LSU suffocates New Mexico 38-0
There wasn’t much LSU could do to impress viewers against New Mexico (2-2, 0-1) Saturday Night in Tiger Stadium, but there’s always the chance to underwhelm fans in games like this.
LSU (3-1, 1-0) avoided any such letdown suffocating New Mexico 38-0 in a game where the Tigers outgained the Lobos 633-88.
“I’m pleased any time you shut out an opponent, that’s difficult to do in college football,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “We had about three or four starters out on defense, so the guys really rallied.”
In addition to the shutout, LSU limited New Mexico to just two first downs, and a punt on nine out of New Mexico’s ten drives. The one other drive ended at halftime.
While LSU comfortably dominated the ball game, penalties and red zone mishaps kept the deficit closer than the yardage count suggested. And as strong as LSU’s defense was, it forced no turnovers, which prevented LSU from having any short-field situations.
In fact, with only seconds remaining before halftime, LSU held just a 10-0 lead before LSU running back Armoni Goodwin barreled in for a one-yard touchdown. Goodwin had eight carries for 24 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
In the third quarter with a 17-0 lead, LSU starting quarterback Jayden Daniels came out of the game after hitting his head hard on the ground on a scramble. He completed 24 of 29 passes for 279 yards and added nine carries for 37 yards on the ground.
LSU’s backup quarterback, Garret Nussmeier, then came in and led the Tigers in for a touchdown capturing a 24-0 lead.
“Jayden (Daniels) strained his back,” Kelly said. “He could have gone back in, but at that point, there was no need.”
But, after struggling against Southern two weeks ago, Nussmeier needed a strong performance and that’s exactly what he delivered. He completed nine of his ten passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Nussmeier led the Tigers on three touchdown drives, including two capped off by scoring runs from LSU running back Noah Cain. Cain was LSU’s leading rusher with 94 yards on his eleven carries.
“It’s all about building chemistry and getting more comfortable,” Cain said. “We’re all starting to get more comfortable and it’s helping us become special.”
Leading LSU’s suffocating defense was freshman linebacker Harold Perkins with eight tackles.
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