LSU GUT THROUGH 20-10 WIN OVER SOUTH CAROLINA
- Lonn Phillips Sullivan
- Oct 11
- 4 min read
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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
Brian Kelly's LSU Tigers head to 5-1 following their grinding 20-10 win over South Carolina, rebounding behind cornerstone performances by Trey'Dez Green & LSU's entire defense after a humiliating loss to Ole Miss 2 weeks ago....although it was anything but pretty, anything but easy, and, if there is such a thing, Saturday night in Death Valley could be characterized as a "frustrating win".
On one hand, Blake Baker's defense
continue to elevate themselves by the game, showcasing their relentless, vicious, and overtly smart unit full of playmakers, unselfish warriors, and speedy freight train ballers....always capable of keeping their team in the game;
On the other side of the coin, we have Joe Sloan's offense, who provided a lot more production than expected tonight (rushing for a season-high 166 yards on the ground), yet Garrett Nussmeier & Co also kept South Carolina in the game with 3 costly turnovers, 1 red zone interception by a hot or cold Nussmeier and a Ju'juan Johnson fumble as he prepared to cross the plane for a touchdown;
LSU's offense was also gifted a pair of turnovers and scored just 3 points, failed to manage stretches of the game (continuously calling passing plays with only minutes left and a 7 point lead), but in the end they were able to get away with every error thanks to another world class display by Blake Baker's dominant defense.
It wasn't all bad, though.
Before he reverted back to his subpar 2025 form throughout the 2nd half, Nussmeier was in rhythm early, connecting on 10 of his first 13 passes, routinely finding Trey'Dez Green and Kyle Parker, both reaching the end zone & tacking on career highs (119 yards, 8 catches, 11 targets & 1 TD for Green, 75 yards, 5 grabs, 6 targets for Parker, alongside his own touchdown).
Coen Echols' appearance at left guard seemed to improve the offensive push, generating 70 yards for the returning Caden Durham, as well as 66 for Ju’Juan Johnson (56 stemming from a single run).
But during critical moments of both halves, LSU's offensive momentum was obliterated by a bad 4/11 3rd down conversion rate, scoring just two touchdowns for the 5th time this season, committing a trio of disastrous turnovers inside the red zone or nearing enemy territory, with Nussmeier throwing 2 more ill-advised, horrific, off balance interceptions that broke the offense's back, joining Ju'juan Johnson's goal-line fumble as crucial errors that would've made this game much closer.....if only LaNorris Sellers was facing any other defense....
Rabid, rangey, unrelenting in their violent refusal to give up even a millimeter, Blake Baker's defense brought the smack down over 4 hardnosed quarters, dragging their team over the line once again:
Supplying a season-high 5 sacks on the ever elusive Sellers, recording 6 tackles for loss, 5 batted passes, 1 interception by Tamarcus Cooley (his 2nd of the season), 1 fumbled exchange between Sellers & his center that was recovered by Patrick Payton (inside South Carolina's 20 yard line), while facing constant pressure from all sides, LSU's defense didn't just exorcize years of dual threat quarterback demons with one night's domination, Baker's Bayou Bandits definitively carried the load as the Tigers claimed victory once again.
Harold Perkins and Whit Weeks stood out as the stars of the show, supplying 15 combined tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 2 QB hits, alongside sacks, neverending pressure & strong tackling pursuit from Jack Pyburn, Bernard Gooden, Pat Payton, and another backfield play for freshman cornerback DJ Pickett.
It was team defense of the highest order, even when giving up a 72 yard touchdown run early in the 1st quarter, Baker's defense adjusted, held Sellers to just over 100 yards passing & 19 yards rushing, forced 4 punts, 2 turnovers on downs, held South Carolina inside the red zone for a pair of field goal attempts, and grabbed yet another 2nd half shutout en route to a 10 point win that should've been far more comfortable.
In many other seasons, this would've been a 24 point win over South Carolina, but this isn't an offense capable of punishing their opponents' errors or capitalizing on turnovers, field position, or any other advantages they've been given.
Regardless, LSU now move to 5-1 on the campaign, grab a much needed win against a tough, physical, grind-it-out opponent, and despite a few offensive improvements, the truth remains: this is still a tale of two teams within one....
Blake Baker's defense shoulders 80% of the load game by game, while Joe Sloan's offense is still failing to get out of 1st gear & running many of the same plays or formations that didn't work over the previous 5 games, as QB Garrett Nussmeier continues to be the perfect case of taking 2 steps forward one play, only to take 4 steps back on the next snap....
Up next, LSU face Vanderbilt in Nashville at an early kickoff time of 11 AM central time this coming Saturday.....Will Theo Vonn be in attendance once again???
WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED ANALYZING THIS GAME...JOIN US ON SUNDAY FOR A LENGTHY DEEP DIVE & FILM REVIEW ALONGSIDE SPECIAL GUESTS!!!
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
©️ 2025 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
Unfortunately, I still stick to my prediction I have made in prior comments. We go 8/4 if the defense stays healthy. This offense is mediocre, and will remain that way. All in all a frustrating team to watch on offense. I love our Tigers and sincerely hope they prove me wrong.