LSU needed a response after its loss at Ole Miss. On Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, the Tigers delivered one on both sides of the ball, beating No. 23 Texas A&M 35 to 6.
The offense gained 506 yards, including 312 through the air and 194 on the ground. Blake Baker’s defense held the Aggies to 197 total yards and kept them out of the end zone. LSU led 14 to 3 at halftime, then scored 21 points in the third quarter to put the game away.
Harris and Leavitt open up the offense
Sam Leavitt completed 17 of 23 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson Harris caught both scoring passes and finished with six receptions for 163 yards. Winston Watkins Jr. added five catches for 107 yards.
The Tigers struck first when Dilin Jones scored on a one yard run. Texas A&M cut the lead to 7 to 3 with a field goal, but LSU answered late in the second quarter. Leavitt found Harris for a 16 yard touchdown that sent the Tigers into halftime with an 11 point advantage.
LSU’s biggest offensive play came on its opening possession of the second half. Facing fourth down, Leavitt connected with Harris for a 57 yard touchdown. The decision to keep the offense on the field turned a promising drive into a 21 to 3 lead.
The third quarter belongs to LSU
The defense gave the Tigers another opening when Davhon Keys stopped a Texas A&M run on fourth down. LSU took over at the Aggies’ 34 yard line, and Landen Clark finished the short drive with a four yard touchdown run.
Texas A&M managed one more field goal. LSU responded with a 75 yard drive that ended in Clark’s second rushing touchdown. By the end of the third quarter, the Tigers led 35 to 6.
Jones finished with 63 rushing yards and a touchdown. Harlem Berry added 58 yards on seven carries, giving LSU production on the ground to match its big plays in the passing game.
No touchdowns allowed
Texas A&M finished with 106 passing yards and 91 rushing yards. The Aggies converted four of 15 third downs, and their only points came on two field goals.
LSU also intercepted two passes. Tamarcus Cooley picked off starter Marcel Reed in the fourth quarter, and Michael Turner Jr. intercepted backup Brady Hart later in the period. The Tigers gave Texas A&M few opportunities to build momentum, then made the Aggies pay when the offense found its rhythm.
One week after falling short in Oxford, LSU looked like a team determined to settle the matter early. The Tigers paired explosive plays with a defense that never allowed Texas A&M into the end zone. The result was their first SEC win of the season and a convincing night in Death Valley.
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