BATON RED, Louisiana. – Something smart came out of the closure of the COVID-19 with respect to LSU (2-2). That propelled first-year quarterback T. J. Finley to lose weight, which led him to the Tigers’ starting quarterback, leading to LSU’s ultimate lifetime victory of the season on Saturday night.
Tyler Jamal Finley for injured junior Myles Brennan and looked like a senior, completing 17 of 21 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 52-24 win over South Carolina at Tiger Stadium.
The 6-6 Finley weighed more than 260 pounds COVID-19 and played at 8 p. m. Saturday night.
“First of all, my weight loss is a huge facet of this good fortune that I have right now,” he said after the game. “I was handed over to the LSU in — and it’s an embarrassing figure, but well — 265 pounds. “. I massive. A lot of guys bothered me and said I’d transfer to face D, so I took it seriously. “
Misery Index: Review: While Tennessee flights are stranded Jeremy Pruitt, Rutgers has a new life with Greg Schiano
More: Ohio State to number 3 on amway Clemson, Alabama coaching ticket
Instead of gaining weight in confining the house amid COVID-19 protocols, Finley went the other way.
“So when COVID arrived and we quarantined, I took care of the shrinking,” he said. “It’ll be worth it. “
Orgeron was inspired by thin Finley as he tried to upgrade Brennan last week: Finley or his freshman Max Johnson. When Orgeron chose Finley on Thursday, Finley’s ability to lose weight was a factor.
“TJ showed us a lot of confidence in the camp,” Orgeron said. “He’s lost weight. In fact, we’re proud of TJ Finley. That’s what we saw at the camp. “
Finley showed an incredibly strong, whip-like arm that was also surgically accurate in short, intermediate passes, but also ran well, breaking five-, four-, and nine-yard problems in the first two LSU series. He gained 24 yards in eight. He continued the evening and ran well.
“They were a little harder, I’ll tell you, ” said Finley.
“He’s a brand new, brand new, brand new, coming in and betting like this incredible,” said John Emery, Jr. , who also started the first game of his career and gained 88 yards on 18 carries with a 3-yard landing in the fourth quarter for a 52-17 lead.
It’s LSU’s biggest credit since 56-14 on Oklahoma in the third quarter of the national semifinals last season that the Tigers won 63-28.
Tyrion Davis-Price, LSU’s sophomore fullback, led all runners with a yard record in 22 hauls.
“We already have a pass game, ” said Emery. ” We’re just looking to pass out and prove that we have a racing game. “
LSU also needed a quality victory, after a 45-41 loss to Missouri with his other Vanderbilt win 0-3.
“We had to get that bad gut feeling out of our stomach,” Emery said. “We needed this win. For South Carolina to beat Auburn (30-22 last week), and then to beat South Carolina, it was a huge kind of confidence for us as Auburn gets closer. “
LSU Auburn (3-2) at 3:30 p. m. , ET on Saturday on CBS.