The Florida Gators traveled to Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to meet the LSU Tigers in Week 7 of the 150th anniversary of college football.
Both teams came into the match undefeated: LSU ranked no. five and Florida ranked no. seven in the nation. The title of undefeated could only remain with one of these squads after Saturday Night.
LSU’s opening drive ended scoreless after kicker Cade York missed from 44 yards. But they bounced back on their second drive after Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for a nine-yard touchdown pass with less than 10 minutes to go in the first. A score that was set up by a 57-yard run back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The Gators answered the bell on their second possession, as Kyle Trask hit Trevon Grimes for a five-yard score –– capitalizing on an 11-play, six-plus minute drive, deadlocking the game at seven apiece late in the first quarter.
The remainder of a quarter was a punt-off, concluding in an early-second quarter punt by Florida.
The second quarter was an action-packed touchdown-fest, starting with a Joe Burrow strike to Justin Jefferson, and concluding with a Kyle Trask six-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson. Four drives, four touchdowns, 21-21 heading into halftime.
Florida got first dibs in the third quarter and, after several pass completions and rushes that converted into first or second downs, Trask again connected with Van Jefferson for a two-yard score, taking a 28-21 lead with 10:54 remaining in the third.
LSU responded with Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s second touchdown of the game, and it seemed as if the third quarter would follow in the footsteps of the second quarter.
However, unlike the second quarter, Florida didn’t respond to the Tigers touchdown with any points in their next possession. But, as LSU does, they took a 35-28 lead after Tyrion Davis-Prince rushed for a 33-yard touchdown with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter.
The teams then traded punts for the remainder of the third, and into the early stages of the fourth. However, that run of punts ended with Derek Stingley Jr. intercepting a Kyle Trask throw.
While LSU didn’t convert on that drive, they did get another chance later on –– and Burrow connected with Chase again for a long 54-yard touchdown pass. This extended the Tigers’ lead by 14 points, with 5:43 left in the game. Florida had one more chance to close the gap in their final possession, but despite an exhausting possession that lasted for almost five minutes and 15 plays, they were unable to put any more points on the board.
LSU ended the game on top: 42-28, handing Florida their first loss of the season.
Both teams played strong defenses and, had the Gators possessed the steam to keep going in the fourth quarter, the outcome might have been different.
Next up for the Florida Gators is a trip to Columbia to meet the South Carolina Gamecocks, who upset the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in SEC play on Saturday in Athens.
LSU faces Mississippi State next week in Starkville.
