By Harrison Valentine | LSU Digital Media Graduate Assistant
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Quarterback Jayden Daniels accounted for six touchdowns and 349 yards passing to lead LSU past Florida, 45-35, on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
LSU improved to 5-2 and 3-1 in SEC play, while the Gators fell to 4-3, 1-3 in the SEC.
The Tigers return to action next Saturday in Tiger Stadium against Ole Miss at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS. Tickets are available at LSUtix.net.
KEY PERFORMANCES
Daniels posted a career performance in the Swamp, going 23-of-32 for 349 yards passing and 44 yards rushing. Daniels recorded three touchdown passes through the air and three touchdowns with his legs, joining Joe Burrow as the only LSU players to tally six touchdowns in a single game.
Senior linebacker Micah Baskerville recorded a team-high 11 tackles, one for loss with a QB sack. Greg Penn III and Harold Perkins Jr. finished with six and five tackles, respectively.
Kayshon Boutte led the offense in receiving with six catches for 115 yards, with a long of 40. Junior running back Josh Williams recorded his first 100-yard game and earned a game ball from Brian Kelly, who became the first head coach to lead LSU to wins at Auburn and at Florida in the same season.
KEY PLAYS
LSU won the toss and deferred to the second half. Trevor Etienne returned the opening kickoff 47 yards to the Gators’ 48-yard line.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson found wide receiver Justin Shorter over the middle of the field for a 51-yard touchdown connection with 14:01 on the clock. Florida led LSU early, 7-0.
On 3rd-and-8, Daniels found Boutte for a 40-yard pickup to the Florida 33. A few plays later, on 3rd-and-15, Daniels found Boutte again through a tight window for a gain of 14 yards to make it 4th-and-1 from the Gators’ 13. John Emery Jr. picked up the first down with a 3-yard gain.
Daniels found Emery for a 7-yard touchdown pass to cash in a 12 play, 75-yard scoring drive. The game was tied 7-7 with 7:46 to play in the first quarter.
Running back Montrell Johnson rushed left for a 39-yard touchdown with 2:00 to go in the first quarter to give Florida a 14-7 advantage.
Daniels found Boutte again, who has become the main target tonight, for a 21-yard completion to the Gators’ 32. Daniels than found Emery for an 11-yard completion to the Florida 19-yard line. On 3rd-and-8, Daniels’ pass to Jaray Jenkins was complete for 13 yards to the UF 4-yard line.
Daniels turned a well-executed drive on offense into points with a 1-yard run for a touchdown with 11:55 on the clock, making it 14-14.
After forcing the first punt of the contest, Jack Bech muffed the punt from Jeremy Crawshaw, which was recovered by Rocco Underwood at the LSU 13. Richardson and the Florida offense took advantage of the Tigers’ mistake, as Johnson rushed left for a 3-yard touchdown with 8:13 to go in the half. The Gators took the lead, 21-14.
LSU’s offense responded quick. On 3rd-and-10 on the LSU 25, Daniels found Kole Taylor for a 26-yard completion to the Florida 49. Daniels found Thomas for a 24-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-21 with 5:55 to play in the half.
On the next offensive possession, Daniels made the Gators’ pay on a free play from scrimmage, finding Jenkins for a 54-yard touchdown to make it 28-21 Tigers with 2:24 left in the half.
The Tiger defense got a stop before the half, heading into the break with a 28-21 lead.
LSU’s offense picked up where they left off in the second half as Daniels rushed for a 9-yard touchdown to cap off a 1:43 drive, giving the Tigers a 35-21 lead off 21 unanswered points.
The momentum on offense would only continue as Daniels extended the Tigers’ lead to 42-21 with a 9-yard rushing touchdown, marking the sixth touchdown on as many drives for the LSU offense that posted 28 unanswered points.
Florida responded in a big way as Richardson broke open an 81-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 42-28 with 14:46 remaining in the game.
With 7:39 to play, Etienne rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 42-35.
LSU placekicker Damian Ramos converted a career-long 47-yard field goal with 1:52 to play to extend LSU’s lead to 45-35.
