The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Burrow throws for 7 TDs as LSU routs Oklahoma
ATLANTA — Joe Burrow turned in the greatest performance yet in his Heisman Trophy season, throwing for seven touchdowns and 493 yards as No. 1 LSU romped to a breathtaking 6328 victory over No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl semifinal game Saturday.
The Tigers (140) headed to the national championship game against either No. 2 Ohio State or No. 3 Clemson clicking on all cylinders, having dismantled the Sooners (122) with a first half for the ages.
Burrow tied the record for any college bowl game with his seven TD passes — which all came before the bands hit the field for the halftime show at MercedesBenz Stadium. Justin Jefferson was on the receiving end for four of those scoring plays, also tying a bowl record.
For good measure, Burrows scored an eighth TD himself on a 3yard run in the third quarter, thoroughly dominating his expected duel with Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Heisman runnerup.
All that as the Tigers played with heavy hearts. Shortly before the game, LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger learned that his daughterinlaw, broadcaster Carley McCord, was among five people killed in a plane crash in Louisiana.
The small plane went down shortly after takeoff for what was supposed to be a flight to Atlanta for the game.
Emsminger had tears running down his cheeks during warmups, but he was in his usual spot high above the field when the game kicked off, calling plays along with passing game coordinator Joe Brady.
It was a brilliant, poignant performance in the face of such tragedy.
“He’s the MVP right now,“LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said in a halftime interview with his team leading 4914.
CAMPING WORLD BOWL
No. 14 Notre Dame 33, Iowa State 9: At Orlando, Fla., Ian Book threw for 247 yards and one touchdown and Tony Jones Jr. scored on an 84yard run, helping Notre Dame dominate.
Book completed 20 of 28 passes without an interception, including a 27yard TD throw to Chase Claypool as the Fighting Irish (112, No. 15 CFP) wrapped up another doubledigit win year on a sixgame winning streak. Claypool had seven receptions for 146 yards and was named game MVP, while Jones finished with 135 yards rushing.
Brock Purdy was 17 of 30 for 222 yards and no interceptions for Iowa State (76). However, the sophomore quarterback was unable to get his team into the end zone after throwing for a Cyclones’ singleseason record 27 TDs during the regular season.
Notre Dame’s defense was superb, forcing two firstquarter fumbles that helped the Irish build a 206 halftime lead. Jones scored on Notre Dame’s first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, circling the left end and heading up the sideline in front of the Iowa State bench.
Cornerback Tayvonn Kyle caught up to the 5foot11, 224pound Jones at the Cyclones 10 yard line but was unable to fight off the running back’s stiff arm and was carried into the end zone.
Jafar Armstrong also scored on a 1yard run for the Irish, who got four field goals from Jonathan Doerer.
Connor Assalley kicked field goals of 41, 26 and 42 yards for Iowa State.
COTTON BOWL
No. 13 Penn State 53, No. 15 Memphis 39: At Arlington, Texas, AllAmerica linebacker Micah Parsons led the big blitz for Penn State, and he had Brady White all wrapped up when the Memphis quarterback suddenly flipped away the ball — right into the hands of Garrett Taylor.
On a day when the Nittany Lions’ defense gave up its most points and yards all season, Taylor turned that gift into a 15yard interception return for a touchdown in a victory over the Group of Five Tigers.
“A huge momentum shift,” Taylor said.
Journey Brown ran for 202 yards with two long touchdowns, but the Parsonscreated picksix came three plays after Brown was stopped short on a fourthand1. Taylor put the Nittany Lions (112, No. 10 CFP) up 4536 going into the fourth quarter.
“For our defense to come back and what you probably consider a suddenchange situation, and be able to get that play, I think it was a huge momentum play,“coach James Franklin said.
Said Parsons: “The game was going back and forth, and I thought the team who had a defensive turnover would win, and we got one when we needed.“
Brown was the offensive MVP and Parsons, with 14 tackles and two sacks, was the game’s top defensive player. Both had gone back and forth about that possibility during practice this week.
American Athletic Conference champion Memphis (122, No. 17 CFP) played its first game under coach Ryan Silverfield. The offensive line coach was promoted when Mike Norvell left after four seasons to become Florida State’s coach earlier this month.
“It just didn’t end the way we wanted to,” Silverfield said. “I have to do a better job as a head coach to make sure all three phases are prepared. That’s 100% on me. That won’t happen moving forward.”
White was 32of51 passing for 454 yards with two interceptions. He had a rushing touchdown, as did Patrick Taylor Jr. and Kenneth Gainwell. The rest of the Tigers’ points came on a Cotton Bowlrecord six field goals by Riley Patterson, including a recordlong 51yarder.
“I don’t care about performances … but I care about wins,” White said. “I want championships, I want wins.”
The Tigers, who set a school record for victories while winning their first outright conference title since 1969, finished with 542 total yards. But White was sacked a seasonhigh six times and didn’t throw a touchdown for the first time since the season opener.
“We go against him all the time … nobody prepares and prepares for those opportunities and those moments more than this guy does,” Brown said of Parsons.