Freshman T.J. Finley passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns in his college debut as host LSU defeated South Carolina 52-24 in an SEC game Saturday night.
Finley, starting in place of injured Myles Brennan, completed 17 of 21 passes and ran for a touchdown. His touchdown passes went to Terrace Marshall Jr., giving him nine touchdown catches for the season as the Tigers improved to 2-2.
John Emery Jr. and Tyrion Davis-Price also had touchdown runs and LSU got a touchdown from its defense and its special teams.
Kevin Harris rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns for the Gamecocks (2-3).
Harris’ 1-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the third quarter pulled South Carolina within 31-17, but Trey Palmer returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
Davis-Price, who finished with 135 rushing yards, ran four yards for a touchdown to give LSU a 45-17 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Emery’s 3-yard touchdown run increased the lead to 52-17 early in the fourth quarter.
Collin Hill threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Josh Vann to complete the scoring for the Gamecocks.
On the game’s first possession, LSU drove 75 yards in 16 plays, the last of which was a 1-yard touchdown run by Finley.
It only took South Carolina three plays to negate that drive as Harris ran 45 yards for a touchdown.
The Tigers drove into scoring position on their next possession before stalling. Cade York’s 27-yard field goal gave them a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Finley threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Marshall to increase the lead to 17-7 early in the second quarter.
Parker White was short on a 54-yard field goal, but after a Finley interception, White kicked a 45-yarder to cut the lead to 17-10.
Finley found Marshall for a 51-yard touchdown and Eli Ricks intercepted Hill and returned 45 yards for a touchdown that gave LSU a 31-10 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media