By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
LSU’s offensive star is back. Standout tight end Trey’Dez Green caught three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 45-29 win at Auburn in an EA Sports College Football 27 simulation of the game.
Lane Kiffin confirmed on his radio show Thursday night that Green would make his return against Auburn after being out the last four weeks with a knee injury. No. 18 LSU (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) and Auburn (4-2, 2-2) kick off in Jordan-Hare Stadium at 11 a.m. (ABC) on Saturday.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt led a passing barrage on the Plains. He completed 32 of 42 attempts for a career-high 433 yards and four touchdowns. It would be the first time of his career to eclipse 400 passing yards and the second game in a row with four passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Green hauled in a quarter of Leavitt’s completions and took his eight receptions for 96 yards.
The Tigers totaled 566 yards of offense with 133 yards on the ground led by running back Dilin Jones, who took 13 carries for 115 yards and two scores. LSU needed that level of offensive production because the defense struggled again on the road. A unit that has averaged 256.4 yards allowed per game gave up 418 yards of offense. Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was an efficient 17-of-21 for 207 yards and two touchdowns and added 12 carries for 50 yards on the ground. Running backs Jeremiah Cobb and Bryson Washington ran for 66 and 91 yards, respectively.
LSU took an early touchdown lead in the first quarter behind a 25-yard run to the end zone from Dilin Jones. Auburn tied the game with a 4-yard pass from Brown to wide receiver Chase Nimrod and took a 10-7 lead to end the quarter with a 47-yard Alex McPherson field goal.
Green scored his first touchdown on a 3-yard completion at the start of the second quarter to retake the lead. McPherson cut the gap back down to 14-13 with a 34-yard attempt, but that was the closest the scoreboard was the rest of the way. Jones punched in his second touchdown of the half with four minutes left before the break to give LSU an eight-point lead.
The second half began with Leavitt’s only touchdown pass to someone not wearing No. 7 – a 22-yard strike to receiver Jayce Brown. Green then added on his second TD with a 19-yard reception to make it 35-13 LSU. Washington, though, brought Auburn back within two scores with a 28-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point attempt.
After a scoreless seven minutes to start the fourth, Green earned his hat trick with an eight-yard catch. Kicker Scott Starzyk gave LSU its final total of 45 on a 28-yard field goal with under two minutes remaining. Brown found receiver Jeremiah Koger for a 28-yard score of their own with no time left, and a futile two-point conversion made it 45-29.
LSU wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. paced the Tigers with nine catches for 119 yards, followed by Jackson Harris’s eight catches for 103 yards. Leavitt was brought to the ground three times as left tackle Jordan Seaton, right tackle Weston Davis and left guard Bo Bordelon gave up a sack each.
Defensively, nine Tigers finished with five or more tackles, led by safety Tamarcus Cooley and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen with eight each. Freshman defensive tackle Deuce Geralds recorded his first sack in three games, bringing his season total to six, 1.5 shy of the freshman record.
LSU’s biggest recurring troubles on the road returned yet again as the Tigers got off to a slow start and the defense failed to live up to its typical standard, but those issues were overshadowed by a bigger return. Green helped correct some of LSU’s problems finishing drives, although the Tigers did settle for one red zone field goal at the end of the game.
Green, a real-life video game character, is tied with Seaton for LSU’s highest-rated player in CFB 27 at 93 overall. Umanmielen’s 91 is next. Auburn’s top-rated player, linebacker Xavier Atkins (91), is no longer with the team after being dismissed on Tuesday. Cobb is now tied for the top spot with wide receiver Keshaun Singleton at an 88 rating, and Brown is an 87.
LSU Record vs. Simulated Games
Real Life: 5-2
Week 1: 51-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 45-14 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 32-24 L at Ole Miss
Week 4: 35-6 W vs. Texas A&M
Week 5: 63-14 W vs. McNeese State
Week 6: 35-34 L at Kentucky
Week 7: 31-0 W vs Mississippi State
EA Sports CFB 27: 7-1
Week 1: 44-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 17-6 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 38-36 L at Ole Miss
Week 4: 24-13 W vs. Texas A&M
Week 5: No game vs. FCS McNeese State (W)
Week 6: 20-13 W at Kentucky
Week 7: 31-25 W vs. Mississippi State
Week 8: 45-29 W at Auburn
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