LSU falls at No. 5 Texas A&M, 20-7, in ugly affair

LSU's much-maligned defense played well enough Saturday for the defending national champions to potentially play spoiler to a highly ranked Texas A&M.

Instead, a disjointed offensive struggle left the Tigers (3-4) scoreless vs. the No. 5 Aggies (6-1) until the final minute of 20-7 loss in an all-around ugly affair.

"We win as a team and we lose as a team," coach Ed Orgeron said. "We've had some games where we've scored 40 points and lost, so we can't look at it like that. But I will say that I was pleased with the defensive effort today to hold them to 13 points.

"Give (defensive coordinator) Bo Pelini credit, the defensive staff and give our players credit. I thought we played very well up front. We gave up too many yards to (running back Isaiah) Spiller, but for the most part we played well."

The SEC West rivals finished with 267 yards each — a season-low for each team — and combined for 23 punts, including 14 three-and-outs, and two turnovers on down.

Texas A&M turned a 26-yard run and 15-yard LSU penalty into an early field goal , then added a 52-yard touchdown run by Spiller for a 10-0 run after the first quarter.

But the Aggies could never seem to find enough rhythm on offense to carry much momentum.

Senior quarterback Kellen Mond completed just two of his first 10 passes en route to an 11-for-34 performance for 105 yards.

Spiller rushed 27 times for 141 yards and the game's lone offensive score.

"Man, we just tried to get pressure in (Mond's) face," junior linebacker Micah Baskerville said. "Tried to make it uncomfortable for him. That just was something we did."

Baskerville led the team with a game-high 12 tackles, including one for loss and a forced fumble.

Senior linebacker Ray Thornton recorded two tackles and the team's only sack

Cordale Flott added eight tackles, including one for loss, and a pair of pass breakups in extensive playing time with freshman Elias Ricks absent, Orgeron said, because of an injury.

And fellow sophomore cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. broke up three passes and split a tackle for loss with senior safety JaCoby Stevens, who added a hurry.

"Really impressed their man-to-man coverage," Orgeron said. "Really impressed with the communication there. Not as many breakdowns giving up explosive pass plays. We didn't give up many explosive pass plays. We gave up a couple explosive runs. I thought the secondary was probably the most improved group on the field."

That Tigers had opportunities to answer in the second quarter.

Freshman quarterback T.J. Finley hit junior wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. for a 54-yard strike to the Texas A&M 31, then appeared to connect with freshman receiver Kayshon Boutte at the pylon for a quick score.

But Boutte was ruled out of bounds on the official review, and Finley's throw under pressure on the next play landed in defensive back Jaylon Jones' hands.

"I thought he had it when the ball crossed the goal line," Orgeron said. "But, hey, they're not gonna listen to me. But that was a big turnaround... We had some spots in the game where we could've took over. Our defense was playing well. We just couldn't punch it in on offense."

The Tigers forced the Aggies 11 yards backwards on the ensuing possession and forced a punt.

But starting field position at the 45-yard line and an eventual red-zone trip evaporated as sophomore kicker Cade York knuckled a 34-yard field goal attempt off the wet grass and left upright.

"I think it was a little wet, but I was disappointed," Orgeron said. "I was disappointed in the play of our special teams. We played very inconsistent. We had a (fumbled punt) turnover. We had too many penalties.

"Thanks God we've got (punter) Zach (Von Rosenberg) back there, because there was a lot of punts that could've been blocked with a punter that was less athletic. So I was disappointed with that. I couldn't see exactly what happened on the field goal, but that was a big part of the game, man. We could've gotten three points right there and gave us some moment."

Texas A&M eventually mustered an eight-play, 44-yard drive just before the half to extend the lead to 13-0 on Seth Small's second field goal of the game.

But little else the rest of the way.

The Aggies' longest drives of the second — six plays for 11 yards and five plays for 28 yards — yielded no points.

But the LSU offense gifted a third-quarter pick-six thrown to senior linebacker Buddy Johnson that provided the additional breathing room and felt like a dagger.

"I just told (Finley), 'Just protect the football. Don't throw the ball away like that,'" Orgeron said. "You know, it was a freshman mistake. But I wanted him to learn that's not acceptable. Just take the sack. But don't throw the football away."

The Ponchatoula product finished 9-for-25 for 118 yards and two interceptions and rushed twice for 9 yards.

Fellow freshman Max Johnson completed 14 of 22 attempts for 113 yards in relief, rushed eight times for -4 yards and led the late touchdown drive to avoid the Tigers' first shutout by the Aggies since 1993.

Marshall caught 10 passes for 134 yards and the score, and freshman tight end Arik Gilbert and sophomore wide receiver combined to add an additional 69 yards on five receptions.

The Tigers totaled 36 rushing yards on 25 attempts for an average of 1.4 yards per carry.

"It all starts up front with the blocking," Orgeron said. "There's no room for us to run the football. I think we've gotta call better plays. I think we have to have a better plan. I was really disappointed in our plan. I was disappointed in our execution.... I thought a guy like Terrace Marshall, look how hard he played. Look at the catches that he made. We've gotta use these guys better. We've gotta have a better plan."