LSU safety Ronald Martin (26) and defensive back Tre’Davious White (16) break up a pass intended for Mississippi wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana- Winning in Death Valley at night is no easy task and the Rebels found that out first hand.
The offense struggled for the entire game and the defense could not get off the field as LSU pounded their way to the 10-7 upset victory over rival Ole Miss.
LSU played to their strengths the entire game with a ground-and-pound offense in which the Tigers rushed for 264 yards. Freshman running back Leonard Fournette led the way for the Tigers with 113 yards on the ground on 23 carries.
Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace struggled, going 14 for 33 passing for 176 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The rushing attack picked up 137 yards.
LSU had a chance to get on the board first. An 11-play, 63-yard drive got the Tigers in field goal territory, but the 28-yard attempt by LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye was no good.
The next drive for LSU had them within striking distance, but Leonard Fournette fumbled the ball and was recovered by Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt.
Ole Miss was the first team to get on the board and they did it rather quickly. A six play, 80 yard scoring drive was capped off by quarterback Bo Wallace finding wide receiver Cody Core for the 15-yard score to make it 7-0 near the end of the first quarter.
The Rebel defense would continue to battle strong, with Prewitt forcing a fumble, which was recovered by defensive end C,J. Johnson to stop LSU on their first drive of the second half.
LSU would add three on the board with a 21-yard field goal to cu the Ole Mis sled to 7-3. The 17-play, 90-yard drive took over nine minutes off the clock.
Defense and special teams kept the Rebels alive in Death Valley. Punter Will Gleeson had four punts downed inside the 20-yard line and backed the LSU offense up and made them drive 80 plus yards to score points.
There would be no scoring in the third quarter. Defensive back Senquez Golson would get his eighth interception of the season, picking off LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. The Ole Miss offense did not pick up a first down in the third quarter.
The Ole Miss defense would add another turnover in the 4th quarter with defensive back Mike Hilton intercepting Jennings with over 11 minutes left in the game.
LSU dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. This all culminated on what ended up being the game-winning drive for LSU. The Tigers drove the field with ease, going 95 yards on 13 plays to take the 10-7 lead. Jennings found tight end Logan Stokes on a play-action rollout pass in the corner of the end zone.
Ole Miss had a chance to tie or take the lead with just over five minutes left. On 4th and 1 at the LSU 47-yard line, Wallace was stopped short on a quarterback sneak and gave LSU the ball back.
The Rebels had one more chance to tie or take the lead. Instead of opting for a 47-yard field goal by Gary Wunderlich, head coach Hugh Freeze decided to let the offense take one more shot to end zone, but the Wallace pass was intercepted at the two-yard line to seal the victory for LSU.
