LSU back on track

After getting swamped in Gainesville 14-6 by the Florida Gators, the LSU Tigers were backed up against the football wall facing an unbeaten South Carolina team that played the best game of the Steve Spurrier-era defeating Georgia 35-7.

It was the ultimate "Trap" game for South Carolina - playing the best game of the season against your archrival in Georgia and playing Spurrier’s former team in Florida this Saturday.

The Tiger offense, playing behind an offensive line with three new starters and a freshman running back in Jeremy Hill leading the way, defeated South Carolina 23-21.

The Tigers went back to what has been a winning formula for them. They played smash-mouth football, rushing for 258 yards and using a stingy defense to pull off the big win.

But the story was LSU’s gritty effort along the offensive line against one of the best defensive fronts in college football.

LSU’s offense has never been the same since losing one of the top left offensive tackles in Chris Faulk and former Hahnville High School standout Alfred Blue at running back, but the young line and a true freshman halfback answered the bell under some intense pressure.

After the game, Tiger quarterback Zach Mettenberger was quick to praise his offensive line and his new found star performer in Hill.

"Jeremy Hill gave us the spark we needed on offense," he said. "He’s a power back, real physical and he can get the tough yardage, but you all saw him show off his big-play speed and agility. He was just looking for a chance and an opportunity to do more in our offense."

The "Ole Ball Coach" Steve Spurrier had some high praise for this very talented Tiger team.

"What you saw tonight was the reason LSU was a preseason No. 1 team," Spurrier said. "They’re a big, real strong team that can run the ball well inside. That was the difference in the game."