LSU Tigers vs Florida Gators Match Player Stats On Oct 07, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 7, 2017

LSU quarterback Danny Etling threw a touchdown pass, and the Tigers defense made a late stand in a much-needed 17-16 SEC victory over No. 21 Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday.

Etling, who was benched in the second half of last week's upset loss to Troy, threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Carter that extended LSU's lead to 17-3 early in the third quarter.

Florida's running attack got the Gators back in the game. Lamical Perine capped back-to-back scoring drives with short touchdown runs, but the Gators botched a potential tying extra point and trailed 17-16 heading into the fourth quarter.

Still trailing by one with 4:01 to play, Florida started a drive from its own 4-yard line. The Gators (3-2, 3-1 SEC), lacking explosive playmakers in the passing game, methodically tried to get something going, but ended up failing on fourth-and-3 at its 25, giving the ball back to LSU on downs.

The Tigers (4-2,1-1) ran out the final seconds and picked up a huge win.

This SEC rivalry has intensified the past two seasons. Last year, the game was relocated from Gainesville, Fla., to Baton Rouge, La., due to the threat of Hurricane Matthew. The decision to move the game instead of reschedule it rankled the Gators, who eventually won 16-10 at Tiger Stadium.

LSU would get revenge this year, when it needed it most. The Tigers were coming off a humiliating loss at home to Troy that left first-year coach Ed Orgeron facing stiff criticism just a few games into his tenure.

LSU opened the second half with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Etling's touchdown pass to Carter. Etling finished 9 of 16 for 125 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

The Tigers got their running game going first, with a mix of between-the-tackle plays and jet sweeps with wide receivers. The Tigers opened the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run by receiver Russell Gage late in the first quarter.

The Tigers rushed for 133 yards in the first half and led 10-3 at halftime.

Florida, which rushed for 194 yards and passed for 108, never seemed to pose a big-play threat against the Tigers' defense. Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks completed 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards without a touchdown.

LSU finished with 216 yards on the ground, with Derrius Guice returning from injury to rush for 50 yards. Gage had 52 yards on six carries.

NOTES: Florida K Eddy Pineiro's 25-yard field goal accounted for the Gators' only points of the first half. Pineiro's field goal extended the Gators' streak of not being shut out to 366 games, breaking the NCAA record set by Michigan from 1984-2014. ... LSU WR Derrick Dillon was disqualified in the first quarter after being called for targeting. ... LSU hosts No. 12 Auburn next week; Florida hosts Texas A&M.