Field Level Media
Nov 23, 2019
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns as No. 1 LSU overcame a slow start to rout visiting Arkansas 56-20 and clinch the SEC West Division title Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.
Edwards-Helaire had just six carries and scored on runs of 27, 26 and 89 yards. He also caught seven passes for 65 yards.
The back stole a bit of the spotlight from presumed Heisman Trophy front-runner Joe Burrow, who played just 2 1/2 quarters as the Tigers (11-0, 7-0) scored touchdowns in their last three possessions of the second quarter and on four straight in the third quarter.
Burrow had what has become a routine performance for him, completing 23 of 28 attempts for 327 yards and three touchdowns.
The Tigers will face East division champion Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 7. LSU won its first division title since 2011, and a home victory against Texas A&M next Saturday would match that team as the only ones in school history to have a 12-0 regular season.
The Razorbacks (2-9, 0-7) were playing their first game under interim head coach Barry Lunney Jr., who was promoted from tight ends coach/special teams coordinator after Chad Morris was fired nearly two weeks ago.
Tyrion Davis-Price ran 2 yards for a touchdown, Edwards-Helaire ran 27 for his first touchdown and Burrow and Justin Jefferson teamed for a 10-yard score on three straight possessions in the final eight minutes of the first half. LSU increased a 7-6 lead to 28-6 at the break.
On the Tigers' second possession of the second half, Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase connected on a 50-yard touchdown pass. Edwards-Helaire ran for two more touchdowns before John Emery ran 39 yards for a touchdown 33 seconds into the fourth quarter to cap LSU's scoring.
The Tigers, who allowed more than 600 yards in a 58-37 victory at Ole Miss a week earlier, kept the Razorbacks out of the end zone until the fourth quarter and allowed just 304 yards.
LSU received the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards, finishing the drive with Burrow's 37-yard touchdown pass to Chase.
Arkansas answered with field goals of 24 and 47 yards by Connor Limpert.
--Field Level Media