LSU DOMINATES WITH 530 TOTAL YARDS & 56 POINTS, DESTROYING SOUTHEASTERN 56-10

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

Despite producing a trio of middling offensive performances over their first 3 games, LSU walked into Death Valley to face in-state Southeastern University holding a 3-0 record and a #3 national ranking....but worry, concern, and questions still swirled.

There was Brian Kelly's press conference defense of their more conservative play calling and offensive approach....

There was news of QB Garrett Nussmeier's "torso" injury used as an excuse for the lack of points or production.....

There were questions about the passing game, the O-line's perilous ways.....

And they all had a point...they all had merit...at the same time, LSU was undefeated and about to take on a team, like Louisiana Tech, they'd be expected to blow out....but would they follow it up with yet another "23-7 sort of win"?

While we didn't receive affirmations of every offensive concern, barraged by even more questions regarding Brad Davis' offensive line, LSU's 2025 offense finally woke up, shook off the cobwebs, and put together the brand of robust beatdown Saturday night called for:

Winning 56-10, including a 35-0 halftime lead, racking up 530 total yards of offense, rushing for 135, both 1st & 2nd string QBs involved in tossing 4 passing touchdowns to 4 different receivers (Thomas, Brown, Sharp, Parker), plus 4 rushing scores (2 by Ju’Juan Johnson, 1 each for QBs Nussmeier and Michael Van Buren), as Nussmeier himself looked better than at any point so far this campaign (273 yards, 25/31, 3 TD passes, 1 rushing TD and a 26 yard scramble)....it was an evening where Joe Sloan's offense aimed to dominate and did just that.

Trying to lay the groundwork for an offense that can answer the heights of Blake Baker's unbridled, unleashed defensive fantasm, LSU's offense leveled up on Saturday night with a fine showcase, still a mere scratching of the surface considering what's really possible.

Scoring on methodical, controlling drives of 74+ yards on 3 occasions, alongside a few more of 50+ yards, including a beautifully run 8 minute 2nd half drive, plus a key 13 play, 5 minute 18 second drive for the first touchdown of the game, Nussmeier and Co set the stage early for the blowout that was about to arrive.

All the talk this week centered around Nussmeier's torso injury, which LSUOdyssey subscribers were already well aware of; In our Preview Show, I didn't even want Nussmeier throwing a pass in this game, given his injury and the lowly opposition.

While LSU did run 4 touchdowns on the ground and rushed 35 times, this was no time for kid gloves when it came to their senior QB:

Making it through the 1st half and 1 series of the 3rd quarter, Nussmeier slung the ball around beautifully, and would've completed his first 14 passes if not for 4 cumbersome drops by Cortez Hankton's wideouts, but they ultimately found their groove:

Tight End Bauer Sharp led the way, reeling in 5 catches for 73 yards and his first LSU touchdown, featuring a couple leaping vaults over the top of defenders' heads.

Target man Barion Brown was robbed of a touchdown vs Clemson, however, he made his peace with the past when climbing the ladder on a beautiful contested catch nearing the back of the end zone, chipping in 5 catches for 54 yards and the score, also rushing the ball on an end around for 9 yards before making an early starter's exit.

Zavion Thomas continues to make plays for LSU's struggling offense, now catching his 2nd touchdown on the season, compiling just a pair of grabs for 26 yards and 1 rush for 6 (during a limited, yet effective snap count).

Overall, LSU's passing game was much more assured, despite a lack of repeated explosion downfield, but it wasn't for a complete lack of trying (a wide open bomb for Chris Hilton Jr was interrupted by a pass interference flag).

On the ground, Ju’Juan Johnson scored a pair of touchdowns & registered 43 yards on 8 carries (also providing a 14 yard reception), supporting the offense via effective running and catching out of the backfield....perhaps sealing his spot as the #2 running back in the process.

As for Blake Baker's incredible defense, it was once again another stellar outing, shutting out Southeastern for the entire 1st half (continuing their streak of shutting out all 4 opponents for at least one half), only giving up points when all or most of LSU's starters came off the field. Baker's Bayou Bandits also kept another run alive, allowing just 1 touchdown in each game.

Surrendering a high of 36 receiving and 40 rushing yards, just 204 total yards, 1/11 on 3rd down, only 3.4 per rush, 4.3 per play, and only 10 first downs all night, 4 sacks (2 by freshman Damien Shanklin, 1 by Dylan Carpenter, and a tandem of Jacobian Guillory alongside Jack Pyburn sharing another), 7 tackles for loss, 5 PBUs (3 batted down at the line by defensive linemen Jimari Butler, Dominick McKinley and Walter Mathis Jr), plus a punch out forced fumble from the extremely effective Bernard Gooden, this was another consistently impressive defensive performance....mostly underlining the Tigers' incredible depth.

All together, aside from LSU's offense waking up and a few key injuries we will keep both eyes on, what can you honestly assess and take away from a 56-10 blowout over an in-state minnow school???

Maybe nothing else matters from tonight except for two factors:

1. The win.

2. A growing confidence.

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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