NCAAF Game Recap - Georgia Southern at LSU
Sat Aug 31, 2019 7:30 PM EDT

GATec
14
Clem
52
F
Duke
3
Bama
42
F
UGA
30
Vand
6
F
Hou
31
Okla
49
F
FlAtl
21
OSU
45
F
GaSo
3
LSU
55
F
MidTN
21
Mich
40
F
ND
35
Lou
17
F
LT
14
Tex
45
F
Oreg
21
Aub
27
F
TxSt
7
TxAM
41
F
EWa
14
Wash
47
F
Utah
30
BYU
12
F
Idaho
7
PSU
79
F
FlaAM
0
UCF
62
F
Tuls
7
MSU
28
F
Wisc
49
SoFL
0
F
MiaOH
14
Iowa
38
F
NoIa
26
IASt
29
F(2OT)
Syr
24
Lib
0
F
NMS
7
WaSt
58
F
SoAl
21
Neb
35
F
NW
7
Stan
17
F
Alb
21
C Mi
38
F
UCLA
14
Cin
24
F
RMor
10
Buff
38
F
Wagn
21
UConn
24
F
Mor
3
BGSU
46
F
C Ark
35
W Ky
28
F
GWebb
28
UNCC
49
F
JacSt
14
SouLA
35
F
AlaSt
19
UAB
24
F
FLInt
14
Tul
42
F
SDSU
21
MIN
28
F
NoCol
18
SJSU
35
F
Kent
7
AzSt
30
F
Rice
7
Army
14
F
UMass
21
Rut
48
F
UtSt
35
Wake
38
F
Purd
31
NEV
34
F
ColSt
31
Colo
52
F
OkSt
52
OreSt
36
F
Miss
10
Mem
15
F
MissSt
38
ULLaf
28
F
InSt
17
Kans
24
F
Akr
3
Ill
42
F
ECU
6
NCSt
34
F
How
0
MD
79
F
Toled
24
KY
38
F
Ind
34
Ball
24
F
Boise
36
FlaSt
31
F
JMU
13
WVU
20
F
URI
20
Ohio
41
F
Buck
12
Temp
56
F
HolyC
7
Navy
45
F
Colg
7
AF
48
F
GASt
38
Tenn
30
F
SCar
20
UNC
24
F
E Mi
30
CoCar
23
F
ETenn
7
App
42
F
MonSt
10
TxTch
45
F
PorSt
13
Ark
20
F
VaTec
28
BC
35
F
SamHu
31
NM
39
F
(N/A)
7
UTSA
35
F
Camp
14
Troy
43
F
UCDav
13
Cal
27
F
VMI
17
Marsh
56
F
IllSt
10
NIU
24
F
Monm
13
WestMI
48
F
AlcSt
10
SMiss
38
F
Nich
14
K St
49
F
SFA
17
Bayl
56
F
SMU
37
ArkSt
30
F
Norf
21
OD
24
F
MIZ
31
Wyo
37
F
Abil
31
NorTx
51
F
UVA
30
Pitt
14
F
Gram
9
ULMon
31
F
HBU
34
UTEP
36
F
ArkPB
7
TCU
39
F
Web
0
SDSU
6
F
SoUt
23
UNLV
56
F
Fres
23
USC
31
F

Aug 31, 2019, 7:30 PM EDT

Final

1

2

3

4

T

Georgia Southern (0-1)

0

3

0

0

3

(6) LSU (1-0)

21

21

10

3

55

Burrow throws for 5 TDs, No. 6 LSU beats Ga. Southern 55-3
Sun Sep 1, 2019 1:09 AM

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) LSU quarterback Joe Burrow smiled playfully while urging reporters crowding around to him to write that the Tigers' new offense "showed everything we got - all of it," in its opener against overmatched Georgia Southern.

Burrow knew no one would believe him - not with LSU's first true test against at No. 10 Texas coming up next weekend. Yet, even the plays LSU did run will put the rest of their opponents on notice that the Tigers are transformed offensively.

Burrow tied an LSU single-game record with five touchdown passes before halftime and No. 6 Tigers held a multi-touchdown lead for all but the first six minutes in a 55-3 victory on Saturday night.

Unleashing a new spread scheme, the Tigers (1-0) scored 21 points in the first quarter - something they never did in any quarter last season. Their point total was the most in a non-overtime game since scoring 63 against New Mexico State in 2014.

"I wanted 60 tonight," Burrow said. "We've definitely come out of the stone age."

Directing his unit with pace and precision, Burrow completed 23 of 27 passes for 278 yards without an interception before being subbed out after LSU's first possession of the second half, which ended with a field goal. That was Burrow's last chance to break the LSU mark of five touchdowns in a game set by Zach Mettenberger in 2013.

Designed largely by new passing-game coordinator Joe Brady and overseen by incumbent offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, the up-tempo, no-huddle scheme routinely features five receiving targets, some of whom give Burrow the option to unload the ball quickly if under pressure.

"We're going to run the spread offense. We're going to score points. We've got athletes. That's what we do," coach Ed Orgeron said. "The scheme is a lot better this year. We have answers to different coverages."

SNAPPING TO IT

Burrow often was ready for the snap - and could be seen hopping anxiously - while officials stood over center, forcing the Tigers to wait until the Eagles (0-1) had a chance to make substitutions.

"I got on the officials a couple of times because we didn't sub, and they were holding the ball up. We are trying to go tempo," Burrow said. "We are going to keep building on this thing and make it even better."

Burrow's first touchdown pass capped a 75-yard drive that took just 2:24 off the clock. LSU led 14-0 with 8:10 remaining in the opening period. None of the Tigers' six touchdown drives directed by Burrow lasted longer than 3:50.

SPREADING THE WEALTH

Burrow completed passes to nine players. By the end, 14 LSU players had caught a pass, led by Justin Jefferson's five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Terrace Marshall Jr. caught three short scoring passes.

Tight end Thaddeus Moss, the son of Hall-of-Fame receiver Randy Moss, caught two passes for 61 yards, including a 44-yarder deep down the right side.

"It was a blast," Moss said. "Our offense has been the talk of the off-season. It felt good to finally put that out there."

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for a short TD.

TIME ON TASK

Georgia Southern, which won 10 games last season, was confronted with an LSU defense prepared to stop its triple-option. Eagles starting quarterback Shai Werts completed one pass for no yards and was held to minus-7 yards rushing before being knocked out of the game with an apparent upper body injury in the first half.

"Obviously we ran into a really good football team," Georgia Southern coach Chad Lunsford said. "Coach O came across the field and said, `Hey, we've been preparing for you guys since February,' and that showed."

LSU finished with a 472-98 advantage in total yards.

LSU's defense forced two turnovers. Rashard Lawrence forced a fumble recovered by Patrick Queen. Grant Delpit recovered a second fumble after outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson dislodged the ball with a hit that left running back Matt LaRoche needing attention on the field before walking off with help from trainers.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia Southern: The Eagles were not as competitive as they hoped to be, but the quality of the opponent had a lot to do with that. Their Sun Belt Conference schedule won't be as tough.

LSU: Even against an opponent from a mid-major conference, the Tigers had to be pleased with how sharp and dominant they looked offensively. Beyond the point total, there were no turnovers or sacks allowed. The defense also looked formidable and special teams play was solid.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

LSU shouldn't lose ground in the AP Top 25 Poll after a dominant showing.

UP NEXT

Georgia Southern: Hosts Maine on Saturday, Sept. 7.

LSU: Visits No. 10 Texas on Saturday, Sept. 7

---

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Passing

GaSo Att Cmp % TD-Pa Yds-Pa LgPa Int Rat
J. Tomlin 8 3 37.5 0 24 12 0 45.8
S. Werts 3 1 33.3 0 0 0 0 42.4
LSU Att Cmp % TD-Pa Yds-Pa LgPa Int Rat
J. Burrow 27 23 85.2 5 278 44 0 149.2
M. Brennan 12 7 58.3 0 72 32 0 75.7

Rushing

GaSo Att Yds-Ru Avg LgRu TDRu
L. Wright 13 37 2.8 11 0
J. King 11 23 2.1 5 0
LSU Att Yds-Ru Avg LgRu TDRu
C. Edwards-Helaire 9 45 5.0 13 1
C. Curry 2 23 11.5 20 0

Receiving

GaSo Rec Yds-Rc Avg LgRc TD-Rc
K. Hood 1 12 12.0 12 0
C. Brown 1 10 10.0 10 0
LSU Rec Yds-Rc Avg LgRc TD-Rc
J. Jefferson 5 87 17.4 44 1
T. Moss 2 61 30.5 44 0

Fumbles

GaSo F FL
S. Werts 1 1
M. LaRoche 1 1

Returning

GaSo KR Avg KRTD LgKR PR Avg TD LgPR
M. Brinson 1 13.0 0 13 0 0 0
LSU KR Avg KRTD LgKR PR Avg TD LgPR
D. Stingley Jr. 0 0 0 4 13.0 0 32

Punting

GaSo Punt Yds Avg LgPu
A. Beck II 9 396 44.0 74
LSU Punt Yds Avg LgPu
Z. Von Rosenberg 3 155 51.7 53

Takeaways

Team Stats Comparison

GaSo LSU
Points For 3 55
Total Yards 98 472
Rushing Yards 74 122
Passing Yards 24 350
Passing Completions / Attempts 4/11 30/39
Turnovers 2 0
Interceptions Thrown 0 0
Fumbles - Lost 2/2 0/0
First Downs 8 22
Penalties - Yards 4/20 7/70
Time Of Possession 32:32 28:28
Third Down Conversions/Attempts 1/12 8/14
Fourth Down Conversions/Attempts 0/0 1/1
Punts - Average Yards 9/44 3/52

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter GaSo LSU
LSU 02:24 TD Ja'Marr Chase 13 yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick) 0 7
LSU 06:50 TD Clyde Edwards-Helaire 1 yd run (Cade York kick) 0 14
LSU 11:51 TD Justin Jefferson 9 yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick) 0 21
2nd Quarter GaSo LSU
LSU 01:50 TD Terrace Marshall Jr. 8 yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick) 0 28
LSU 05:02 TD Terrace Marshall Jr. 3 yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick) 0 35
GaSo 09:47 FG Tyler Bass 47 yd FG 3 35
LSU 14:02 TD Terrace Marshall Jr. 11 yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick) 3 42
3rd Quarter GaSo LSU
LSU 04:12 FG Cade York 39 yd FG 3 45
LSU 09:13 TD Lanard Fournette 2 yd run (Cade York kick) 3 52
4th Quarter GaSo LSU
LSU 04:02 FG Cade York 48 yd FG 3 55

Game Information

Stadium: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Attendance: 97,420
Game Time:
Weather: