The 2022 season for LSU was filled with a lot of ups and downs. The Tigers had to navigate through slow starts in order to come out with a victory to lead them to 10-win season, a feat that many LSU fans would have taken given the preseason expectations. We look back on the great moments from this season and begin the countdown of the Top 5 LSU Games of the 2022 Season. Here is No. 3 on the list, where they hosted the No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels before their annual bye week:
LSU Faces Adversity in the First Half:
LSU was coming off a 45-35 road win against Florida the week prior and the schedule wasn’t getting any easier for the Tigers as they hosted a red-hot Ole Miss team that was coming into ranked in the top ten. The Bayou Bengals were looking to close out the month of October with a big win at home before heading to the bye week before their annual clash against Alabama.
Ole Miss would start off with the ball to get this game underway and it didn’t take them long to find the endzone. The Rebels used just 1:57 of the clock to take an early 7-0 lead thanks to a six-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. Two big plays by Jordan Watkins and Jonathan Mingo led them deep into LSU territory.
LSU would quickly have to answer an early score from Ole Miss and they were able to do that as they drove into Ole Miss territory. The Tigers had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Damian Ramos after the Rebels defense would stand tall on a third-and-goal from their own six-yard line. With the field goal, LSU would cut into the Ole Miss lead, 7-3, with 8:44 left in the first quarter.
Ole Miss would continue to have success against LSU’s defense as they scored on their next offensive possession. Judkins scored his second rushing touchdown of the day to extend the Rebels lead to 11 with 6:01 left in the first quarter. LSU was able to march down the field again, but weren’t able to capitalize after Ramos missed a 42-yard field goal to leave the Tigers off the scoreboard.
The Rebels continued to tack on their lead on their next drive as Jonathan Cruz nailed a 32-yard field goal to open the second quarter. Ole Miss would get out to a commanding 17-3 lead with 14:57 left in the second quarter. LSU would waste no time answering with a touchdown of their own as Jayden Daniels found Jaray Jenkins in the endzone for a 34-yard touchdown to bring the score to 17-10.
LSU’s defense was finally able to stop Ole Miss’ offense from scoring again as they forced them to a quick three-and-out. The Tigers would rally from a 17-3 deficit to tie the score at 17 after Daniels ran it in for a three-yard touchdown. The Rebels would waste no time in reclaiming their lead as they drove into LSU territory. Cruz would make a 48-yard field goal to give Ole Miss a 20-17 lead with 4:08 left in the second quarter.
LSU would have to punt on their next offensive possession and that would be the end of the second quarter. Ole Miss would take a 20-17 lead going into the half.
The Tigers Roar All The Way Back:
After Ole Miss took an early 17-3 lead, LSU was able to fight their way back into the game and seize momentum. Both offenses had to punt to start the second half as both defenses were looking to flex their muscle. The Tigers would take their lead back after Daniels found Mason Taylor for a one-yard touchdown to put the score at 24-20, in favor of LSU.
LSU’s defense would begin to make some noise as Jaxson Dart’s pass was intercepted by Joe Foucha. Foucha made a spectacular grab to give the Tigers a chance to extend their lead. They did just that as the offense was able to drive down the field and extend their lead to 11. Daniels would run it in for an 11-yard touchdown to begin the fourth quarter.
Ole Miss’ offense would continue to have no answers against an LSU defense was playing out of their minds in the second quarter. The Tigers would tack on to their lead on their next offensive possession as Daniels would run it in another time for his third touchdown on the ground. LSU would take a commanding 38-20 lead with 8:36 left to play.
The Rebels had one more chance to drive down the field to keep their hopes alive of winning this game. The Tiger defense stepped up again as Dart was sacked by B.J Ojulari and Mekhi Wingo to force Ole Miss to turn it over on downs. LSU didn’t stop there as they tacked on another score, this time it was Josh Williams running it in for a one-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 45-20 lead with 2:05 left to play.
The Tiger defense was able to make one final play to put the game on ice as Dart was sacked by Wingo as time expired. LSU would go on a 42-3 run to close out the game. The Bayou Bengals would get a big win at home against a top-ten team and they would take momentum heading into the bye week.
Comments