BATON ROUGE, LA – No. 16 LSU outscored UCLA 17-0 within the second half to energy previous the Bruins, 34-17, on a sizzling mid-September afternoon in Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers, now 3-1 total, return to Demise Valley subsequent Saturday for a 6:30 p.m. CT kick in opposition to South Alabama on the SEC Community.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who completed 32-of-44 for 352 yards passing and three touchdowns, didn’t waste any time on the opening drive, discovering junior receiver Kyren Lacy on the primary play of the sport for a 17-yard pickup over the center of the sector to the LSU 42-yard line. Two performs later, Nussmeier discovered redshirt sophomore receiver Aaron Anderson for a 21-yard completion to the Bruins 33.
Sixth-year senior Josh Williams continued the momentum of the drive with a 23-yard rush over the center of the sector, bringing the soccer down the the UCLA 5. On the following play, Nussmeier pitched it ahead to Zavion Thomas for a five-yard landing move, capping off a 75-yard drive that spanned six performs and two minutes and 41 seconds.
On Third-and-4 from the Bruin 31, quarterback Ethan Garbers was pressured, however discovered Keegan Jones for a completion of 28 yards to the LSU 41. The drive would proceed as UCLA elected to go for it on 4th-and-2, changing with a 13-yard completion to the LSU 20. Garbers would take benefit on the following play, throwing a landing move to Jack Pederson for a 20-yard rating. The sport was tied 7-7 with 8:10 to play within the first quarter.
On Third-and-6 from the UCLA 46, Garbers discovered Devin Kirkwood for a 29-yard completion to the LSU 25. After getting just a few stops, Bruins had one other Third-and-7 from the LSU 22, however Garbers was sacked by Paris Shand for a lack of seven yards. Bhaghani’s 47-yard try was good, giving UCLA the 10-7 benefit with 17 seconds to play within the quarter.
The Tigers opened their subsequent drive with a 15-yard achieve after a move try from Nussmeier to Lacy drew a flag for move interference, transferring the ball from the LSU 25 to the LSU 40. On the primary play of the second quarter, Nussmeier discovered Mason Taylor for a 4-yard pickup and one other first down. LSU retook the lead after Nussmeier linked with redshirt freshman Kyle Parker on a stupendous 45-yard landing move, making it 14-10 Tigers with 13:57 to play within the half.
The Tigers would get a a lot wanted cease on the following drive as senior defensive finish Bradyn Swinson would choose up the place he left off every week in the past by sacking Garber for a lack of 11, forcing the primary UCLA punt of the sport.
Swinson made his presence felt once more with 6:48 to play within the second quarter, forcing a fumble of Garber, which was recovered by Saivion Jones on the UCLA 38. The Tigers would work fast as Nussmeier discovered CJ Daniels over the center of the sector for a pickup of 23, nonetheless, the drive would solely finish with three factors. On 4th-and-5, Damian Ramos’ 22-yard try was good, extending the LSU result in 17-10 with 3:45 remaining within the first half.
The Bruins would add factors earlier than the half after Garber would discover Kwazi Gilmer for a 32-yard completion to the LSU 3. On Third-and-11, Garbers would discover Logan Loya for an 11-yard landing completion with two seconds remaining within the half. The sport was tied 17 all.
Nussmeier discovered Taylor to start out the second half with a giant 43-yard reception, transferring the ball to the UCLA 48 with 10:26 to play. On Third-and-5 from the UCLA 43, Josh Williams moved the chains with a shifty 8-yard achieve to the Bruin 35.
After a few optimistic pickups and a move interference name on UCLA, the Tigers have been capable of money in as Williams punched in a 2-yard landing run with 6:11 to play within the third quarter, giving LSU the lead again, 24-17. It was a 96-yard scoring drive that spanned 14 performs and 6 minutes and 43 seconds. It marked the Tigers’ longest drive of the season and the longest drive in Demise Valley since 10/8/2022 vs. Tennessee (additionally 96 yards).
On the drive, Taylor grew to become the all-time chief for receiving yards (990) by a good finish in LSU historical past. Taylor already holds the report for many receptions all-time for an LSU tight finish.
On the following offensive possession, Nussmeier discovered Caden Durham – the freshman operating again who emerged as a star final week in Columbia – within the flat for a 35-yard landing reception, extending the Tiger result in 31-17 with 11:15 to play within the contest.
The protection pressured one other takeaway as a QB hurry from Jones brought on Garber to throw an interception to Jardin Gilbert, giving LSU the ball again on the UCLA 45. The Tigers would add factors with a 35-yard subject objective from Ramos, extending the result in 34-17 with 5:48 to play.