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Friday, December 13, 2002
LSU has its own 'Doman-ator'
By Mike Diegnan
ABC Sports Online
NEW ORLEANS -- Emeril couldn't have concocted a better Creole dish on New Year's.
|  | | Domanick Davis' four TDs are a Sugar Bowl record. |
From the heart of Cajun Country, Domanick Davis mixed up a masterpiece of speed and strength to lead LSU to a 47-34 rout of Illinois to win the 2002 Nokia Sugar Bowl on New Year's night. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound running back from Breaux Bridge, La., was the difference-maker for the Tigers, as he took advantage of his opportunity to start at running back and broke the game open early with his elusive running.
The junior had been awaiting his chance to shine, and he only got it when LaBrandon Toefield tore his left ACL in the SEC championship game. Davis responded by rushing 28 times for 122 yards and four touchdowns and accumulating 261 all-purpose yards before leaving in the fourth quarter with cramps.
More importantly, Davis' success on the ground opened the field for the Tigers' fearless quarterback, Rohan Davey, and LSU's talented group of receivers to torture Illinois' defensive backs. With the Illini forced into man coverage, Davey routinely chalked up 444 passing yards -- one of six individual records set by Tiger players on the evening.
"They didn't have a choice but to go one-on-one," said Josh Reed, who caught 14 passes for 239 yards and scored twice. "They had to put guys in the box to stop the run."
Prior to his record-breaking night -- his four touchdowns and 24 points set new Sugar Bowl standards -- Davis was best known in Louisiana for his versatility. The junior has been one of the best kick returners in the SEC for three years and earned second-team all-SEC as a return specialist this season. At times he has played defense, and even started at defensive back against Kentucky this year.
But he has not had many opportunities to be the featured tailback, with Toefield rushing for 992 yards and an SEC record-tying 19 touchdowns this fall. Davis did start against Ole Miss and was one of two backups who led the Tigers to the upset of Tennessee in the SEC championship game, but Tuesday night was his first time to show coach Nick Saban that he could be the Tigers' top back.
"There was no pressure on me," said Davis. "Early on, I had told the team I was going to make the most of my opportunity. I basically took the approach that I was going to go out there and have fun."
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Early on, I had told the team I was going to make the most of my opportunity. I basically took the approach that I was going to go out there and have fun. ” |
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— Domanick Davis |
And for a confident team that closed out the season with six straight wins, there was little doubt that Davis would deliver.
"There was no question he was going to come in and do the job," said Toefield, as he walked off the field while a Superdome crowd clad mostly in yellow and purple cheered the bowl champions.
"He played great," added Reed. "He stepped in there, especially when we lost Toe. He had to fill in some big shoes, but he got there tonight with confidence. This is something he's been waiting for, to get the chance, and he made the most of it."
Davis scored the game's first touchdown on brute strength. He burst up the middle from four yards out and appeared to be down at the 1, but his knee never touched the ground. From an almost prone position, Davis then used his second effort to lunge across the goal line.
Then Davis, who is quicker than Toefield, used his speed to cut back against an attacking Illini defense to sprint to scores of 25 and 16 yards to give the Tigers a 20-0 lead that changed the complexion of the game five minutes into the second quarter.
"Because Domanick is so shifty, we tried to spread everybody out and let him pick the lanes that he is going to run through," said Davey. "He did a great job cutting back."
Davis added his fourth score in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard run up the gut to keep Illinois three scores back. He also had a 28-yard TD reception and a long run called back because of holding penalties.
"Domanick Davis did a fantastic job in this game," said head coach Nick Saban, who won his second straight bowl game in Baton Rouge and ran his career record against Illinois to 6-0.
Davis' performance gives Saban some thinking to do this summer. Toefield is just a sophomore, but he has to hope that his knee heals quickly because he may be out of a job come next September. Toefield didn't mind basking in the glow of his teammate, however.
"I loved it," said Toefield, who has already begun rehabilitation after surgery on his knee. "I wish I was out there, but I can see why the fans are going crazy."
Mike Diegnan is the college football editor for ABC Sports Online. He can be reached at michael.diegnan@abc.com.
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LSU's Domanick Davis scores a Sugar Bowl-record 24 points on four rushing TDs (Courtesy: ABC Sports).