Hurricane party: Leonard Fournette, Derrius Guice ready to run on Florida
Prior to this season, the most prolific rushing performance in LSU history was Alley Broussard’s 250 yards against Ole Miss in 2004.
The Tigers have seen that record fall not once but twice this year, and by different ball carriers to boot. Leonard Fournette set the school’s all-time mark with 284 yards on only 16 carries back in Week 8 vs., you guessed it, Ole Miss.
With Fournette again hobbled to some degree due to a nagging ankle injury — he still found a way to score 3 touchdowns, though — Derrius Guice did the heavy lifting last Saturday facing Arkansas. Arguably the best second-string back in the SEC, he put up 252 yards on 21 attempts in a convincing 38-10 victory.
However, it’s worth noting that the Rebels and Razorbacks are last and third-to-last in the conference defending the run.
The devastating one-two punch of Fournette and Guice will find the sledding much tougher in Week 12 with Florida coming to Baton Rouge. The Gators are No. 2 in the league and surrender just 111.3 yards per game on the ground.
That’s less than half of what the Bayou Bengals get out of their running attack on a weekly basis (233.6). However, the last time this unstoppable force had a date with an immovable object, said immovable object — better knows as Alabama’s nation-leading run defense, which gives up just 68.8 — won comfortably.
The Crimson Tide held Fournette and Guice to just 43 yards combined on 19 carries and shut out LSU 10-0 at Death Valley.
While Florida doesn’t quite field the NFL farm team that ‘Bama does along the front seven, it’s not far behind. In a 20-7 win over South Carolina this past Saturday, the Gators gave up only 43 yards on 30 rushes.
Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Even more impressive, back in Week 9, Florida contained Georgia’s talented tandem of Nick Chubb (above) and Sony Michel to 12 carries for 22 yards — and won 24-10 as a result. If Fournette and Guice don’t make for the premier backfield in the league, then Chubb and Michel do. They hardly touched the ball in the second half.
That being said, the Gators have been dropping likes flies on defense.
Standout linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jarrad Davis were already unavailable against the Gamecocks, and then defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. and Marcus Maye were forced to depart due to injury. The depth chart has become razor thin.
That’s not good news with LSU next on the docket. Remember that this game had to be rescheduled from earlier in the year — relocated from Gainesville to Tiger Stadium, too — because of Hurricane Matthew. Florida was much healthier back on Oct. 8, plus Fournette might not have been available with his ankle issue.
Nevertheless, the Gators have something to play for since they’re atop the East. A win clinches a second consecutive division title.
The Tigers, on the other hand, have long since been eliminated in the West. At this point, the best they can hope for is a New Year’s Six appearance in the Sugar Bowl. They’re always a draw in New Orleans, naturally.
Motivation comes in many forms, though. Interim coach Ed Orgeron — 4-1 since taking over for the fired Les Miles — is still in the conversation for getting the job on a permanent basis. A native of Louisiana, he understands one of the more unique cultures in the country and has a fair share of support among the fan base.
Breaking a five-game losing streak to Alabama didn’t happen. Upending Florida won’t erase the stain of that defeat, either.
But a loss to the Gators would more than likely close the book on Orgeron (below) having a chance to remove the “interim” tag from his title. Even if Florida goes back to Atlanta, it will be little more than as a sacrificial lamb for the Crimson Tide.
Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Only twice in 2016 has a program from the East beaten one from the West in crossover competition. Kentucky’s triumph over Mississippi State — neither is even bowl eligible yet — hardly registered on the radar. Georgia’s upset of Auburn this past Saturday did little more than secure the West for ‘Bama two weeks early.
If Orgeron runs the table, he can sell the administration on the theory that only the Tide stands in his way of an SEC title.
In order to take down the Gators, expect a heavy dose of Fournette and Guice. A season ago, when Fournette was making himself a household name across the nation, he ripped Florida for 180 yards and 2 TDs on 31 attempts.
At the very least, the Gators won’t have to deal with an overly bourbon-soaked crowd — at least not as much as usual — since it’s a noon kickoff local time. During negotiations for this game being rescheduled, Florida refused to play under the lights. That was a condition of losing a home date in favor of another road affair.
Not that they’re afraid of brown liquor before lunch on the bayou. It goes well with all the smoked gator on the tailgating scene.
Both squads bring more to the table defensively at this point than on offense. The Gators don’t run the ball very well. Their passing game isn’t much better. LSU’s aerial assault has been a sore spot seemingly forever.
But the Tigers can run the rock. Even less than 100 percent, Fournette is a once-in-a-decade combo of power, speed and vision. Guice averaged an eye-popping 8.6 yards per carry a season ago as a change of pace. His average has impressively gone up — even with an increased workload — to 8.7 this year.
Stop Fournette and Guice, stop the Bayou Bengals. Whether the Gators have enough healthy bodies left to do so remains to be seen.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
