LIVE Thread: UAB vs. LSU

The LSU football team entered the weekend at No. 6 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings and a spot in the SEC Championship already secured.

Next up: a non-conference matchup with UAB on Senior Night.

The Blazers (5-5) haven’t lived up to expectations this season, but LSU head coach Brian Kelly said this week that the record is misleading. UAB lost three straight games without its starting quarterback, and dropped a pair of close games to talented Group of 5 teams like UTSA and Liberty.

With kickoff set for 8 p.m. CT, here are the live updates from Tiger Stadium as LSU looks to move to 9-2 on the year.

FIRST QUARTER

UAB won the toss and deferred to the second half

LSU got aggressive out of the gates as quarterback Jayden Daniels went deep down the sideline to Malik Nabers on the second play of the game. It was a 47-yard gain for the Tigers, and a quick first down to tight end Mason Taylor followed by a couple of runs by Daniels put the ball in the red zone.

With 1st-and-Goal at the 6-yard line, the Tigers went to running back John Emery with three straight runs for the touchdown.

LSU 7, UAB 0 – 10:31 remaining in first quarter

UAB star running back Jermaine Brown delivered an answer immediately, taking the kickoff 61 yards to set the Blazers up with a short field. Starting at the 30-yard line, UAB needed just three plays to get into the end zone and tie it up.

LSU 7, UAB 7 – 9:19 remaining in first quarter

The good news for LSU on a rainy, cold Saturday night in Death Valley: the Tigers started fast on offense.

On the second drive, LSU’s offense needed just seven plays to go 75 yards for another touchdown. A 19-yard pass to wide receiver Jack Bech and a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Jaray Jenkins helped spark the drive, and running back Noah Cain punched it in from five yards out for the score.

LSU 14, UAB 7 – 5:59 remaining in first quarter

The scoring continued on the following drive as the two teams combined for points on the first four possessions of the game. UAB popped a 20-yard pass and 27-yard pass to help the drive along, and the Blazers were able to get the ball inside the 10-yard line before senior defensive end Ali Gaye came up with a timely third down sack to force the field goal as time expired on the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

On the opening play of the second quarter, UAB converted on the 29-yard field goal.

LSU 14, UAB 10 – 14:57 remaining in the second quarter

LSU’s offense kept things rolling with another long drive on the third possession of the night, but after big plays to Taylor and Nabers, this one ended differently.

After LSU moved into the red zone, running back John Emery coughed up the football and UAB recovered. It appeared the Tigers were set to pull ahead 21-10, but the timely recovery by the Blazers kept the scoreboard at a four point difference.

The LSU defense came up with a quick stop to force the three-and-out by the UAB offense, and the Tigers were able to shake off the turnover by answering with a touchdown. Once again, a big play in the passing game (this time a 23-yard catch by Nabers) helped the Tigers get across midfield. Then, Daniels escaped a sack and sprinted 23 yards for a first down. Three plays later, LSU was back in the end zone to pull ahead 21-10.

LSU 21, UAB 10 – 5:12 remaining in second quarter

On 2nd-and-15 and in need of points before halftime, UAB popped a 27-yard pass play to get the ball to midfield. The Blazers moved backwards on an offensive pass interference call, but managed to get the yardage back with a 16-yard gain on 3rd-and-19. After calling a timeout on 4th-and-3, UAB went for it near midfield, but LSU’s defense stood firm to get the turnover on downs.

With less than two minutes until halftime, LSU quickly looked to extend the lead by going to the air right away. Jack Bech caught a quick first down pass, then Daniels showed off his legs again with a 28-yard rush down the sidelines. On the third snap of the drive, Daniels hit Mason Taylor for a 13-yard gain that put the ball at UAB’s 1-yard line.

On the next play, Noah Cain punched in his third touchdown of the first half.

LSU 28, UAB 10 – 0:40 remaining in second quarter

UAB attempted to get something out of the final seconds of the first half by going to the air, but LSU’s defense didn’t give the Blazers any room to move.

HALFTIME: LSU 28, UAB 10

LSU’s defense has been great with halftime adjustments this season, and the Tigers forced UAB’s offense into a pair of three-and-outs to start the third quarter.

LSU’s first offensive possession resulted in a punt, but Daniels made the Blazers pay on the next drive. After two big runs, Daniels was hit out of bounds once, then taken down with a horse collar. Both plays brought out flags on UAB, and Daniels finished things off with a two-yard run to put the Tigers comfortably ahead midway through the third quarter. LSU got the touchdown, but missed the extra point.

LSU 34, UAB 10 – 6:50 remaining in the third quarter

UAB found a way to get 14 plays out of the following drive, but the result was just 50 yards and another turnover on downs. Since scoring on the opening two possessions of the game, the UAB offense ran into a wall against LSU’s defense as the next seven possessions went for a combined five punts and two turnover on downs.

The Tigers got the ball back and hit Jack Bech for a 29-yard gain, which led to a run by John Emery before the third quarter ended.

FOURTH QUARTER

After Emery picked up 14 yards on a run, he coughed the football up yet again – the second time he had fumbled in the game. Once again, UAB recovered. It didn’t cost the Tigers point as the defense forced a quick three-and-out, but it’s noteworthy given how often the turnover big has bitten Emery.

With Jayden Daniels still in at quarterback, the offense marched downfield to eclipse the 40-point mark on a touchdown throw to Brian Thomas Jr.

LSU 41, UAB 10 – 9:46 remaining in fourth quarter

Daniels handed the ball over to backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier the rest of the way, with Daniels finishing 22-for-29 passing for 297 yards and a touchdown while adding 111 rushing yards and a score on the ground.

The Tigers leaned heavily on the ground game, which included a surprise when safety Derrick Davis Jr. logged four carries for 24 yards. Davis played both running back and safety in high school. Nussmeier finished 1-for-2 passing for two yards.

After another turnover on downs forced by LSU’s defense, the Tigers kneeled it out for the win.

FINAL: LSU 41, UAB 10