LSU secures first win of season, defeats Nicholls 44-21

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Despite starting slow early on, LSU managed to secure a 44-21 victory against Nicholls State on September 7, 2024, with Nicholls managing to stay competitive throughout much of the game.

A fumble recovered by LSU's PJ Woodland early in the 3rd quarter, solidified the Tigers win.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU's quarterback, passed for 290 yards and six touchdowns. Kyren Lacy delivered an impressive performance, making five catches for 65 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Even though LSU emerged victorious, their defense faced challenges in stopping the run, prompting worries as they prepare for their upcoming SEC match.

Garrett Nussmeier and Kyren Lacy show in the Tigers home opener on Saturday night as the pair connected for three touchdowns.

Garrett Nussmeier, the quarterback, completed 27 out of 37 passes for 302 yards and six touchdowns in the game. At the beginning of the first quarter, the Tigers went ahead when a poor snap on a punt by the Colonels resulted in a safety in the end zone.

In the next drive, Nussmeier threw a two-yard touchdown pass to true freshman tight end Trey’Dez Green, extending LSU's lead to 9-0.

In the late stages of the first quarter, Nicholls scored a two-yard rushing touchdown to get into the end zone.

Early in the second quarter, the Tigers increased their lead when Nussmeier connected with WR Kyren Lacy for a 32-yard touchdown pass down the middle. Lacy leaped over the final Colonel's defender to reach the end zone.

Midway through the second quarter, Nicholls narrowed the gap to two points by executing a trick play and scoring an 18-yard touchdown pass from WR Quincy Brown after a drive down the field.

LSU scored once more near the end of the half, as they drove 75-yards in just five plays. Nussmeier racked up his third passing touchdown of the half as he found freshman RB Ju’Juan Johnson for the four-yard score.

Nicholls opened up the second half with a 67-yard rushing touchdown to cut into LSU’s lead, but Nussmeier drove the Tigers down the field three consecutive times in the third quarter for three touchdowns. The first two scores were to Lacy, and the other was to WR Zavion Thomas.

LSU is on the road next week to begin SEC play against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Sept. 14. ESPN's College Gameday will be in Columbia, South Carolina for the matchup.