Audio: Lawrence comments following CFP National Championship Game

Former Cartersville High School quarterback and current Clemson signal-caller led his Tigers to a second-straight College Football Playoffs National Championship Game this season, but the defending national champions fell Monday night in the New Orleans SuperDome to top-ranked LSU, 42-25. The loss was the first for Clemson in more than two years and the first-ever for Lawrence, snapping a 29-game winning streak. The loss, which was the Clemson’s first in 742 days, leaves the 2019 ACC champs with the 12th-longest winning streak in college football history and was the longest since Florida State won 29 straight between 2012-14. In Monday’s title game, Lawrence put Clemson on top 7-0 with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and Clemson took a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter, but the heralded LSU offense grabbed momentum later in the half to score three unanswered touchdowns and took a 28-17 lead at halftime. The Clemson defense forced a three-and-out to begin the second half and Lawrence helped engineer a 50-yard, LSU penalty aided, scoring drive that narrowed the margin to 28-25 in the first four minutes of the third quarter.

Trevor Lawrence scores the opening touchdown in Monday's CFP National Championship Game.

LSU answered, however, with a 68-yard drive late in the third quarter and a 57-yard drive early in the fourth quarter — both on Heisman winner Joe Burrow TD passes — to seal their victory and the national title. Lawrence finished 18-of-37 for 234 yards but did not have a touchdown pass. His LSU counterpart, Burrow, was 31-for-49 for 463 yards and five touchdowns. Following the game, Lawrence discussed the outcome and his performance. Click the link below for audio:

AUDIO VIA WBHF-Cartersville edited by Kevin Pate. The National Championship is the fourth in LSU football history. They also won the title in 2007, 2003, and 1958. With Lawrence back for his junior year, Clemson is a heavy favorite to make it to the College Football Playoff for a sixth consecutive season in the 2020 season. They are already the top-ranked team in ESPN’s 2020 Way-Too-Early Top 25.