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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
Playing in an overlooked, often called "meaningless" bowl game some elite Tigers opted out of, Brian Kelly's 2024 squad delivered an exciting, mostly well-rounded performance that was anything but meaningless, featuring an early defensive touchdown (the first of LSU's season), a kickoff return touchdown, and a dominant outing by starting QB Garrett Nussmeier.
Without his starting left tackle, right tackle or left guard along the O-line, while also missing two of their starting receivers, and the program's most productive tight end, LSU's offense still led the way with a 44-31 victory over Dave Aranda's outclassed Baylor Bears, matching their season-high in single game scoring as QB Garrett Nussmeier put on a blistering passing clinic, completing 24/34 passes for 304 yards, 3 TDs and 1 ill advised interception (his only bad play of the night).
It wasn't merely his statistic precision, Nussmeier's devastatingly accurate passes went into impossibly tight windows, over the top of sprawling, outstretching defenders, slicing Dave Aranda's coverages into pieces with one downfield shot after another...proving without question LSU's first year starting signal caller was indeed the best quarterback in the SEC this past fall:
Enter stage right....
WR Chris Hilton Jr fought off injury to score 2 TDs vs Oklahoma & tack on just 140 total yards over his final 3 games of 2024.
Today, Hilton caught 4 passes for 113 yards and 1 TD (nearly a 2nd) inside the first half alone, hauling in consecutive deep shot bombs over the top of Baylor's hapless, helpless secondary....showcasing his delirious pace, deep ball target value, and superb concentration when bringing down 2 game-turning deep shots (catching 1 of the 2 long ball opportunities while fighting through an obvious pass interference).
Freshman TE Trey'Dez Green enjoyed a breakout game, cast as the target that would buy Hilton even more downfield space, Green instead turned into the primal red zone finisher LSU's offense was desperate for all season long:
Catching the game's opening drive touchdown, as well as another backbreaking, beautifully drawn up score later on (where Green found himself decoy blocking before rolling to the flat for a wide open pitch and catch), much like Hilton Jr, the generational tight end talent threw down a marker with serious, dangerous, cold blooded intent (58 yards, 6 catches from 7 targets & 2 TDs).
It was a riveting deluge from Joe Sloan's offense, propelled by a massive early turnover that forced Aranda's Baylor to chase the game for 4 quarters:
Sitting deeper in coverage, hovering over the flat and anticipating Sawyer Robinson's poor throw his way, freshman LB Davhon Keys broke on an early 1st quarter route, picked the pass off, and raced 20 yards into the end zone for the pick six....a staggering play that buried Baylor's hopes from the start.
Scoring LSU's only defensive touchdown of 2024 to start their final game of the year, Keys is now just the 3rd Tiger in program history to record an interception touchdown return during a bowl game / or postseason play, joining Frank "Quad" Wilson IV (2022 vs Purdue) and Marcus Spears (2003 title game vs Oklahoma).
Giving Nussmeier and the young offensive line plenty of momentum, Keys' pick six sobered up the pipe dreaming Baylor Bears in a hurry....not to mention the debutant linebacker also added 5 tackles & a batted pass to his impressive stat line.
LSU's defense started the game well, holding Baylor to 62 total rushing yards, forcing 3 early turnover on downs with hard nosed 4th down stops (5 in total), denying Aranda's squad on 3rd down attempts (just 5/13), however Blake Baker's secondary gave up 445 passing yards, and the team allowed 31 points....how???
Two words: Whit Weeks.
The first half injury to the All-SEC linebacker ended his game, season, and gave Baylor some glimmer of hope, as Weeks left the game leading the team with 6 tackles (he'd remain only 1 tackle shy of the game total).
It was a gruesome, agonizing injury for Weeks, and yet he luckily escaped the worst case diagnosis scenario and his sickening departure galvanized his teammates:
Once Weeks rose to his feet, placed on the cart waiting to take him to the locker room, the entire LSU squad left the bench and each gave their blessing to the fallen linebacker.
It was an epic, emotional moment that not only outlined Weeks' importance to the team, but the overwhelming love and respect his teammates & coaches have for him.
Immediately following up images of Weeks being carted off the field, demanding the fans get loud and stay focused, Zavion Thomas returned a kickoff over 90 yards for a touchdown, setting NRG Stadium alight and seemingly killing off the game then and there.
Except LSU allowed the game to get interesting....despite Whit's older brother West filling in beautifully at his brother's WLL linebacker position (leading the team with 7 tackles), the Tigers let proceedings get sloppy during the long, endless 2nd half.
Aaron Anderson dropped 2 touchdowns and fumbled, however LSU's most trustworthy & impactful 2024 receiver still delivered 92 yards; Sloan's offense threw away a few more red zone opportunities, Nussmeier's perfection was rudely interrupted by an awful second half interception (he unthinkably threw straight to a defender), LSU's secondary of Toviano, Spears, Stamps, and Alexander / Woodland made some strong solo plays, but for the most part, repeatedly gave up big gains through the air, screwing around and surrendering far too many 2nd half points as a defense.
Regardless of any typical bowl game sloppiness, the injury to Whit Weeks was the only incident that marred LSU's 2024 finale, though luckily his injury won't be a long term issue from today's diagnosis.
For all of LSU nation, excited over established stars returning, a swath of elite transfer portal arrivals & stated 2025 championship ambition, today's flashes of playmaking in all three phases, alongside the promising rise of many young Tigers, stands as a tantalizing preview of what could be a special upcoming 2025 campaign.
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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
©️ 2024 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
I think celebrating the win is the order of the day, but it is obvious we will need to score very well with our draft and portal classes to be significantly better. The needs on defense are significant, and this may sound too negative, but Sloan needs significant help to establish a more effective run game. That is not his strength.,