5 plays that spiraled LSU-Alabama to the Tide
Saturday’s much-anticipated showdown between LSU and Alabama quickly got away from the home Tigers and never returned their way.
The Crimson Tide (7-2, 4-2) scored on the game’s opening possession and held that lead from start to finish of an eventual 41-6 victory.
Every opportunity the Tigers (6-3, 3-2) appeared to have to halt the Alabama momentum or finally build some of their own appeared to slip through their fingers and flip instead to the Tide’s favor.
Here’s a look at five of the most pivotal plays that helped swing the game away from coach Brian Kelly and company.
Milroe off to the races
LSU’s inability to stop Texas A&M’s quarterback runs in the second half two weeks ago had been a major area of discussion and concern through the Tigers’ bye week and leading up to the Alabama matchup. And junior quarterback Jalen Milroe wasted little time taking advantage with a 39-yard touchdown jaunt on the opening possession of the game to immediately put the Crimson Tide in the driver’s seat. Milroe went on to finish with 185 yards and four touchdowns on 12 runs — an average of 15.4 yards per attempt.
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Third-down downers
The Tigers struggled to get much going offensively in the first half and, in the instances in which they did move the football, were forced to settle for a pair of field goals. Alabama meanwhile converted its first five third-down plays on the way to 6-for-8 in the half and 10-for-13 in the game. On their second possession, the Crimson Tide moved the chains on three third downs, highlighted by a 5-yarder from Milroe to Jamarion Miller near the goal line. That play, the longest conversion of the drive, set up a short touchdown run two plays later to quickly stretch the Alabama lead to double digits.
Seizing Momentum
LSU had just buckled down a fourth-down stop with 3:30 remaining in the half for a second straight defensive stand and a potential spark to build upon. Instead, junior linebacker Jihaad Campbell blitzed untouched through the A-gap to immediately disrupt the Tigers’ first down play and swat the ball from the hands of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Defensive tackle Timothy Smith pounced on the recovery, and Milroe got right back to work with a three-play, 32-yard touchdown drive with his legs.
Potential spark extinguished
The Tigers were putting together a much-needed strong drive to start the second half. But a 14-play, 71-yard possession lasting more than six minutes abruptly ended with a goal-line interception by Deontae Lawson. The junior linebacker bounced off a collision with big slot receiver Trey’Dez Green in tight-quarter traffic and quickly into a passing lane Nussmeier thought he saw to C.J. Daniels in the back of the end zone. Alabama continued to hold the Tigers out of the end zone until 11 seconds remained in a long-determined contest.
Another LSU opportunity flips the Tide’s way
With the deficit still 21-6 early in the third quarter, the LSU defense appeared to be getting off the field with a third-down sack. Instead, a facemask penalty gave the Alabama drive new life, and the Crimson Tide made sure to capitalize. Ryan Williams took an end-around 22 yards up field, and Milroe converted another third down a few plays later into a 19-yard gash for his third rushing end zone. And Alabama was off and rolling and not looking back.
