FAYETTEVILLE -- Leonard Fournette's incredible potential was as obvious Saturday night as his limitations caused by nagging injuries, but he was healthy enough to spark LSU to a 38-10 victory over Arkansas.
All five of the Tigers' touchdowns came on the ground -- three by Fournette and two by Derrius Guice.
Fournette suffered a high ankle sprain a week before LSU's season opener against Wisconsin, and other than the Ole Miss game when he rushed for 284 yards, he's been slowed down a bit.
The guy has gone from the Heisman Trophy favorite to probably not making the trip to New York as a finalist without complaint after missing three games.
Truth is, Fournette has missed so much practice time that in the ninth game of the season he still isn't in game shape, which is why he had only 17 carries Saturday.
He's one of those rare players who's a threat to score every time he touches the ball. A larger version of Darren McFadden, a two-time runner-up for the Heisman Trophy at Arkansas.
Fournette could be the first player taken in next year's NFL Draft.
On his second carry of the second half -- an 11-yard gain on third and 18 -- he fumbled.
A rarity, but it temporarily breathed life into the Hogs, who were down 21-7, and some warmth into a packed house that was enduring a drop in temperatures from 54 to the 30s.
Arkansas settled for a field goal, and the No. 24 Tigers came roaring back with an 81-yard drive in just seven plays, all of it on the ground after an incomplete pass. Fournette had 25 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown run, and Guice -- a fleet-footed and elusive sophomore -- contributed 53 yards.
It was Fournette's third touchdown of the night, and with the Razorbacks unable to do much against the Tigers' defense, it was more than enough.
LSU opened the game by smacking the Hogs for three touchdowns, but the Hogs responded by swarming Fournette like children do a shopping center Santa on Christmas Eve.
When Fournette wasn't in the game, he usually stood on the sidelines, watching intently as he stroked his beard.
This is the young man who a few months ago begged for peace in Baton Rouge when the city was embroiled in tension after the shooting of an African-American by a policeman.
When he was in the game, he was like a cornered cobra. No matter how many defenders hit him or how hard he was hit, he popped up without a word. No gesturing to the crowd to feed him. No taunts.
Watching him brought to mind many accolades for his abilities but also for his respect of the game and all who play it.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Fournette had 98 yards rushing on 17 carries (the Hogs had a total of 80) and 44 receiving.
In his first two games against the Razorbacks, he had a total of 100 yards on 24 carries, but his totals were set this night. He would sit the final quarter and nurse his body.
Taking nothing away from Guice, who also gave the Hogs problems with his ability to see the field and cut at full speed, it was the blows by the heavyweight Fournette who softened the Hogs defense.
Guice -- who finished with 252 yards rushing, including a 96-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter -- will open next season on the radar for the Heisman Trophy.
The Tigers -- who have endured the firing of their head coach, a change at quarterback and seeing their preseason hopes of an SEC title finally washed away with a 10-0 loss to Alabama last week -- were the better team led by the best player in the country.
Leonard Fournette was incredibly impressive even though he is apparently not 100 percent.
Sports on 11/13/2016