FINAL: LSU defense turns early mistake into a 51-10 statement against Clemson

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU’s first possession lasted two plays. Its first defensive stand lasted long enough to change the game.

The Tigers overcame an early interception by quarterback Sam Leavitt, held Clemson to a field goal and then overwhelmed the visiting Tigers 51-10 Saturday night in Lane Kiffin’s debut as LSU’s head coach.

The result was more than a comfortable season-opening victory. It was a response to the question that followed LSU into the opener: Could a team undergoing a coaching change, an offensive overhaul and a roster reshuffle immediately look like a contender?

For one night, the answer was emphatic.

A mistake that never became a crisis

Leavitt’s pass intended for wide receiver Malik Elzy was intercepted on LSU’s second play from scrimmage. Clemson took over at the LSU 33-yard line, but the defense limited the damage to a 49-yard field goal.

That 3-0 deficit was the only time Clemson led.

LSU tied the game on Scott Starzyk’s 49-yard field goal after a 59-yard drive highlighted by a 21-yard completion to tight end Trey’Dez Green. The Tigers then went 89 yards on 12 plays, with Dillin Jones scoring from 1 yard out.

The next defensive possession produced the night’s first touchdown.

EDGE Jordan Ross intercepted Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina and returned the ball 30 yards, giving LSU a 17-3 lead before the first quarter ended.

The sequence illustrated the difference between a mistake and a momentum swing. Clemson had the ball deep in LSU territory, but LSU’s defense prevented a touchdown. On the next possession, the defense supplied one.

Leavitt’s legs become the difference

LSU’s offense continued to build on that advantage. Starzyk missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt early in the second quarter, but Leavitt responded by directing a 72-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown scramble.

With less than two minutes remaining in the half, Leavitt ran for another touchdown, this time from 13 yards out. LSU entered halftime with a 31-3 lead.

The Arizona State transfer finished with 113 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, while also throwing for two touchdowns.

That production mattered because LSU entered the season with a new quarterback, a new head coach and an entirely new offensive staff. The Tigers had also added approximately 60 new players, making the opener an early test of how quickly the new pieces could function together.

The second half was about finishing

Leavitt connected with Winston Watkins Jr. on a 32-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter, extending LSU’s lead to 38-3.

Jones scored his second touchdown of the night on a 12-yard run near the end of the third quarter. LSU failed on the two-point conversion, leaving the score 44-3.

Leavitt left the game late in the third quarter, and Landen Clark took over at quarterback. Clark connected with Phillip Wright III on a short pass in the fourth quarter, and Wright made a defender miss before racing 30 yards for another touchdown.

Clemson scored its first touchdown with 3:14 remaining, but the late score only reduced the margin to 41 points.

A victory that answered the questions

The opener had been surrounded by unusual circumstances. A nearly two-hour lightning delay postponed Kiffin’s first game, while LSU’s decision not to roster former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris remained a major storyline after a Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction allowing them to play.

Neither player appeared in Saturday’s game. LSU had 103 players on its roster, leaving two spots open under the 105-player limit.

But the night ultimately belonged to the players who were on the field.

LSU entered the season ranked No. 11 in the preseason Associated Press poll, while Clemson was coming off a 7-6 season and replacing several major contributors, including quarterback Cade Klubnik.

The Tigers had also defeated Clemson 17-10 in last season’s opener at Clemson. Saturday’s victory extended LSU’s advantage in the series to 5-1.

Kiffin’s first game at LSU did not produce a close finish or a late escape.

It produced a team that recovered from its first mistake, forced Clemson into another one and never allowed the game to become competitive again.