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Behind TJ Finley, LSU football rediscovers 2019 feeling in romp vs. South Carolina

By Alicia de Artola

LSU Tigers quarterback TJ Finley (11) celebrates after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
LSU Tigers quarterback TJ Finley (11) celebrates after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite playing without starting quarterback Myles Brennan, LSU football had its brightest night on offense of the season against South Carolina.

LSU football in 2020 hasn’t exactly managed to hold onto its 2019 swagger. The Tigers lost two of their first three games and struggled to cope without much of their championship squad.

On Saturday, things were supposed to get even more concerning as LSU prepared to take on South Carolina without starting quarterback Myles Brennan. In his place, the Tigers chose to start true freshman TJ Finley.

Instead, it felt like 2019 all over again as the Tigers blasted the Gamecocks, putting up 52 points in a victory.

LSU football may have some intrigue at quarterback after beating South Carolina

It’s not like South Carolina’s defense has been bad this season. They ranked No. 3 in the SEC giving up 24.5 points per game coming into the LSU game. The Tigers just lit them up.

Credit Finley for his performance. In his first appearance at the college level, the former three-star prospect from Ponchatoula, LA was shockingly good, completing 17-of-21 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns.

That’s far more than could have been expected from such a young player on such a big stage.

Finley scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak, then went on to find receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. twice in the second quarter for touchdown passes of seven and 51 yards.

When true freshman Elias Ricks returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown with less than three minutes left in the half, the game was pretty much over.

It helped that LSU got their run game going. Tyrion Davis-Price led all rushers with 135 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. John Emery Jr. had 88 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. As a team, the Tigers rushed for 275 yards and three touchdowns

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