LSU loses first game at Florida 27-19

Lamical Perine ran for the go-ahead touchdown and New Orleans native Brad Stewart returned an interception for a game-clinching touchdown as Florida defeated LSU 27-19 in a Southeastern Conference game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday afternoon.

HOW THEY SCORED

First Quarter

LSU 7, Florida 0

Score: Nick Brossette 4-yard run. Cole Tracy kick. Time Remaining: 11:43. Drive: 75 yards in 10 plays. Time of Possession: 3:17. Key Play: On third-and-six, Joe Burrow completed a 7-yard pass to Dee Anderson for a first down at Florida’s 4.

Second Quarter

LSU 7, Florida 7

Score: Perine 1-yard run. Evan McPherson kick. Time Remaining: 12:30. Drive: 43 yards in 9 plays. Time of Possession: 3:41. Key Play: On second-and-six, Perine ran 13 yards for a first down at LSU’s 2.

LSU 10, Florida 7

Score: Tracy 33-yard field goal. Time Remaining: 3:10. Drive: 63 yards in 10 plays. Time of Possession: 3:23. Key Play: On third-and-one, Burrow ran 21 yards for a first down at Florida’s 24.

Florida 14, LSU 10

Score: Moral Stephens 3-yard pass from Feleipe Franks. McPherson kick. Time Remaining: 1:09. Drive: 75 yards in 7 plays. Time of Possession: 2:01. Key Play: On second-and-14, Franks completed a 35-yard pass to Josh Hammond for a first down at LSU’s 3.

Third Quarter

Florida 14, LSU 13

Score: Tracy 42-yard field goal. Time Remaining: 4:16. Drive: 18 yards in 5 plays. Time of Possession: 1:56. Key Play: On first-and-ten, Burrow completed a 14-yard pass to Foster Moreau for a first down at Florida’s 28.

Fourth Quarter

LSU 19, Florida 14

Score: Brossette 1-yard run. Pass failed. Time Remaining: 11:14. Drive: 80 yards in 4 plays. Time of Possession: 1:34. Key Play: On second-and-ten, Brossette ran 47 yards for a first down at Florida’s 2.

Florida 20, LSU 19

Score: Perine 2-yard run. Pass failed. Time Remaining: 8:48. Drive: 75 yards in 9 plays. Time of Possession: 2:26. Key Play: On first-and-ten, Lucas Krull completed a 15-yard throwback pass to Franks for a first down at LSU’s 2.

Florida 27, LSU 19

Score: Stewart 25-yard pass interception return. McPherson kick. Time Remaining: 1:45.           

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME

LSU went ahead 19-14 on a Brossette touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. However, Florida responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to regain the lead. The Gators used four big plays to set up Perine’s 2-yard touchdown run. Franks completed a 26-yard pass to Van Jefferson to jumpstart the drive. A 17-yard run by Perine converted a second-and-ten situation. Then, a 12-yard run by Franks converted a third-and-seven situation. On the next snap, Florida coach Dan Mullen went with a gadget play – a throwback pass from the tight end Krull to Franks. That completion covered 15 yards and put the ball at the Tigers’ 2. LSU would have three more possessions – one ending with a punt and two ending on Burrow interceptions.

LSU OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

The Tigers had their problems most of the afternoon establishing the run and protecting Burrow. Brossette almost single-handedly won the game for LSU by breaking off two huge runs on a drive which gave it the lead. Brossette opened the 80-yard scoring possession with a 31-yard run. Then, Brossette raced 47 yards to give the Tigers a first down at Florida’s 2. After a penalty on the Gators, Brossette scored on a 1-yard run to give LSU a 19-14 lead. Brossette, who finished with 95 yards on 15 carries, was responsible for the Tigers’ other touchdown on a 4-yard run in the first quarter.

LSU DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Grant Delpit was a factor once again as he made ten tackles. The ten tackles matched his career-best. He also intercepted a pass and registered two quarterback-hurries when blitzing. Delpit now has 37 tackles, a team-high three interceptions and four quarterback-hurries for the season.

KEY TEAM STATISTICS

Passing yards per completion: Florida 13.5, LSU 10.1

Penalties: Florida 11, LSU 8

Penalty yards: Florida 116, LSU 75

Turnovers: LSU 3, Florida 1

Sacks: Florida 5, LSU 0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS

LSU

Nick Brossette: 15 carries, 95 yards, 2 touchdowns

Joe Burrow: 34 attempts, 19 completions, 191 yards, 2 interceptions

Derrick Dillon: 4 catches, 42 yards

Micah Baskerville: 11 tackles, ½ tackle-for-loss

Grant Delpit: 10 tackles, 2 quarterback-hurries, 1 interception

Devin White: 9 tackles, 1½ tackles-for-loss, 1 quarterback-hurry

Michael Divinity: 6 tackles, 3 quarterback-hurries

FLORIDA

Lamical Perine: 17 carries, 85 yards, 2 touchdowns

Feleipe Franks: 27 attempts, 12 completions, 161 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception

Van Jefferson: 4 catches, 44 yards

Vosean Joseph: 14 tackles, 3½ tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: 11 tackles, 1½ tackles-for-loss

Jachai Polite: 6 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 quarterback-hurry, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble

Jabari Zuniga: 5 tackles, 1½ tackles-for-loss, 1 sack, 1 quarterback-hurry

Adam Shuler: 3 tackles, 2 quarterback-hurries

NOTES

Adrian Magee started at left guard instead of Donavaughn Campbell. Inside linebacker Jacob Phillips was unable to play because of an injury. Baskerville, a true freshman, stepped in for Phillips and made a season-high 11 tackles. . .Burrow’s two interceptions were his first two of the season. Earlier in the game, Burrow set the school record by not throwing an interception in 159 consecutive passes. . .Dillon’s four receptions were a career-high. He had caught only one pass in the previous five games. . .Stewart, who made the game-clinching interception, played his high school football at New Orleans McDonogh 35. He is the only Louisiana native on the Florida roster. . .Since the start of the 2014 season, LSU’s record when it scores fewer than 20 points is 3-14. The three victories came against Ole Miss in 2014 (10-7), Texas A&M in 2015 (19-7) and Florida in 2017 (17-16). . .The Tigers are now 3-4 in one-possession games since Ed Orgeron became coach. The three victories came against Florida in 2017 (17-16) and Auburn in 2017 (27-23) and 2018 (22-21). The three losses prior to Saturday came against Florida in 2016 (16-10), Troy in 2017 (24-21) and Notre Dame in 2017 (21-17). . .In 2012, the Gators also prevented LSU from winning its first six games. A 5-0 Tigers team lost at Florida 14-6. . .LSU is 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the SEC. The Gators are 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the SEC. . .The paid attendance was 90,283.

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM

Coach Ed Orgeron’s comments: “The team that won the line of scrimmage and won the turnover battle won the game. We couldn’t protect (Joe Burrow). We tried every protection we could. It didn’t work. When it did work, we didn’t catch the ball. We lost the line of scrimmage. We gave up too many explosive plays. That last drive Florida had was devastating.”

UP NEXT

LSU will play host to Georgia at Tiger Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Central. The game will be available on CBS. The Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) played Vanderbilt in Athens on Saturday night.

LSU Tigers Colosseum Magic Quarter-Zip Jacket – Gray