The Recap: LSU 63, Purdue 7

LSU head coach Brian Kelly has guided the Tigers to a 10-win season in his first year with the program.

After winning the SEC West, LSU landed in the Citrus Bowl against Purdue – and the Tigers made quick work of the Boilermakers.

LSU went up 14-0 in the first quarter, then headed to halftime with a 35-0 lead.

The Tigers used all three quarterbacks in the win over the Boilermakers, and wide receiver Malik Nabers even got into the mix with a touchdown pass of his own.

Here’s the breakdown on how LSU blew away Purdue with a 63-7 win in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

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LSU receives the ball first to begin the game

FIRST QUARTER

Both teams traded punts on the opening possession for each offense, but it was the Tigers who struck first on a touchdown run by John Emery.

The one-yard score came on a 10-play, 63-yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels hit wide receiver Malik Nabers twice for 26 yards on the drive, which was sparked by a quick 19-yard strike to tight end Mason Taylor. One of Nabers’ grabs came on a fourth down that kept the drive alive.

LSU 7, Purdue 0 – 7:01 remaining in the first quarter

The Purdue offense was unable to move the ball and punted it back to LSU’s offense, and the Tigers turned to backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier for his first chance to operate the offense after a strong showing in the second half of the SEC Championship Game.

Nussmeier quickly went deep on a great throw down the sidelines for what appeared to be a walk-in touchdown, but it was dropped by Nabers. Nabers bounced back with an impressive catch on the sidelines, and tight end Mason Taylor followed with a nice grab of his own to set up a short touchdown run by Noah Cain.

LSU 14, Purdue 0 – 1:06 remaining in the first quarter

Once again, Purdue’s offense was unable to move the ball on the LSU defense, punting it away and giving LSU’s offense a chance to put up even more points early in the game.

SECOND QUARTER

Daniels took back over at quarterback and completed three straight passes to get the ball across midfield.

After a run by John Emery, Daniels stepped into the pocket and delivered a strike to tight end Mason Taylor. Taylor did the rest, making a defender miss and taking the ball across the goal line for the 32-yard touchdown.

LSU 21, Purdue 0 – 12:27 remaining in the second quarter

Following another punt by Purdue’s offense, the LSU defense continued to impress by holding the Boilermakers to 16 passing yards and 21 rushing yards across the first 20 minutes of the game.

LSU quickly found the end zone again thanks to a huge run by Daniels on a 37-yard keeper, and Noah Cain punched it in for the touchdown on the following snap.

The rushing touchdown set the LSU school record for most rushing touchdowns in one season with 38. The prior mark was held by the 2013 LSU team.

LSU 28, Purdue 0 – 8:23 remaining in the second quarter

Purdue’s offense was finally able to move the chains and get a couple first downs midway through the second quarter, and a fake punt that the Boilermakers converted on fourth down helped keep the drive alive.

Still, LSU’s defense buckled in and put an end to the drive thanks to an interception at the goal line by Jarrick Bernard-Converse.

Then the Tigers had some fun with it on the offensive side.

With Nussmeier back in the game, LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock dialed up a trick play and wide receiver Malik Nabers threw a pass deep for 45 yards to fellow receiver Kyren Lacy. On the next play, Nussmeier hit Brian Thomas Jr. for the 10-yard touchdown.

LSU 35, Purdue 0 – 1:07 remaining in the second quarter

LSU came with a pair of quick sacks by Zavier Carter and Mekhi Wingo to close out the half as Purdue punted it back to LSU for the fifth time across six drives (the lone other drive ended in an interception).

HALFTIME: LSU 35, Purdue 0

SECOND HALF

The Boilermakers took the ball first, but Purdue’s drive was stalled on a fourth down attempt when LSU linebacker Micah Baskerville broke up the pass attempt.

Jayden Daniels came back into the game at quarterback, and freshman wide receiver Landon Ibieta got his first career catch to move the chains on a 10-yard grab.

A pair of rushes by Noah Cain got the ball inside the 10-yard line, and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock dialed up another reverse. This time, receiver Malik Nabers took the reverse and passed the football back to quarterback Jayden Daniels for the five-yard touchdown.

The play call put Nabers at two catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, and it gave Daniels an impressive stat line across the season where he’s now scored a touchdown by running it, passing it and catching it.

LSU 42, Purdue 0 – 9:21 remaining in the third quarter

With Michael Alaimo in at quarterback for Purdue, the first snap of the drive resulted in an interception by LSU’s Greg Brooks Jr.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier got into the game and drove the Tigers back into the red zone, but his pass attempt to Kyren Lacy was intercepted in the end zone by Purdue’s Jamari Brown.

It was the first LSU drive since the opening possession that didn’t result in a touchdown.

Purdue went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, punting it back to LSU’s offense.

And it didn’t take long for the Tigers to put up more points.

On the first snap of the drive, Nussmeier pitched it underneath to Malik Nabers and Nabers did the rest, taking it 75 yards for a touchdown.

LSU 49, Purdue 0 – 3:15 remaining in the third quarter

FOURTH QUARTER

The Boilermakers got the fourth quarter going by getting onto the scoreboard for the first time.

The touchdown came on a throw from quarterback Michael Alaimo to TJ Sheffield, who took it the rest of the way for the 16-yard score.

LSU 49, Purdue 7 – 12:27 remaining in the fourth quarter

LSU third-string quarterback Walker Howard entered the game to start the fourth quarter for the Tigers, but a quick three-and-out came after he botched the snap, then tossed a couple of incompletions.

Purdue followed with a turnover on downs after just four snaps.

Howard stayed in the game and led LSU on a scoring drive, which included an impressive 23-yard run by the true freshman.

LSU safety turned running back Derrick Davis Jr. – who is currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal – had multiple carries on the drive, including a 12-yard run for the touchdown.

LSU 56, Purdue 7 – 8:47 remaining in the fourth quarter

Purdue’s offense converted another fourth down attempt late in the game to get the ball towards midfield, but LSU’s defense buckled in for a stop on a 4th-and-5 to get the ball back 6 minutes left in the game.

LSU ran the ball with Derrick Davis Jr. three times on the following drive, but turned the ball back over on downs to the Boilermakers.

Purdue took over with a little more than three minutes to play and drove the ball inside the 25-yard line with less than two minutes to play.

Then, LSU walk-on defensive back Quad Wilson – the son of LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson – intercepted a pass and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown.

LSU 63, Purdue 7 – 0:40 remaining in the fourth quarter

FINAL: LSU 63, Purdue 7