I’ve seen some pretty epic fights in my life: Godzilla vs. King Kong, Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior, Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson, and Trump vs. Hillary. All of those fights lived up to their epic billing and now and a new contest is on the horizon, and baby, it could be legendary- #7 Florida vs. #5 LSU.
Florida and LSU both have had some impressive wins and some close calls this season. The Tigers had an early test when they traveled to Austin, Texas to take on the Longhorns in a game where Joe Burrow connected to three different receivers for 471 yards and 4 touchdowns. Burrowed put on a Heisman worthy performance on that hot September night, leading his team to a nice win and a style win for the playoff committee. Florida’s path so far has been a little different. The gators seem to like to play close to the fire, nearly escaping from the jaws of defeat against Miami and Kentucky. Those were two games they could have easily lost but fought back and won, and despite some adversity, like losing their starting quarterback and some other injuries, the gators are on a roll. Kyle Trask has come in and done a marvelous job as quarterback for Florida, throwing for 881 yards, seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions so far this season. He did suffer a MCL sprain against Auburn but should be ok to play against LSU.
You like history? This series has had some serious highlights:
1989: College football’s first “overtime” game
This game was jokingly referred to as an “overtime” game in Steve Harvey’s nationally syndicated “Bottom Ten” column. After LSU hit a field goal to tie it at 13 with 1:19 left, Florida drove from their 20 to LSU’s 27. Emmitt Smith was tackled at the LSU 24 inbounds with 18 seconds left. Florida scrambled to get back to the line of scrimmage to snap the ball, which they did with 3 seconds left. Kyle Morris managed to throw it out of bounds with 1 second left, but the clock still ran out, almost exactly like what happened at the end of the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game between #3 Texas and #22 Nebraska. Fireworks were set off over Tiger Stadium in celebration for holding off a late Gator comeback, even though it was right as Florida was sending its special teams unit onto the field. The second was added back to the clock, allowing Arden Czyzewski to attempt, and hit, a 41-yard field goal as time expired to win it 16–13. The unexpected setback sent LSU into a losing streak and its first losing season since they went 4–7 as well in 1983. The manner in which LSU lost the game helped push them into the top spot of that week’s Bottom Ten.
1997: LSU’s revenge
The previous season, the Gators won the national championship and thrashed LSU 56–13, and they came into the game favored. But it was LSU who jumped out to a big early lead, scoring two touchdowns in the first 8 minutes on runs by Herb Tyler and Tommy Banks. The Gators came right back with two touchdown runs by Fred Taylor, each of which capped off an 80-yard drive.
Then, Doug Johnson threw an ill-advised pass, and Cedric Donaldson picked it off and returned it for a touchdown to give LSU a 21–14 lead. The Gators’ frustration mounted when another Johnson pass was picked off, this time by Mark Roman, and when Herb Tyler scored another touchdown to give LSU a 28–14 lead with 11:40 to go, the Gators appeared to be in big trouble.
Undaunted, Johnson responded with a 13-play, 78-yard drive that ended with Fred Taylor getting into the end zone to make it 28–21. LSU did nothing with their next possession, and Doug Johnson began moving the ball downfield again. He then faced a rush on a third and two and threw up a Hail Mary which was intercepted by Raion Hill. The Tigers held on for the 28–21 upset. Kevin Faulk appeared on the next week’s cover of Sports Illustrated.
2003: LSU’s only loss
The beleaguered Gators, under second year coach Ron Zook, took on #6 LSU and Nick Saban with freshman Chris Leak making his third start at quarterback for Florida.
The Gators were off to their worst start since 1979, with a 3–3 record to begin the year. The previous week, Florida lost to Ole Miss at home and Coach Ron Zook was already on the hot seat. However, Florida’s freshman quarterback Chris Leak would help the Gators turn their season around. Leak shrugged off six sacks, the Tiger Stadium noise and a pressing defense to lead the Gators to a 19–7 victory over LSU with two separate touchdown passes to running backs Ran Carthon and Ciatrick Fason out of the backfield. Florida also got a massive game out of their defense, including cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, who had two interceptions and shut LSU down. This shocking loss in Death Valley would be the Tigers’ only defeat of the season, as Nick Saban would go on to win his first BCS National Championship and his only title with LSU.
2006: Tebow’s series debut
The 9th ranked Tigers visited the 5th ranked Gators favored by a point and a half. Early in the first quarter, JaMarcus Russell connected with Jacob Hester for a touchdown.
However, Florida’s freshman quarterback Tim Tebow would help the Gators turn the tide. While the Gators’ starting QB was senior Chris Leak, coach Urban Meyer had been rotating Tebow, a highly touted recruit, into the huddle for a few series every game. Tebow made the most of his opportunities against LSU, accounting for three touchdowns, including his first career passing touchdown on “the jump pass” to tight end Tate Casey. The Gators won 23–10 and went on to win the BCS National Championship.
Wes’s keys to the game:
Florida – establish the run. Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce have been a two-headed monster for the gators and they both need to be on fire so Trask can keep the defense off of him. On defense, get after Burrow. Don’t let him get settled or he will pick the gator D apart.
LSU– Special teams. This is going to be a game of inches so you need your kicker to be lights out.
Offense- Protect Burrow so he can do what he does best- finding open receivers.
The 2019 edition is in prime time and in Tiger Stadium. This is one of the loudest venues in all of college football and you better believe it will be cranking when these two go at it this Saturday night at 8 PM on CBS.
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