You may say the four WVU turnovers — and minus-four turnover margin — and the 20 point LSU took as a result were the difference. You could even narrow it down and look at Tyrann Mathieu’s interception as the difference. Maybe it’s the disparity in the running game or the momentum swing brought about by Morris Claiborne’s kickoff return touchdown and the two bad attempts at tackles along the way by Avery Williams and J.D. Woods.
But in a 60-minute game, one in which a very good offense is matched against an even better defense, I wonder if you might also agree field position was a major, major difference and, thus, factor. LSU started, on average, at its own 48 — and remember, theĀ team combined to snap the ball 34 straight in the first half in WVU territory. The Mountaineers, on average, started at their own 15. Everyone will take 52 yards against WVU’s defense over 85 yards against LSU’s defense every day. Heck, you’d take 52 yards against LSU’s defense over 85 yards against WVU’s defense, to be true.
The starting points, and, in particular, the consistently deep starting points for WVU, altered the game.
“That was definitely important because Coach Holgorsen had to change up his play calls,” said Tavon Austin. “He had to change the speed we had on the field and put the big fellows in. They’re a fast team on defense, so that made it a lot harder.”
Five WVU drives started inside the 10. LSU’s touchdown drives were 58, 50, 61, 1, 57 and 55 yards – and that doesn’t count the 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, the second special teams touchdown the Mountaineers have allowed.
LSU’s Brad Wing punted six times. He averaged 48.7 yards per punt and all six went inside the 20. Austin didn’t return any of the punts. He let balls roll and be downed at the 3, 4, 5 and 9 and waved for a fair catch at the 11 and 8.
“He was kicking them high and they looked like they were coming in short all the time, but they were coming in deep,” said Austin, who also had a pass bounce off his helmet in the first quarter that led to an interception and a Tigers touchdown. “That was by far on me for not catching the ball.”
The Texts From Game Day were once right there with every break — not to be confused with break-in — and every heartbreak in the game. Seems like everybody’s got a price, I wonder how they sleep at night. When the tale comes first and the truth comes second just stop for a minute and text. My edits are in [brackets].
(6:56 PM):
Went tandem w/ my wife in the long port-a-John lines. Needless to say this sacrifice was well received.
(7:59 PM):
Landau Murphy terrible. Would rather hear Eddie sing Party All the Time.
(8:08 PM):
The opening shot on ABC gave me chills
(8:11 PM):
Ridiculousness. I’m so luckin pumped.
Continue reading…