Best and Worst SEC Football Performances: Week 7
By Ryan Summers
Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers place kicker Trent Domingue (14) carries the ball for a touchdown in front of Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) and linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) on a fake field goal attempt in the second half at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Florida 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
LSU’s Trick Plays
– I know this isn’t one individual but one play really changed the outcome of Saturday’s game in Baton Rouge, Louisiana between LSU and Florida.
Knotted at 28 apiece, Les Miles decides to attempt a fake field goal from 16 yards out that would end up being the game changer. LSU would go on to win 35-28.
It’s not like we haven’t seen these types of things before from Miles, who earlier in the game ran a flea flicker passing play that ended in a 52-yard gain before halftime.
Treon Harris played well for the Gators after finding out he’d be filling in for the suspended Will Grier for the rest of the season and LSU’s quarterback Brandon Harris shocked some people with a very impressive passing performance.
But the story of this game was that the teams were evenly matched and besides a few plays where the Florida secondary looked atrocious, this could be a precursor to a tight SEC Championship game in December. That may be the next place where Miles will attempt some more tricks on his way to the College Football Playoff.
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) rushes during the second quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
– Dominant. One word that can describe Derrick Henry’s play Saturday against Texas A&M.
This week when the Crimson Tide went into College Station, Texas, they were the lower ranked team in the top-ten matchup and had some people doubting their true potential.
The Tide and coach Nick Saban put all the doubters to rest as they walloped the Aggies, winning 41-23.
The team was led by Henry, who ran for a career-high 236 yards and two touchdowns.
Henry has 901 rushing yards on the year and 12 scores, both ranking him second best in the conference behind Leonard Fournette. Both guys have elite talent but I think Henry has a little bit better of a supporting cast than the Tigers have for Fournette.
Henry’s rushing touchdowns in this game were from 55 and six yards out and the blocking was superb. Look for him to continue to show up on the Best of the Week list if he plays anything like he did against the Aggies.
Looking ahead to next week, Henry will take on Tennessee, who is ranked 72nd in the nation for rushing defense –giving up 170.5 yards a game. On second thought, Henry will definitely be here again next week.
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
– Sure Mississippi State isn’t surprising anyone with their OK wins over teams that they are expected to beat like week 7’s game against Louisiana Tech, which ended in a 45-20 win for the Bulldogs. But you can’t argue numbers.
Dak Prescott threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns while completing passes on 30 of his 43 passing attempts. That’s beast.
Add a rushing touchdown to his tally on Saturday and you have a pretty all-around game from an expected star. In week 8 I think Prescott will do well against Kentucky at home but would love for him to face some real competition and show everyone that he really isn’t someone to write home about.
But for me, the numbers don’t lie. Keep doing you Dak.
What’s better than people who performed well in week 7? That’s right. The people that underwhelmed. Let’s look at the worst performances in this week’s SEC football competition.
Next: Worst of the Week