Leonard Fournette Looks Equipped to Carry LSU Offense on His Massive Shoulders

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Even after having a career performance, Leonard Fournette was just as helpless as his teammates on the sideline while watching his coach try to ice the opposing kicker twice with the game on the line.

Yet the sophomore running back had to admit it was a remarkable way to start the season.

“I was so nervous,” Fournette said after Devon Bell’s 52-yard attempt sailed wide right as time expired, giving No. 14 LSU the narrowest of wins at Davis Wade Stadium, 21-19. “Everybody was.”

While the kick and the dramatic comeback by No. 25 Mississippi State capped an unbelievable day in the Southeastern Conference, Fournette proved to be exactly what everyone expected him to be—and LSU hoped for—at the start of his second year: a game-changer.

With 159 rushing yards on 28 carries, he scored all three of LSU’s touchdowns Saturday night, which turned out to be just enough as the Tigers won the season’s first big SEC West showdown.

“He’s very big,” quarterback Brandon Harris said. “We go as he goes.”

Jim Lytle/Associated Press

That wasn’t necessarily the intention, as LSU hoped to establish Harris as more of a passing threat along with a balanced offense. LSU nearly did but had two touchdowns by junior wide receiver Travin Dural—one for 89 yards—nullified by holding penalties. 

“I’m not satisfied with this,” LSU coach Les Miles said about the first-game miscues after last week’s opener against McNeese State was rained out. “There’s going to be so much to correct, it’s ridiculous.”

Harris attempted just six passes in the second half and finished 9-of-14 for 71 yards. He was more effective managing the offense and running for 48 yards, while Fournette carried the team on his shoulders.

The Bulldogs didn’t seem to have much of a counterattack early. With Mississippi State’s three new starters on the offensive line looking like they were in for a long night, LSU’s defense shut down the running game and harassed quarterback Dak Prescott from the start—notching two early sacks.

“To hold them to under 50 rushing yards was huge,” LSU defensive lineman Christian LaCouture said.

In the first quarter, LSU averaged 7.9 yards per play compared to Mississippi State’s 2.3 while dominating the field position. While the second-biggest crowd in school history (62,531) only had a couple of first downs to enjoy, Fournette scored touchdowns of one and 26 yards to set the early tone.

But the more the game went on, the more LSU looked like a team that hadn’t played a game in 315 days.

The first time Mississippi State crossed midfield in the second quarter, it scored on a 43-yard field goal by Westin Graves.

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

When it finally reached the red zone early in the third quarter, MSU threatened to take the momentum away even though it had to settle for a 24-yard field goal.

“I told our team, 'Relax. Take a deep breath,'” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “That was our halftime adjustment.”

LSU immediately answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by Fournette’s third touchdown—an 18-yard carry around the right end. But Prescott had the Bulldogs on the move again soon after.

“It was all or nothing,” he said. “We had to put something together to make something happen.”

A 14-play, 87-yard drive resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by the quarterback. And when LSU wasn’t able to sustain a drive, MSU scored again on a five-yard touchdown reception by De’Runnya Wilson.

Only the two-point conversion pass failed, leaving MSU still down two points. Prescott finished 34-of-52 for 335 yards and one touchdown after being 11-of-20 for 88 yards at halftime. But Fournette’s performance held up.

“I think that he is a dominant back, a kind of guy who can make you miss and bring power,” Miles said. “He can be a difference in the game.”

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.