5 plays that swung LSU's 34-10 roll through Arkansas
LSU pounced on Arkansas early and largely cruised Saturday evening to their sixth straight victory, including their first three SEC games.
The No. 8 Tigers (6-1, 3-0) didn’t always finished drives as effectively as they might have liked, but still built enough of a lead to never allow the Razorbacks (4-3, 2-2) to so much as pull back even in the 34-10 victory.
The game was just the third time this season LSU never trailed and the first time against a Power Four opponent.
Here’s a look at five of the most impactful plays that helped the Tigers take control and keep it in Fayetteville, Ark.
Starting Fast
LSU cruised down the field for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession — 75 yards in eight plays — for the third time this season and the first time against an SEC opponent. For the second of those times, an explosive play from freshman running back Caden Durham did the honors. This week’s 22-yard score wasn’t necessarily as eye-popping as his 71-yard dash against South Alabama. But the ability to play from ahead against Arkansas felt particularly big, and Durham’s score helped kick off a contest in which the Tigers would ultimately never trail.
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Building the Lead
After the first Arkansas possession ended with a missed field goal, LSU’s second possession was in danger of stalling before it could even get going with an incomplete pass and a false start back-to-back. But Josh Williams picked up 8 yards, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier hit Aaron Anderson for the conversion with an 18-yard strike that held up as the team’s second-longest passing play of the entire night. The Tigers cruised smoothly downfield from there for the first Damian Ramos field goal of the night to push the lead to 10-0.
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Winning the Turnover Battle
LSU’s defense immediately snatched possession right back as a trio of veterans teamed up to force the first turnover of the night. Arkansas running back Rashod Dubinion appeared to be breaking a solid run toward the first-down marker to start the drive. But safety Jardin Gilbert got in front of him at about 8 yards, and linebacker Greg Penn III began barreling in from behind and punched the ball loose. Another Razorbacks player was closer to the bouncing fumble, but LSU safety/star Major Burns alertly recognized the situation and dove on the recovery. The Tigers continued to control the clock early and pushed the lead to 13-0 six plays later on another Ramos field goal.
Play(er) of the Week?
Whit Weeks carried his SEC Defensive Player of the Week performance against Ole Miss right along with him for the trip to Arkansas. The sophomore linebacker once again led LSU with nine tackles, a sack and an interception late in the third quarter that was arguably the play of the game from both its highlight-reel quality and its impact. Weeks fired around the edge on a blitz, leaped to deflect Arkansas quarterback Taylor Green’s pass and then somehow also corralled the ball on his finger tips to regain possession for the Tigers. And Nussmeier, Durham, Trey’Dez Green and company cashed in and more than double the lead from 16-10 to 24-10.
Shutting the Door
The Razorbacks badly needed a quick answer after falling behind two scores and appeared to have a spark as Green hit Isaiah Sategna for 25 yards on first down, then again for 9 the next play. Arkansas moved the chains twice in a span of three plays, but LSU buckled down from there. Weeks and Burns stuffed a run at the line, Burns closed on a quick pass out to the left for another no-gain and then Weeks added the exclamation point with a 10-yard sack on third down to force the punt. Weeks hadn’t recorded a solo sack in his career prior to the final play of regulation against Ole Miss and has now gone back-to-back weeks doing so.
