The LSU Tigers had a tough match-up on the road as they played the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. The Tigers struggled for most of the day with special teams and penalties. Despite some of their miscues, LSU pulled away late in the game as they left with a 34-24 win to move to 3-0 on the season and dropping the Orange to 3-1 on the season.
LSU running back Leonard Fournette had another huge day as he went for a career-high 244 yards, his third straight game breaking his personal record, and two touchdowns. The Tigers made their first mistake of the game on special teams as Tre’Davious White fielded a punt inside the five yard line.
After trading punts, the Tigers once again took over deep in their own territory. The Tigers faced a second and long near the 50. Harris was under pressure and that’s when he and Fournette made an alert play to turn a sack into a big gain.
This was an awesome play. That block at the end though… https://t.co/tn3wmzVKxV#GeauxTigers #CFB https://t.co/8GFPLleHoy
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) September 26, 2015
That run helped the Tigers get on the board first in the game. Fournette got into the endzone for his first score from 14 yards out, making the score 7-0. The Orange answered midway through the second quarter to make the score 7-3.
The game remained a defensive struggle that was littered with penalties for LSU. The Tigers, who were once the most penalized team in the country, committed nine penalties in the first half.
Late in the second quarter, the Orange were driving and they faced a fourth and short inside LSU territory. They attempted a field goal, but the punter Riley Dixon picked up the ball and raced towards the marker on a fake punt. That’s when made the biggest play of the day for the Orange.
https://vine.co/v/exX6iY1uPuU
That play turned out to be null as the Orange could not put points up on the board as the halftime score stood at 7-3.
The Tigers started off the second half by going down and getting a field goal to go up by seven once again. On the ensuing drive, the Tigers forced a punt and White redeemed himself from the mistake early in the ball game by going 69 yards on the return for the touchdown, his first of the season.
https://twitter.com/TigerDroppings/status/647838936635678724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Orange were not going to say die despite being down 17-3. Fifth-string quarterback Zack Mahoney threw his first touchdown of the season as he hit Brisly Estime from 40 yards out to make the score a one-touchdown game again.
VIDEO: Atlantic grad, #Syracuse WR Brisly Estime hauls in a 40-yard TD vs. #LSU. @AHS_BALL @BALL_CHILL9 http://t.co/f1SFz8JsZu
— Wells Dusenbury (@DuseReport) September 26, 2015
It didn’t take long for the Tigers to answer the Orange as the next drive saw Fournette get over 200 yards on the ground for the second consecutive game of the season. He did so on a 62-yard touchdown run to make the score 24-10.
Leonard Fournette. Another TD. #LSU pic.twitter.com/cmlgzkfUlU
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) September 26, 2015
The Tigers and Orange went back in forth in the final period of play, but LSU held off the Orange to advance to 3-0 on the season with a 34-24 win on the road.
Fournette finished the day with 244 yards, a LSU road game record and just six yards short of the school record of 250 set by Alley Broussard in 2004. Harris had a terrific day for the Tigers as well throwing for 157 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Malachi Dupre caught four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
For the Orange, Mahoney went for 154 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Estime had two catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
LSU next plays at home against Eastern Michigan on October 3. The Orange have a week off before travelling to take on the South Florida Bulls on October 10.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
