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Nussmeier overcomes a shoulder injury and passes for 3 TDs as LSU tops Oklahoma 37-17
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Garrett Nussmeier passed for 277 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of 40-plus-yard scoring strikes to Chris Hilton after being treated for a throwing shoulder injury, and LSU defeated Oklahoma 37-17 on Saturday night.
Aaron Anderson returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score for LSU (8-4, 5-3 SEC), which closed out the regular season with two straight victories after a three-game skid had dropped the Tigers out of the AP Top 25.
“They listened to the narratives out there that they weren’t excited to play for anything, that the season was over - and they simply went out and played inspired football the last two weeks,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said defiantly, even predicting a return to national title contention within the next few seasons.
“We’re taking receipts, and we’ll see you at the national championship," Kelly said. "This team’s building and we’re excited about it. And we're really proud of them.”
Nussmeier briefly left the game in the second quarter after a heavy blind-side sack by defensive end R Mason Thomas.
“That’s an easy tap-out for most people. Right? That’s an easy one to say: ‘I’m not coming back,’” Kelly said.
But the LSU QB returned to the field from the locker room after X-rays came back negative and wasted little time challenging Oklahoma (6-6, 2-6) deep down field.
“That’s the kind of player he is; that’s the kind of competitor he is,” Kelly said.
Nussmeier closed out his first series back in the game with a 40-yard touchdown pass deep down the right sideline to Hilton, putting LSU up 24-17 with 45 seconds left before halftime.
He risked contact on several scrambles in the second half, but said he “didn't care at all” about the possibility of further injuring his right shoulder.
“My job is to lead my team and do whatever I have to do to win the football game and I wasn't thinking about my shoulder at all,” Nussmeier said. “Once I made the decision I was going, I was going.”
Nussmeier found Hilton deep down the middle for a 45-yard touchdown on LSU's first drive of the third quarter to make it 31-17.
LSU's Kyren Lacy caught three passes for 41 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown for the game's opening score.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables lamented a handful of explosive plays by the Tigers on offense and in the return game - including Caden Durham's 50-yard run and Ka'Morreun Pimpton's 42-yard catch, which both led to field goals.
“We can’t do that and expect to beat anybody with a pulse,” Venables said. “Our margin for error was razor-thin anyway. ... Right now, we’re not good enough to be able to overcome that.”
Playing for the first time in Tiger Stadium, Oklahoma briefly took a 14-10 lead on Xavier Robinson's 2-yard run, capping a drive that included Jackson's 50-yard completion deep down the middle to J.J. Hester.
Anderson's blazing return of the ensuing kickoff put the Tigers right back in front, and LSU proceeded to pull away from a Sooners squad that was coming off a surprising 24-3 victory over Alabama a week earlier.
Jackson Arnold passed for 110 yards and also was the Sooners' leading rusher with 75 yards on a combination of scrambles and designed runs.
The Sooners tried to get creative offensively when they called for a pass by tight end Bauer Sharp, but his fluttering desperation pass as he was being pulled down was intercepted by safety Sage Ryan.
Thomas scored on a 9-yard return of Nussmeier's first-quarter fumble, which was caused by Gracen Halton's sack. That play gave Oklahoma defensive touchdowns in consecutive games.
Hilton, a premier deep threat who missed LSU’s first seven games with an ankle injury, entered the Tigers’ regular season finale with just three catches for 45 yards without a TD this season.
“It takes a while to get back into rhythm,” Kelly said. “We either missed him on overthrows or the timing wasn’t quite where it needed to be.”
Against Oklahoma, Hilton caught two passes for 85 yards and two scores, and received a game ball from Kelly afterward.
“I’m happy for him,” said Kelly, who was memorable caught on camera yelling at Hilton during a loss at Florida on Nov. 16. “That’s part of the offense that we were missing and we needed desperately.”
Oklahoma: It was a rough first season in the SEC for Oklahoma, which wound up needed their late-season upset of the Crimson Tide just to become bowl eligible.
LSU: After an spirited finish to a season that seemed to be going off the rails three weekends ago, the Tigers have a chance to reach nine victories for a third straight season.
Both teams await bowl bids following next weekend's conference championship games.
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J. Arnold
11 QB 110 PaYds, 75 RuYds |
|
G. Nussmeier
13 QB 277 PaYds, 3 PaTDs, -7 RuYds |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 17 | 18 |
Rushing | 12 | 7 |
Passing | 4 | 11 |
Penalty | 1 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 4-11 | 6-15 |
4th Down Conv | 0-1 | 2-2 |
Total Net Yards | 277 | 395 |
Total Plays | 59 | 63 |
Avg Gain | 4.7 | 6.3 |
Net Yards Rushing | 167 | 110 |
Rush Attempts | 37 | 29 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.5 | 3.8 |
Yards Passing | 110 | 285 |
Comp. - Att. | 14-22 | 23-34 |
Yards Per Pass | 3.3 | 7.4 |
Penalties - Yards | 1-5 | 6-46 |
Touchdowns | 1 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 3 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-0 | 1-1 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 5-42.6 | 3-44.3 |
Return Yards | 6 | 17 |
Punts - Returns | 1-6 | 1-1 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-16 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Arnold
11 QB
|
J. Arnold | 17 | 75 | 0 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Franklin
20 RB
|
S. Franklin | 6 | 61 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||
X. Robinson
21 RB
|
X. Robinson | 10 | 20 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Sawchuk
27 RB
|
G. Sawchuk | 4 | 11 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Hester
13 WR
|
J. Hester | 1 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jordan
88 WR
|
J. Jordan | 8 | 6 | 42 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
X. Robinson
21 RB
|
X. Robinson | 4 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Ragins
81 WR
|
Z. Ragins | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Sharp
10 TE
|
B. Sharp | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Kanak
7 LB
|
J. Kanak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Franklin
20 RB
|
S. Franklin | 2 | 2 | -4 | 0 | -1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
Z. Schmit
34 K
|
Z. Schmit | 1/1 | 44 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
L. Elzinga
48 P
|
L. Elzinga | 5 | 42.6 | 2 | 47 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
S. Franklin
20 RB
|
S. Franklin | 2 | 25.5 | 31 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
P. Bowen 22 DB
|
P. Bowen | 1 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
G. Nussmeier
13 QB
|
G. Nussmeier | 22/31 | 277 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Swann
15 QB
|
A. Swann | 1/3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Durham
29 RB
|
C. Durham | 11 | 80 | 0 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
18 RB
|
J. Williams | 13 | 31 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Thomas
0 WR
|
Z. Thomas | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Nussmeier
13 QB
|
G. Nussmeier | 4 | -7 | 0 | 7 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Hilton Jr.
3 WR
|
C. Hilton Jr. | 2 | 2 | 85 | 2 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Pimpton
88 TE
|
K. Pimpton | 2 | 2 | 53 | 0 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Lacy
2 WR
|
K. Lacy | 5 | 3 | 41 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Durham
29 RB
|
C. Durham | 4 | 4 | 32 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Taylor
86 TE
|
M. Taylor | 6 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Daniels
4 WR
|
C. Daniels | 5 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
18 RB
|
J. Williams | 6 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Anderson
1 WR
|
A. Anderson | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. McKinley
96 DT
|
D. McKinley | 2-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Keys
42 LB
|
D. Keys | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Weeks
40 LB
|
W. Weeks | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Ryan
3 S
|
S. Ryan | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
D. Ramos
34 K
|
D. Ramos | 3/3 | 34 | 4/4 | 13 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
P. Todd
38 P
|
P. Todd | 2 | 47.0 | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Ochsendorf
99 P
|
B. Ochsendorf | 1 | 39.0 | 1 | 39 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Anderson
1 WR
|
A. Anderson | 3 | 51.0 | 100 | 1 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Z. Thomas 0 WR
|
Z. Thomas | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:36 | OKLA 12 | 1:21 | 3 | 2 | Punt |
7:09 | OKLA 31 | 2:16 | 5 | 17 | Punt |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:20 | OKLA 10 | 1:56 | 3 | 4 | Punt |
8:39 | OKLA 25 | 1:17 | 3 | 75 | TD |
7:08 | OKLA 25 | 4:55 | 11 | 49 | FG |
0:45 | OKLA 25 | 0:45 | 1 | 2 | Half |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | OKLA 25 | 3:21 | 6 | 20 | Punt |
6:48 | OKLA 25 | 4:23 | 8 | 39 | INT |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:47 | OKLA 25 | 1:45 | 3 | -7 | Punt |
10:21 | OKLA 12 | 3:38 | 8 | 16 | Downs |
3:19 | OKLA 20 | 3:19 | 9 | 75 | Game |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | LSU 25 | 2:24 | 6 | 17 | Punt |
11:15 | LSU 47 | 4:06 | 7 | 53 | TD |
4:53 | LSU 9 | 1:27 | 5 | 0 | Fumble |
3:26 | LSU 21 | 6:06 | 10 | 30 | Punt |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:24 | LSU 39 | 1:45 | 5 | 44 | FG |
2:13 | LSU 34 | 1:28 | 6 | 66 | TD |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:39 | LSU 12 | 4:51 | 9 | 88 | TD |
2:25 | LSU 42 | 2:38 | 9 | 54 | FG |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:02 | LSU 42 | 2:41 | 3 | 4 | Punt |
6:29 | OKLA 28 | 3:10 | 6 | 13 | FG |
- Punt (6 plays, 17 yards, 2:24 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) Z.Schmit kicks 65 yards from OKL 35 to the LSU End Zone. Touchback. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - LSU 25 (15:00 - 1st) G.Nussmeier steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for A.Anderson. |
+9 YD | 2 & 10 - LSU 25 (14:56 - 1st) G.Nussmeier pass complete. Catch made by C.Daniels for 9 yards. Tackled by OKL at LSU 34. |
+1 YD | 3 & 1 - LSU 34 (14:10 - 1st) J.Williams rushed for 1 yards. Tackled by OKL at LSU 35. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - LSU 35 (13:38 - 1st) G.Nussmeier steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for. |
+7 YD | 2 & 10 - LSU 35 (13:30 - 1st) G.Nussmeier pass complete. Catch made by K.Lacy for 7 yards. Tackled by OKL at LSU 42. |
No Gain | 3 & 3 - LSU 42 (12:53 - 1st) G.Nussmeier steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for A.Anderson. |
Punt | 4 & 3 - LSU 42 (12:49 - 1st) P.Todd punts 46 yards to OKL 12 Center-LSU. Downed by W.Weeks. |
- Punt (3 plays, 2 yards, 1:21 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
No Gain | 1 & 10 - OKLA 12 (12:36 - 1st) J.Arnold steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for. |
No Gain | 2 & 10 - OKLA 12 (12:30 - 1st) X.Robinson rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by LSU at OKL 12. |
+2 YD | 3 & 10 - OKLA 12 (11:55 - 1st) J.Arnold pass complete. Catch made by J.Jordan for 2 yards. Tackled by LSU at OKL 14. |
Punt | 4 & 8 - OKLA 14 (11:23 - 1st) L.Elzinga punts 39 yards to LSU 47 Center-OKL. Fair catch by Z.Thomas. |
- Touchdown (7 plays, 53 yards, 4:06 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - LSU 47 (11:15 - 1st) C.Durham rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by OKL at LSU 50. |
+16 YD | 2 & 7 - LSU 50 (10:40 - 1st) G.Nussmeier pass complete. Catch made by C.Durham for 16 yards. Tackled by OKL at OKL 34. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - OKLA 34 (10:02 - 1st) C.Durham rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by OKL at OKL 30. |
+11 YD | 2 & 6 - OKLA 30 (9:22 - 1st) G.Nussmeier pass complete. Catch made by K.Pimpton for 11 yards. Tackled by OKL at OKL 19. |
+1 YD | 1 & 10 - OKLA 19 (8:39 - 1st) C.Durham rushed for 1 yards. Tackled by OKL at OKL 18. |
No Gain | 2 & 9 - OKLA 18 (8:02 - 1st) G.Nussmeier pass complete. Catch made by J.Williams for 0 yards. Tackled by OKL at OKL 18. |
+18 YD | 3 & 9 - OKLA 18 (7:17 - 1st) G.Nussmeier pass complete. Catch made by K.Lacy for 18 yards. TOUCHDOWN. |
PAT Good | (7:09 - 1st) D.Ramos extra point is good. |
- Punt (5 plays, 17 yards, 2:16 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (7:09 - 1st) A.Burrell kicks 65 yards from LSU 35 to the OKL End Zone. S.Franklin returns the kickoff. Tackled by LSU at OKL 31. |
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - OKLA 31 (7:01 - 1st) X.Robinson rushed for 5 yards. Tackled by LSU at OKL 36. |
+8 YD | 2 & 5 - OKLA 36 (6:38 - 1st) J.Arnold pass complete. Catch made by X.Robinson for 8 yards. Tackled by LSU at OKL 44. |
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - OKLA 44 (6:10 - 1st) J.Arnold scrambles for 3 yards. Tackled by LSU at OKL 47. |
+1 YD | 2 & 7 - OKLA 47 (5:39 - 1st) X.Robinson rushed for 1 yards. Tackled by LSU at OKL 48. |
No Gain | 3 & 6 - OKLA 48 (5:05 - 1st) J.Arnold steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for J.Jordan. |
Punt | 4 & 6 - OKLA 48 (5:02 - 1st) L.Elzinga punts 44 yards to LSU 8 Center-OKL. Z.Thomas returned punt from the LSU 8. Tackled by OKL at LSU 9. |
- Fumble (5 plays, 0 yards, 1:27 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+9 YD | 1 & 10 - LSU 9 (4:53 - 1st) G.Nussmeier pass complete. Catch made by J.Williams for 9 yards. Tackled by OKL at LSU 18. |
+1 YD | 2 & 1 - LSU 18 (4:23 - 1st) J.Williams rushed for 1 yards. Tackled by OKL at LSU 19. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - LSU 19 (3:45 - 1st) G.Nussmeier steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for K.Lacy. |
No Gain | 2 & 10 - LSU 19 (3:39 - 1st) G.Nussmeier steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for K.Lacy. |
Sack | 3 & 10 - LSU 19 (3:34 - 1st) G.Nussmeier steps back to pass. Sacked at LSU 9 for -10 yards (G.Halton). G.Nussmeier FUMBLES forced by G.Halton. Fumble RECOVERED by OKL-R.Thomas at LSU 9. TOUCHDOWN. |