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Anthony Jennings and Travin Dural connected on an 80-yard touchdown pass with 4:47 left in the first quarter, and for a while it seemed like LSU’s offense would get on track.
But the Tigers mustered just 57 yards of offense the entire first half outside that play, a big reason why they trail, 17-7.
Brandon Harris entered the game at quarterback late in the second quarter, but did not attempt a pass. Much-hyped freshman running back Leonard Fournette managed two rushes for seven yards. Veteran back Kenny Hilliard managed 33 yards of total offense on six touches as the team’s workhorse.
Outside of the touchdown, Jennings was 4-of-14 for 40 yards. Tanner McEvoy, the quarterback-turned-safety-turned-quarterback, didn’t fare much better, completing just 5-of-13 for 33 yards.
But Wisconsin found another way.
LSU allowed more first-half rushing yards (173) than it ever has under coach Les Miles. Seeing Todd Gurley’s huge effort for Georgia, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon ran for 76 yards and a highlight-worthy 14-yard touchdown after an LSU turnover. Reggie Love added a 45-yard touchdown run and Brazilian kicker Rafael Gaglianone banged home a 51-yard field goal with ease.
The Badgers even looked faster than LSU at times.
Tigers fans have to miss Zach Mettenberger, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. about now, but there’s still 30 minutes to play.
If the team can’t find a way to move the football, it will be a long night in Houston.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
