LSU blasts Baylor 44-31 in Texas Bowl
A shorthanded LSU (9-4, 5-3) came into the Kinder’s Texas Bowl as 3.5-point underdogs and walked away with a double-digit victory.
Despite being without multiple star players such as Will Campbell, Emory Jones, Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor, LSU managed to end Baylor’s six-game win streak to the tune of 44-31.
With the aforementioned players opting out of the game for the NFL Draft, it was up to young players to step up and earn the win for LSU. And those young players got rolling early against Baylor (8-5, 6-3).
On LSU’s opening drive, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier connected with freshman tight end Trey’Dez Green for a ten-yard touchdown.
That was one of two touchdowns Green hauled in on the day. He finished the game with six grabs for 53 yards.
“He made you forget about Mason Taylor with the plays he made on third and fourth down,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said of Green.
On Baylor’s opening drive, freshman linebacker Davhon Keys intercepted Sawyer Robertson and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown giving LSU a 14-0 lead. Keys had five tackles an interception and a pass breakup in the game.
This would be one of the few highlights for LSU against Baylor’s passing attack. Robertson went on to complete 30 of his 51 attempts for 445 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
As good as he was, Nussmeier arguably outdueled him and was named the game’s MVP.
In the second quarter, Nussmeier found receiver Chris Hilton deep twice for gains of 41 and 43 yards while extending LSU’s lead to 28-7. Hilton was LSU’s leading receiver with four catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Nussmeier completed 24 of his 34 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. During the game, Nussmeier surpassed Jayden Daniels for the second-most single-season passing yards in LSU history. He finished his first season as a starter with 4,043 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.
LSU gave up two turnovers in the second quarter allowing Baylor to cut the lead to ten points. But that's as close as the Bears would get.
In the fourth quarter, LSU running back Josh Williams punched in a four-yard direct snap for a touchdown allowing LSU to play it safe and cruise to the 13-point victory.
“It was a little bit of everything today but it’s been really fun to coach this team,” Kelly said.
Williams finished with nine carries for 42 yards and a touchdown. However, LSU freshman running back Caden Durham was LSU’s leading rusher with 60 yards on 13 carries.
Defensively, LSU linebacker Whit Weeks and safety Jardin Gilbert were LSU’s leading tacklers with seven each.