LSU Survives in College Station – Finishes the season 8-4

By “Bad” Brad Berkwitt

LSU and Texas A&M were mirror teams going into tonight’s game. Both teams were 7-4 overall, 3-4 in SEC play. Both teams had flashes of brilliance this season, the Aggies with its convincing win over South Carolina in week one of the season, and the Tigers with their thumping of Kentucky in week 8 of the season. And both teams suffered heartbreaking losses this season, LSU to Alabama, Texas A&M to Missouri. Both teams are young, with key players on both sides of the football being freshmen and sophomores in a conference that is often referred to as the NFL Jr. So it was with great anticipation that tonight’s final regular season game would be played in College Station, Texas.

Texas A&M capitalized off of a Tiger miscue to strike first, taking a 7-0 lead into the second quarter. It was in the second quarter that the Tigers would awaken offensively, scoring on the legs of Freshman Leonard Fournette. His 22-yard touchdown, plowing over defenders, would even the score 7-7 with 4:33 left in the second quarter. The Tigers would add 2 more scores before the half, a 10-yard touchdown strike from Jennings to Diarse and a 31-yard field goal by Trent Domingue.

The Tigers were in control of the game, moving the ball at will. However, this was not reflected in the score. The Tigers settled for a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter to extend its lead to 20-7, but Texas A&M would rally, tacking on 10 points in the 4th quarter to cut into LSU’s lead. The Tigers added a late field goal, but gave A&M the ball back with a little more than 2 minutes left in the game. A&M would drive, but the comeback hopes were for naught, as Jalen Collins intercepted the ball, and the Tigers were able to run out the clock and preserve the victory.

LSU improves to 8-4, 4-4. The Aggies finish the year at 7-5, 3-5. Both teams anxiously await the bowl selections.