Texas A&M Aggies vs Louisiana State Tigers Box Score on Nov 25, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 25, 2017

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Senior quarterback Danny Etling ignited a 25-point, second-half rally and completed 19-of-30 passes for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns to power No. 18 LSU to a 45-21 victory over Texas A&M Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

In helping raise LSU's record to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the SEC, Etling's performance also dealt a blow to embattled Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, whose job reportedly is in jeopardy after a fourth consecutive five-loss season. The Aggies finished 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the SEC, and they have lost seven consecutive games to LSU.

With the Aggies stacking their defense against LSU's strong running attack, Etling threw scoring passes of 11 yards to receiver Russell Gage, 10 yards to H-back John David Moore and six yards to receiver D.J. Chark.

Leading 20-14 in the third quarter, LSU scored 22 points on its next three possessions, culminating with a 1-yard run by Derrius Guice (127 yards on 28 carries) and Etling's scoring passes to Moore and Chark, to extend the lead to 42-21 with 13:18 left. Darrel Williams added 106 yards rushing, including a 77-yard dash on a wildcat snap to the A&M 6 that led to a 42-21 LSU lead.

A&M got as close as 27-21 on a 10-yard pass from Nick Starkel to Christian Kirk late in the third quarter, but LSU responded with back-to-back touchdowns. LSU closed the season by winning six of its last seven games, with its only loss coming to Alabama.

LSU dominated the first half outgaining Texas A&M 343-146 but led just 20-7 at the half when Trayveon Williams scored from 2 yards out 21 seconds before intermission.

LSU raced to a 20-0 lead on Etling's 11-yard pass to Russell Gage, Darrel Williams' 1-yard run and field goals of 46 and 33 yards by Jack Gonsoulin, but Gonsoulin also missed field goals of 26 and 47 yards to the left.

In its first five possessions, Texas A&M committed two turnovers and was forced to punt three times after three-and-outs. A&M had gained just 91 yards in total offense before it got the ball back after a missed field goal at its 31-yard line 1:26 before halftime.

The Aggies converted a fourth-and-3 with a 6-yard pass from Starkel to Camron Buckley, and Starkel found Kirk for a 31-yard completion to the LSU 2. Trayveon Williams made it 20-7 by taking a pitch and running around left end for the score.

Etling completed 13-of-19 passes for a season-high 253 yards in the first half -- his high for the season had been 227 yards against Chattanooga -- but LSU twice bogged down in scoring range and had to settle for field goals, which kept A&M un the game.

NOTES: A number of former LSU players, including New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr., returned to Tiger Stadium and led cheers from the sidelines. ... The pregame crowd watched the Auburn-Alabama game on the large video screens, and they gave an ovation as Auburn finished off its 26-14 victory over the top-ranked Tide. ... A&M committed two turnovers on its first five plays on an interception by LSU CB Greedy Williams and a fumble by RB Keith Ford. Both led to LSU field goals.