LSU knocks off No. 3 Ole Miss, 10-7

Wow, where to start. What a great win for LSU football. The 24th fourth quarter comeback for a Les Miles’ LSU team, the best mark in college football over the past ten years.

The Tigers persevered and overcame a great deal of adversity. Les Miles’ mother passed away on Friday night, so there was an emotional component at play.

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Perhaps the Tiger Stadium mystique played a role. Whether you want to call it “Cajun voodoo” or whatever, Tiger Stadium, with 102,371 fans on hand (tying the all-time attendance record set earlier this season), lived up to its billing – “where opponents dreams come to die.”

Despite turning the ball over four times (including a fumble at the goal line), dropping three sure interceptions, and missing a close-in field goal, the #24 LSU Tigers found a way to beat the #3 (and now previously undefeated) Ole Miss Rebels, by a final of 10-7. The Tigers used the formula that has been responsible for much of its success during the Les Miles’ era – controlling the clock with a strong running game on offense, and playing lights out on defense.

The Ole Miss defense came into the contest as one of the best in the nation, allowing an average of 291 yards per game, including 193.4 yards per game passing, and a very stout 97.1 yards per game rushing. LSU, in using its aforementioned formula on offense, controlled the clock by rushing 55 times for 264 yards, by far the most rushing yardage that Ole Miss has allowed this year. Overall, the Tigers finished with 406 yards on the so-called “Landshark” defense. It was evident in the fourth quarter that the Rebels’ defense was gassed.

Oct 25, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) carries the ball past Mississippi Rebels defensive back Senquez Golson (21) in the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Mississippi 10-7. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Fournette led the rushing attack for the Tigers with 113 yards on 23 carries. Terrance Magee had a strong game once again with 75 yards on 12 carries, and Kenny Hilliard contributed 64 yards on 12 carries. While Fournette carried most of the load, enough can’t be said about Magee and Hilliard – in fact, Hilliard didn’t enter the game until the second half, and was instrumental in leading the Tigers on the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

The LSU passing game was adequate. Anthony Jennings is asked to be a game-manager, and that’s exactly what he did. Jennings finished 8-of-16 for 142 yards, with one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Jennings is a bit of an enigma, though. At times he looked terrific, in particular, early in the game, when he hit Magee for 32 yards out of the backfield, and again when he completed a 40-yard pass to Fournette. The touchdown pass to the tight end, Logan Stokes, was a thing of beauty. Jennings executed the play-action fake perfectly, hitting Stokes for the game-winning score. At other times, he looked terrible, especially on the two picks.

The LSU defense played a fantastic game. The front seven was able to pressure Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace all night. Wallace was visibly frustrated and flustered, and it was certainly evident that the Tiger defense was in his head. He finished with 176 yards passing, more than 100 yards below his season average. LSU batted down a number of Wallace passes at the line of scrimmage.

Ole Miss was never able to establish any sort of running game either , as the Tiger defense held the Rebels to only 137 yards rushing. All in all, the Tiger defense held Ole Miss to 313 yards, more than 100 yards below its season average. Kendell Beckwith led the Tigers with 10 tackles, and was consistently flying to the ball. Kwon Alexander had a great game, and the defensive ends, Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter were consistently in Wallace’s face.

With the win, LSU improves to 7-2, 3-2. Ole Miss falls to 7-1, 4-1. The Tigers have a bye week coming up, then the final home game of the season on November 8th to take on Alabama. Perhaps another chapter to come in the annals of the Tiger Stadium mystique.

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