Max Johnson, Cade York named SEC Players of the Week

BATON ROUGE – LSU true freshman quarterback Max Johnson and sophomore placekicker Cade York have been named the Southeastern Conference Players of the Week for their performance in the 37-34 victory over No. 6 Florida on Saturday in Gainesville.

Johnson, a native of Athens, Ga., earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while York, a sophomore from McKinney, Texas, was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Johnson, in his first career start for the Tigers, completed 21-of-36 passes for 239 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers in the victory. Johnson became the first LSU true freshman quarterback to beat a Top 10 team on the road in his first start at the position. Johnson threw touchdown passes of 5, 39, and 4 yards in the contest and also added 52 rushing yards in the victory. His 4-yard touchdown pass to Tre Bradford with 13:14 left in the contest gave the Tigers a 34-31 lead.

On LSU’s final possession and with the game tied at 34-34, Johnson directed the Tigers on a 9-play, 36-yard drive that culminated with York’s 57-yard game-winning field goal with 23 seconds left in the contest.

Johnson becomes the first true freshman quarterback in LSU history to earn SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors, an award that dates back to 1985.

York kicked three field goals in the win over Florida with the third being the game-winner from 57 yards with 23 seconds remaining. York’s 57-yard field goal bettered the previous school record by three yards and ranks as the second-longest in the FBS this year. York’s 57-yarder broke a 34-34 tie and gave LSU its first win over a Top 10 opponent this year. It also extended LSU’s streak of seasons with at least one victory over a Top 10 opponent to four straight and 10 of the last 11.

York closed the first half with a 39-yard field goal to extend the Tiger lead to 24-17. York added a 30-yard field goal to cap LSU’s opening drive of the second half as the Tigers increased their advantage to 27-17.

For the season, York has connected on 14-of-17 field goals and is 31-of-31 on point-after touchdowns. Five of York’s field goals have come from at least 50 yards.

The honor is the second of York’s career as he won the award for the first time for his performance in LSU’s win over Texas in 2019.