Before the LSU football team took the field against Florida on Saturday, sophomore safety Rickey Jefferson made a promise to a few family members attending the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
“My aunt and cousin’s birthday [was Saturday], so I told them I was going to make it happen,” Jefferson said.
He made good on that promise in the final minute of the game when he intercepted a pass and returned it 23 yards to the Florida (3-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) 36-yard line to set up sophomore kicker Colby Delahoussaye’s 50-yard, game-winning field goal.
But Jefferson honored more than just his cousin with the play. Jefferson said he ranked the victory among the most memorable he’s ever played in, not only because he made a game-winning play, but also because he did it in front of his family.
“I had an uncle pass away not too long ago in April, and I dedicated the season to him and my grandma, who passed in January, so it was good to have my family here,” Jefferson said. “His brothers and sisters and mom and my immediate family were up there. It was amazing.”
The play occurred in the closing minute of a back-and-forth final quarter featuring big plays leading to two lead changes before the Gators tied the game 27-27 with 1:49 remaining.
After forcing the Tigers (5-2, 1-2 SEC) to go three-and-out, Florida regained possession with 54 seconds to put together a game-winning drive.
After completing two consecutive screen passes to put the Gators on LSU’s 45 yard line, Florida junior quarterback Jeff Driskel threw a pass up the middle to junior wide receiver Latroy Pittman. LSU junior linebacker Kwon Alexander collided with Pittman, sending the ball spiraling into the air.
“I saw the slant, so I jumped it. I was trying to pick it, but I hit the receiver,” Alexander said. “And it just flew up in the air.”
That’s all Jefferson needed. The defensive play call put him in the right place at the right time to make the interception.
“We were in a coverage where I had to come down,” Jefferson said. “Kwon was a great help on the play. Once he hit the ball, I looked up in the air to find the ball, and I was able to make a play for my team.”
The play gave LSU the ball in Florida territory with 24 seconds remaining in the game, setting up Delahoussaye’s first career game-winning field goal.
The kick was the longest Delahoussaye has attempted since arriving at LSU, and it served as retribution after he missed an extra point attempt in the third quarter.
“I hate the feeling of maybe letting my team down,” Delahoussaye said. “We were so close, and I just wanted to do anything I could do to help my team.”
After Jefferson’s interception, LSU coach Les Miles asked Delahoussaye which hashmark he would rather kick from, and he received a definitive answer — anywhere but the right hash.
That’s exactly where he had to kick from, but it didn’t matter. When Miles asked Delahoussaye how confident he felt about the attempt, the sophomore assured him he’d win the game for the Tigers.
“He looked at me and said, ‘I’ll make this one,’” Miles said.
Sure enough, Delahoussaye booted the ball and immediately put his hands in the air in celebration.
LSU prevented a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff to put an end to the wild finish, something Miles has gotten used to during his trips to Florida.
“If ratings weren’t boosted in the fourth quarter, something’s wrong,” Miles said. “It was a tremendously classic battle in The Swamp. We’ve been fortunate to be here a number of times. This was just like many.”
You can reach Tyler Nunez on Twitter @Nunez_TDR.