LSU downs Baylor in Kinder's Texas Bowl

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 1, 2025, All Rights Reserved) The LSU Tigers wrapped up their season in style, defeating the Baylor Bears 44-31 on Tuesday afternoon (December 31, 2024) to win the Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led the charge, throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns as LSU ended their year with a strong 9-4 record.

The Tigers wasted no time making their presence felt. On their first drive, Nussmeier connected with freshman tight end Trey’Dez Green for a crucial 5-yard first down on 4th-and-5. A few plays later, Nussmeier found Green again for a 10-yard touchdown, giving LSU a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

Baylor tried to respond, but LSU’s defense stepped up. Freshman linebacker Davhon Keys intercepted Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. That play made Keys just the third LSU player ever to score a pick-six in a bowl game. LSU’s lead quickly grew to 14-0.

The Bears fought back with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Robertson to Josh Cameron, cutting the lead to 14-7. But LSU’s offense wasn’t done. Nussmeier delivered a 40-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hilton Jr., and the Tigers were back in control at 21-7.

Hilton continued to shine, hauling in a 43-yard catch that set up another touchdown. Nussmeier found Green for his second touchdown catch of the game, extending the Tigers’ lead to 28-7. The LSU defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs when Robertson was sacked by Whit Weeks and Sai’vion Jones.

Baylor showed some life before halftime. They blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt and scored on a Dawson Pendergrass touchdown run, trimming LSU’s lead to 28-14. But LSU answered right back. Zavion Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 34-14. It was LSU’s second kickoff return touchdown of the season, marking a first in the SEC era.

In the second half, Baylor tried to rally. They scored on a 4-yard pass from Robertson to Ashtyn Hawkins, narrowing the score to 34-24. LSU turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions, but Baylor couldn’t capitalize. A bad snap on 4th-and-1 gave the Tigers the ball back.

LSU’s offense found its rhythm again in the fourth quarter. Running back Josh Williams powered in a 4-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 41-24. Kicker Damian Ramos added a 43-yard field goal, making it 44-24.

Baylor scored one last time with a 3-yard rush from Pendergrass, but it wasn’t enough. The Tigers’ defense stood firm, and LSU secured the win.

This victory capped off an exciting season for LSU, who now looks ahead to their 2025 opener against Clemson on August 30. 

Baylor and LSU set for showdown in Texas Bowl

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (December 30, 2024) The Baylor Bears and LSU Tigers are gearing up for an exciting clash at NRG Stadium in the Kinder's Texas Bowl on Tuesday, bringing together two teams with plenty of history, talent, and momentum. Both schools are familiar with the Texas Bowl, with Baylor making its third appearance and LSU also visiting for the third time. The Bears defeated Vanderbilt 45-38 in 2018 but lost to Illinois in 2010. LSU's last trip to the Texas Bowl in 2022 ended in a 42-20 loss to Kansas State.

Baylor comes into the game riding a six-game winning streak. After starting the season 2-4, the Bears turned things around with victories over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, TCU, West Virginia, Houston, and Kansas. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson has been key during this stretch, throwing seven of his 26 touchdown passes. Robertson has 2,626 passing yards this season, completing 199 of 317 passes with just seven interceptions.

The Bears also boast standout players on both sides of the ball. Inside linebackers Matt Jones and Keaton Thomas earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors. Thomas leads the team with 107 tackles, while Jones has 103. Wide receiver Josh Cameron has been a dual threat with 643 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Cameron’s average of 20.7 yards per punt return is the best in the nation for players with at least 14 returns.

Freshman running back Bryson Washington has been another bright spot for Baylor. He rushed for 1,004 yards this season, setting a school record for a freshman, and scored 12 touchdowns.

LSU’s offense will be led by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who is having a stellar season. Nussmeier has thrown for 3,739 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He needs 261 passing yards to become only the second quarterback in LSU history to hit the 4,000-yard mark in a season. Nussmeier has shined against non-conference opponents, throwing for 1,766 yards and 16 touchdowns in five such games since last year.

Freshman running back Caden Durham has contributed 693 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while LSU’s offensive line has been anchored by standout left tackle Will Campbell, a Consensus All-American. However, Campbell and right tackle Emery Jones will both miss the game after opting out.

On defense, LSU has a rich history of success under head coach Brian Kelly and will look to improve their 6-8 record in bowl games against Big 12 opponents.

This will be the first meeting between Baylor and LSU in 39 years. Baylor holds a 2-1 edge in bowl matchups, including a 21-7 victory in the Liberty Bowl in 1985. The game is also part of the Texas Bowl’s tradition of matching SEC and Big 12 teams, a streak that has continued for the past decade.

A win would be historic for Baylor, as the Bears have never ended a season with seven consecutive victories. For LSU, it’s a chance to secure their 31st bowl win and build momentum heading into next season.

Crosby HS WR Mannie Netherly commits to play college football for LSU

Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

CROSBY, TEXAS (June 25, 2016) Heading into his final year of high school football, one Houston area player knows what colors he will be wearing when he takes the field in the fall of 2017. Crosby High School senior Emmanuel (Mannie) Netherly announced on Friday evening, June 24, 2016, via his Twitter account, that he will attend Louisiana State University and will play for the Tigers beginning in 2017. The 6-2, 183-pound quarterback and wide receiver had offers from over 20 other schools, including Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Texas.

Netherly led Crosby High School to a 11-1 record in 2015, with a 10-0 regular season record while posting an 8-0 record in route to the district championship. In the playoffs, Crosby defeated Lumberton by the score of 42-13 in the first round of the Class 5A Division II before falling to Fort Bend Ridge Point 42-14 at NRG Stadium in the second round.

The future LSU Tiger will bring impressive stats to Baton Rouge. He posted a 4.48-second 50-yard dash, along with a 4.32-second shuttle run and a 36.9-inch vertical jump. In his junior year at Crosby, as a wide receiver, he caught 60 passes for 1,002 yards and 18 touchdowns. In addition, he carried the ball 22 times for 230 yards and four touchdowns. When playing quarterback, he completed 13 of 23 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He was a first team all-district selection at wide receiver and was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association's all-state second team. Netherly and the Crosby Cougars will kick off the 2016 season on Friday, September 2, 2016 against Manvel High School.

LSU downs Wisconsin, 28-24 in Advocare Texas Kickoff

La'El Collins (70) raised the trophy after LSU
wins the Advocare Texas Kickoff.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis-La Vida Loca Photography
Copyright 2014 All Rights Reserved.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2014 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 30, 2014) Beginning the second half of the game trailing by the score of 24-7, the No. 13 LSU Tigers mounted a second half comeback that will send a message to many of the other SEC teams by scoring 21 unanswered points to down the No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers by the score of 28-24 in the Advocare Texas Kickoff at Houston's NRG Stadium on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

The first half however belonged to Wisconsin, and the Badgers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard to start the game.

In their first possession of the game, after an LSU punt, the Badgers drove 76 yards in six plays, capped by a 45 yard run by Reggie Love to make the score 7-0 at the 9:05 mark in the first quarter.
Four minutes later, Wisconsin added a 51-yard field goal by Rafael Gaglianone.

After a three and out by the Badgers, LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings unleashed a 80-yard pass to Travin Dural on the first play from scrimmage for the Tigers first touchdown of the season.

Running back Melvin Gordon got into the scoring mode in the second quarter when quarterback Travis McEvoy handed off to the swift-footed native of Kenosha, Wisconsin for a 14 yard run at the 7:36 mark for the Badgers second touchdown of the game.

Gaglianone again split the uprights for the PAT, to take the score to 17-7 at the half.

In the third quarter, running back Corey Clement capped a six play, 75 yard drive that lasted 2:36 with a two-yard run for the Badgers third touchdown of the night.

Gaglianone added the extra point to give Wisconsin a 24-7 lead with 12:24 left in the third quarter.

Later on the in quarter, LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye connected for two field goals of 30 yards and 47 yards to cut the Wisconsin lead to 24-13.

LSU begin the fourth quarter in the middle of a 59-yard drive which concluded in a 36-yard pass from
Jennings to wide receiver John Diarse for the Tigers' second touchdown of the game.

The Tigers opted to go for the two point conversion; with Jennings connecting with wide receiver Trey Quinn to cut the Badgers' lead to three points, 24-21.

LSU scored again two and a half minutes later on a Kenny Hillard 28-yard run to take the score to 28-24 in favor of the Tigers.

That drive lasted three plays and covered 53 yards in 1:45.

With the win, LSU takes their series with Wisconsin to 3-0, having beat the Badgers on two previous occasions; September 25, 1971 by the score of 38-28 and September 30, 1972 by the score of 27-7.

Offensively for LSU, Jennings completed nine of 21 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, while Hillard carried the ball 18 times for 110 yards and one touchdown. Sixteen of his carries and 88 of his yards came in the fourth quarter.

For Wisconsin, McEvoy completed 8-of-24 passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns while Gordon carried the ball 16 times for 140 yards and one touchdown.

Wisconsin will next host Western Illinois on September 6, 2014 with an 11 a.m. tart, while LSU hosts Sam Houston State on the same date with a 6 p.m. kickoff.