Atlanta, GA- Behind Heisman hopeful quarterback Joe Burrow, the number two ranked LSU Tigers are firing on all cylinders as they dominate number four UGA 37-10 to win the 2019 SEC Championship.
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron on the victory over the Bulldogs, “So proud of our football team. These guys are committed to excellence and great leadership. The two men beside me are excellent players, great team players. This is a great win. I’m so proud of our defense tonight. The way they came to play, I thought overall it was our best effort of the season.”
I wasn’t surprised. Preparation, I thought these guys were phenomenal. They had a look in their eye today of focus and winning and determination. This is a winning football team. This is a win for the whole organization, for the state of Louisiana, and for LSU and everybody that played in the purple and gold.
The story of the game is Joe Burrow, who has been so impressive all season and continued to be so tonight against one of the best defenses in the country. The grad transfer senior made great reads all game, finding the open receiver on seemingly every play, showing great pocket awareness, and making big play after big play throughout the night.
Burrow finished completing 27 of his 37 passes for 347-yards and four touchdowns, and also led the Tigers in rushing with 10 carries for 46-yards. LSU showcased why they are one of the elite offenses in college football this year and much of it is due to Burrow, who might have just won the Heisman Trophy tonight in his final game before the voting begins.
Orgeron on Burrow’s performance and if he should win the Heisman, “In my opinion, he’s the best player in the country. In my opinion, he should win [the Heisman Trophy]. In my opinion, he’s going to win it. The best thing about Joe is he’s a team player. All he wants to do is win this game. Individual awards are not high on his list. That’s what makes him such a great team player.”
In my game preview, I wrote about the pair of 1,000-yard receivers featured in this high- powered LSU offense in Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Both provided great performances, with each getting to the endzone once.
Jefferson led the Tigers in receiving yards, catching six passes for 113-yards and a touchdown. The junior wideout also was a big part of the play of the game, with a 71-yard reception that was started by a great escape from pressure by Joe Burrow to extend the play before finding Jefferson wide open in space. Chase reeled in three catches for 41-yards, and while he was quieter than Jefferson, he showed his immense potential as just a sophomore on the team.
Overall, the LSU offense reached 460-yards of total offense on the night, picking apart a defense that hadn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game all year. The Tigers clearly have one of the best offenses in college football, and will a difficult matchup for any of the teams they may face in this year’s College Football Playoff.
On defense, the Tigers completely smothered the Dawgs. Allowing just 291-yards of total offense, UGA couldn’t get anything going against LSU.
Quarterback Jake Fromm completed just 20 of his 41 passing attempts for 225-yards and a touchdown and had two costly interceptions that really killed any chances the Bulldogs had of getting back into the game.
Both interceptions were made by LSU defensive back Derek Stingley Jr., who made two great breaks to cut off throws by Fromm. The second interception, coming late in the third quarter, was the first play of a drive where the Tigers had just taken a 27-3 lead, and Stingley’s interception quickly placed LSU deep in UGA territory where they would once against extend their lead with a touchdown.
Much has been made about the LSU offense and their success, but the Tiger defense was equally impressive tonight, and if they can’t keep firing on all cylinders like they did tonight, they may be the favorite to win the CFP National Championship.
With the win, LSU has claimed its sixth SEC Championship, and secured their ticket into the College Football Playoffs, perhaps making the case to be the one seed following a dominant win over the fourth-ranked team in the country in Georgia. Selection Sunday is tomorrow, where the Tigers will find out who and where they will play in the College Football Playoff semifinal game.
Written by Brian Pohl
