LSU's offense and defense shine in 62-0 win over Army

The LSU football team took a 38-0 lead at halftime against Army, putting the non-conference matchup out of reach for the Black Knights within the first 30 minutes.

The Tigers moved to 6-2 on the season with the bye week up next. In two weeks, LSU travels to Tuscaloosa for a matchup with Alabama in the team’s final road game of the regular season.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who exited the game at halftime given the Tigers had a nearly 40-point lead, entered the week with more yards on offense than any player in college football. In two quarters on Saturday night, Daniels finished 11-for-15 passing for 279 yards and four total touchdowns with no turnovers.

Once again, the nation’s top offense looked the part as LSU hit the 500-yard mark despite Daniels exiting the game at halftime and the starters being pulled shortly into the third quarter.

The LSU defense also answered the call, holding Army to no points and under 100 total yards while forcing three turnovers in the first half. By game’s end, the Tigers had held the Golden Knights to no points and had forced four turnovers.

Here’s the rundown on how the game unfolded.

FIRST QUARTER

(LSU won the toss and elected to receive)

College football’s No. 1 offense didn’t waste much time getting on the scoreboard.

On the first drive of the game, LSU used 8 plays to go 75 yards in less than three minutes to score the first touchdown of the game.

The Tigers got rolling with a 15-yard pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels to wide receiver Kyren Lacy, then popped two more big plays in the passing game with a 28-yard gain by Brian Thomas and a 17-yard grab by Chris Hilton, who was back on the field for the first time following an injury at the end of the Ole Miss game.

From there, LSU used four straight runs to get into the end zone, with the score coming from starting running back Logan Diggs from two yards out.

LSU 7, Army 0 – 12:05 remaining in first quarter

LSU’s defense forced Army’s offense into a quick three-and-out, but a punt that was downed at the 10-yard line ultimately resulted in a punt by the Tigers.

After a run on first down, Daniels missed on throws to tight end Mason Taylor and wide receiver Malik Nabers, giving the ball back to Army near midfield on a punt by LSU’s Jay Bramblett.

Army picked up a first down, but the drive stalled when LSU linebacker Greg Penn came up with a timely sack on third down to force the Black Knights into punting.

Following a six-yard run by Diggs, Daniels scrambled out of the pocket and throw a perfectly placed ball to Brian Thomas, and Thomas did the rest as he went untouched for the 86-yard score.

LSU 14, Army 0 – 5:26 remaining in first quarter

Army rushed the ball for a couple quick first downs, then popped a 5-yard pass for another first down. On 2nd-and-13, Army quarterback Champ Harris was intercepted by LSU safety Andre Sam. Sam returned the ball 33 yards to the Army 33-yard line.

LSU’s offense took back over and Daniels immediately hit Nabers for a 21-yard strike to get the Tigers in the red zone as the first quarter clock expired.

SECOND QUARTER

After a four-yard run by Diggs to begin the second quarter, Daniels dropped pass and delivered a great throw to Thomas for another LSU touchdown.

Brian Thomas Jr. was tied for the NCAA lead in touchdown receptions (9) entering the week. The LSU wide receiver already has two touchdowns vs. Army on four drives.

LSU 21, Army 0 – 14:22 remaining in second quarter

On the next drive, the Tigers came up with the team’s first turnover of the game when JACK linebacker Ovie Oghoufo came up with both the strip and fumble recovery.

The LSU offense was handed the ball at Army’s 37-yard line, and Daniels hit Nabers for a 23-yard gain that put the Tigers 14 yards out from the end zone. An 11-yard run by LSU running back John Emery put the ball at the goal line, and Daniels punched it in on the quarterback sneak.

LSU 28, Army 0 – 9:08 remaining in second quarter

After the Black Knights converted on one third down, the LSU defense answered when Sam made a stop on a short pass on third down. Sam then broke up the pass on fourth down to give LSU the ball back on a turnover on downs.

LSU drove to the 20-yard line before Daniels was hit with a penalty of intentional grounding, which backed the Tigers up and forced Damian Ramos to come on for the 35-yard field goal.

LSU 31, Army 0 – 2:19 remaining in second quarter

The LSU defense continued to buckle in on Army, and once more the Tigers forced a quick three-and-out. LSU called a timeout before Army’s punt, giving the Tigers the ball at the LSU 28-yard line.

Three plays later, LSU was in the end zone again.

Josh Williams got the drive rolling with 38-yard run on the second snap, then Daniels hit Nabers deep for the 26-yard touchdown.

The Tigers scored points on six of seven drives in the first half, including five touchdowns.

LSU 38, Army 0 – 0:57 remaining in second quarter

Army attempted a Hail Mary throw before halftime, but LSU cornerback Zy Alexander intercepted the ball as time expired in the second quarter.

HALFTIME: LSU 38, Army 0

THIRD QUARTER

Army got the ball first after halftime, but after getting to the LSU 28-yard line, the fourth down pass was incomplete.

With LSU up 38-0 at halftime, Daniels was done for the night. He finished 11-for-15 passing for 279 yards and four total touchdowns with no turnovers.

Garrett Nussmeier stepped in to start the second half for the Tigers, and it didn’t take LSU’s backup quarterback long to flash his arm.

On the fourth play of the drive, Nussmeier tossed a deep ball right on the money to Nabers for the 51-yard touchdown.

LSU 45, Army 0 – 9:07 remaining in third quarter

LSU safety Andre Sam came up with his second interception of the game on the next drive, giving Nussmeier and the offense the ball at the Army 35-yard line.

The Tigers converted a third down, then a fourth down, but the drive stalled out following a false start on true freshman right tackle Lance Heard on third down. After Nussmeier’s pass to Aaron Anderson sailed out of the end zone, Ramos stepped in to convert a 32-yard field goal.

LSU 48, Army 0 – 1:48 remaining in third quarter

Army converted on a third down to start the drive, which run out the final seconds of the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Army was able to drive across midfield, but another fourth down attempt was stopped by the LSU defense.

With the Tigers up 48-0, backups were in the game at every position. With 13 minutes left on the lock, LSU went to the ground game to score a touchdown on a 13-play, 60-yard drive that took more than 8 minutes off the clock.

Freshman running back Trey Holly got his first game action of the season, carrying it four times for 22 yards with a long of 12. Noah Cain capped off the drive with a touchdown after carrying it 7 times for 40 yards and the score.

LSU 55, Army 0 – 4:40 remaining in fourth quarter

Down 55-0, Army took the ball over at the 25-yard line with a little less than five minutes remaining in the game.

After a three-and-out led to a punt, the Tigers gave Holly two more carries, and the true freshman made the most of it with a 67-yard touchdown run.

LSU 62, Army 0 – 0:40 remaining in fourth quarter

Army let the clock run out on the game following Holly’s touchdown.

FINAL: LSU 62, Army 0