Coming off a three-game losing streak, the LSU Tigers returned home to take on a six-win Vanderbilt team that has surprised many. The Commodores drew first blood with an early touchdown but it was the Tigers who came out on top 24-17 to improve to 7-4 on the season,
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU received the football to begin the game and went three-and-out. Center CJ Chester was called for a false start on 3rd & 3 and Garrett Nussmeier’s pass to Kyren Lacy went for one yard.
Vanderbilt needed only one play to put points on the board on their first drive. Quarterback Diego Pavia went deep to wide receiver Quincy Skinner Jr for the 63-yard touchdown.
The Tigers responded with an eight-play, 90-yard drive. Nussmeier hit Lacy on an over route for a 30-yard pickup to put LSU inside Vandy’s 40-yard line. Running back Josh Williams had a couple of big touches. The first was a 14-yard catch as he broke multiple tackles. The other was a 20-yard touchdown run to tie the game at the 8:17 mark of the first quarter.
LSU had another opportunity to score after Vandy punted. The offense elected to go for it on 4th & GOAL from the three-yard line but Nussmeier’s pass to Tre’Dez Green fell incomplete in the back of the endzone.
Three possessions later, the Commodores went for it on LSU’s 20 and Skinner Jr dropped Pavia’s pass. The Tiger took advantage as CJ Daniels made multiple third-down catches. Nuss dumped the ball off to Williams for a gain of 16 yards and then Williams scored from 21 yards out to put LSU up by seven with 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
LSU went into the half up 14-7 over Vanderbilt.
Coming out of the locker rooms, Vanderbilt received the ball and drove 46 yards in 12 plays. Pavia was ruled short of the line to gain on 3rd & 8 and Sedrick Alexander picked up the first down with a two-yard run. Brock Taylor eventually lined up and knocked through a 47-yard field to make it a four-point game.
Aaron Anderson made a 21-yard catch on an outbreaking route to get LSU’s offense into Vandy territory. On 4th & 5, Nussmeier found Daniels across the middle for the 24-yard pitch and catch. Lacy was wide open in the back of the endzone on the next play and scored from 12 yards out to extend the lead of the Tigers.
After a three-and-out by Vanderbilt, LSU added to their lead early in the fourth quarter. Nussmeier completed passes to Williams and Anderson for 13 and 18 yards on the first two plays of the drive. Williams made another 18-yard reception and Chris Hilton picked up a first down on 3rd & 9. Nussmeier’s passes on second and third down fell incomplete and kicker Damian Ramos made the 29-yard field goal attempt to put the Tigers up 24-10 with 10:41 remaining.
Shone Washington and Bradyn Swinson sacked Pavia on second down. On 3rd & 9, Pavia’s sideline pass was overthrown, but Clark Lea called a fake punt, and the punter picked up the first down with his legs. Two plays later, Pavia connected with Loic Fouonji for a 39-yard gain to the LSU 16-yard line. Pavia would rush it in for one yard out on 1st & GOAL to make it a one-score game with under six minutes to go.
LSU ran off the rest of the clock by picking up five first downs and moving the ball down to Vanderbilt’s six-yard line. The Tigers went into victory formation and defeated the Commodores 24-17 to improve to 7-4 on the season.
BIG NUMBER: 308
LSU’s defense held Vanderbilt’s offense to 308 yards for the game. Tiger quarterback Garrett Nussmeier out-gained the Commodores with 322 passing yards on 28 completions. LSU as an offense recorded 471 yards on Saturday evening in Death Valley.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Josh Williams
Williams was a major factor in the running and receiving game. The senior rushed for 90 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. He also added 61 yards through the air on four catches as LSU defeated Vanderbilt 24-17.
UP NEXT: The LSU Tigers will close out the 2024 regular season at home next Saturday when they host the Oklahoma Sooners. Kickoff inside Tiger Stadium will be at 6:30 p.m. on November 30th and the action can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette 104.1 Lake Charles.
