and Minter steps in and stop Lattimore short of the marker. USC’s offense is just 1 of 4 on third down, and that came on a quick third and two pass. Gamecocks can’t run the ball in short distance situations thus far, with eleven carries for 23 yards. Kudos to LSU’s D for that.

Fifth SC drive

Mills gets beaten on first and 10, as SC takes its first shot down field. Plenty of time for Shaw, but he overthrows. They go right back at Mills on the next play, though, as this time Sanders shakes him off for a 21 yard completion.

Again at Mills on the third play, this time on a bootleg from Shaw. That one went for eight yards. They’ll keep going at the freshman at this rate.

On play four, Mingo forces Shaw out of the pocket, and the Gamecock QB fires another strike to Sanders. But the ref’s hat is off, which means Sanders went out of bounds. Sure enough, the flag is thrown, resulting in a loss of down. Third and short again, and Carolina wisely calls a pass. Minter blitzes, but Lattimore makes a fantastic block, springing Shaw for a five yard gain and the first down.

Play six, and Shaw goes after Simon this time, targeting two-sport star Bruce Ellington. Finally, Jalen Collins makes his way on the field in the nickel, but somehow Ellington still gets matched up on Minter, who gets dragged across the field and misses the tackle. Third and one, and LSU takes its final timeout.

On third and one, SC runs, but Jemauria Rasco - on his first snap of the game - makes the tackle to force fourth down and two. Looked like LSU had stopped Lattimore on a fourth down carry, but the second effort calls for a measurement. The spot was good, and Carolina gets another first down.

Great play from Rasco on first and 10, as he keeps contain and crushes Shaw on the roll out. Second down and another sack, this one by Josh Downs. Great coverage there, particularly from Lamar Louis, who looks great in coverage from the Sam spot. Third down, and LSU goes Mustang for the first time. Even just three rushers - Sam (he’s back), ego, and Mingo - force Shaw to scramble, and he ultimately throws incomplete. South Carolina’s best drive of the night ultimately goes for naught - big time stand from LSU there. Bending, but never breaking.

Special Teams notes:

OBJ needs to stop fielding punts without calling fair catch when guys are bearing down on him. It’s beyond the point of being scary,

Wing shanks the worst punt of his career for just 10 yards. A potential field position flipper doesn’t work out for the Tigers, and it makes them question such a conservative play call on third down.

3rd quarter recap:
South Carolina 14, LSU 10

Offensive notes:

Tigers come out sharp to start the third. A Mett third-and-four conversion to Landry for 16 yards gets the drive going. LSU goes 63 yards on nine plays capped off by a seven yard run to pay dirt by Jeremy Hill. He and Hilliard were bulldozers on the drive. That snaps a streak of 29 straight offensive possessions in SEC games that the Tigers had failed to score a touchdown.

Spencer Ware comes in at RB for the first time since the first quarter on LSU’s second possession of the frame. Tigers get a first down on some strong Hill running before he loses five yards, and it’s a hole too big for LSU to get out of.

Brison Williams barely breaks up a bomb to Wright that could have gone for six. Carolina nation breathed a sigh of relief after that one. Tigers go three and out. Good news is - that’s only the first three and punt for the night for LSU.

Hill is a beast tonight. He’s got nine carries for 54 yards through three quarters. He’s been the horse, but Ware had a nice, tough third down carry late in the quarter. BIG third down for LSU to open the fourth.

LSU used two time outs in the third quarter. Keep that in mind in the fourth.

Defensive notes:

Starters on field for LSU to start second half. Quick first down for South Carolina on short passes from Gamecocks. That might be the plan from here on out after an unsuccessful first half running the ball.

Loston back in at safety. Edwards at DT on Carolina’s third down to give LSU three defensive ends. That’s taking a page out of Carolina’s book. They’ll do something similar in their “Rabbit package” with four pass rushers on obvious passing down and distances. It works for the Tigers. They flush Shaw out of the pocket and into a run, and Mingo chases the rabbit down to force a punt.

Edwards spelling Mingo on Carolina’s second drive, as Martin makes his return in for Loston as well. LSU’s line shifts just before the snap, and Carolina options to that side for a 17 yard gain. Minter not fast enough for the speedy Shaw.

Carolina starting to take a page out of LSU’s 2011 v. Alabama, turning to the option in the face of a tough run defense.

On 2nd and 4 from the Tiger 31, Shaw boots right and throws back left across the LSU zone, finding tight end Justice Cunningham in the middle of three Tigers for a 31 yard gain to LSU’s 2. Looked like a touchdown, but Reid forced Cunningham out. That could be pivotal, if LSU can hold SC.

Again, on SC’s third drive of the quarter, LSU stuck with bad field position after a 24 yard punt from Brad Wing. Loston back at safety with starting defensive line on the field.

Barrow plays the spy on Shaw, and it works, as Shaw gets just one. That’s been LSU’s plan all night when Shaw drops back, and it’s worked. Barrow’s near 10 tackles. Chavis brings the Mustang back on third down, and Mills’ pressure forces Shaw to go deep. Great coverage from Collins, who knocks it down. Another three and out from the Tiger defense, who have been dominant as ever tonight despite being given bad field position all night.

Special Teams notes:

Wing booms his next punt 56 yards, but he outkicks his coverage. Reid and Mingo get juked by Ace Saunders, and he goes 61 yards deep into LSU territory. Luckily for the Tigers, a blocking penalty was called on the Gamecocks, so it comes back to the Carolina 46. LSU’s defense could have been put in position to give up another score through no fault of its own.

Michael Ford returns a kickoff 28 yards to the 35. Nice return there. He used his speed to get to the outside. For a moment it looked like he could get tackled inside the 10.

Wing shanks his second of the night. 24 yards this time. Whuff. The punting unit was supposed to be a strength for LSU tonight. Not so much.

4th quarter recap
LSU 23, South Carolina 21

Offensive notes:

Said BIG third down is converted on a nice misdirection run to Spencer Ware. Shepard came in motion, and they faked the jet-sweep to him. Mett then hits Landry on a 19-yard slant. LSU gets into the red zone and can’t punch it in against a stacked box. LSU can’t connect on a fade to Jacobs and settles for three.

Following a Reid INT that puts LSU in position to take the lead, the Tigers go conservative with four runs and does just that. If Carolina retakes the lead, that decision will be questioned.

Hill takes the first carry of the next possession 50 yards up the middle for a score, and he’s worked his way into the hearts of Tiger Nation on that carry. He deserved it after the workhorse he’s been all night long. Two scores for him now.

Tigers stay conservative running it three times and punting with less than two minutes to go. That forces Carolina’s hand to use all their timeouts, but it gives them a glimmer of hope.

Tigers outgain Carolina 406 yards to 212 and win the battle of first downs 22 to 13. Too bad the final score didn’t show it.

Defensive notes:

Tiger defense take the field with 10:17 left needing a stop. Martin replaces Loston, but all other starters remain in. Carolina is content to dink and dunk the ball for small yardage gains, and when they do try to go down field, Eric Reid comes up with the play of the year to pick off Shaw.

To be fair, Shaw put it in his lap. The SEC’s most efficient quarterback just gifted the Tigers great field position. Credit to Reid for being in the right spot, making a nice return, and - most importantly - holding on to the ball.

The play cost Reid, however, as he went down with an injury, apparently to his shoulder, after being tackled. He returns on South Carolina’s next offensive play.

LSU holds South Carolina to a three and out capped off by a Montgomery sack on third down after the Tigers took the lead.

Then South Carolina’s rally gets hindered by a Mingo sack, but a 17 yard pass to Adams gets Carolina to the one. Shaw finds Ellington on the next play for a TD.

Then when they get the ball back, Shaw throws a pick to Loston deep down the sideline. It bounced off Simon, who skied trying to pick it off. moments in Tiger Stadium, but the crowd leaves happy.

Special Teams notes:

Alleman makes a 20 yarder then a 22 yarder and goes three-for-four tonight.

Carolina kicker Yates slams an onside kick out of bounds. He didn’t get the big bounce he was looking for. Plus he probably didn’t kick it on steep enough of an angle.