It’s no Jan. 9.

No. 5 LSU got that burden out of the way with six first downs in its first two drives and 178 total yards, but the Tigers still trail No. 1 Alabama, 14-3, at halftime in Tiger Stadium.

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron scrambled for a nine-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left in the second quarter to largely nullify a competitive first half.

McCarron also threw for 94 yards while completing nine of his 15 throws.

The Tigers have now played 10 quarters and an overtime without scoring a touchdown on the Crimson Tide defense.

Their best chance to erase that dubious stat came midway through the second quarter, when freshman running back Jeremy Hill scampered 19 yards to the Alabama 12-yard line following a Tide fumble.

Fullback J.C. Copeland drew a 15-yard personal foul penalty after the play and LSU failed to convert a curious fake field goal on 4th and 12 moments later.

In front of a raucous Tiger Stadium crowd, the Tigers exploded out of the gate, gaining 112 yards on its first two possessions but only earned a Drew Alleman 38-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Then the Tide offensive line went to work. Alabama rolled to an 11-play, 92-yard touchdown drive, capped by Eddie Lacy’s slippery seven-yard scoring run for a 7-3 Tide lead midway through the second period.

Lacy finished the half with seven carries for 71 yards and Tide freshman T.J. Yeldon added 41 more on six touches.

Backed up at its own 9-yard line late in the half, LSU drove 54 yards with the aid of a lengthy Spencer Ware reception, but Alleman misfired on a 54-yard field goal.

Alabama took advantage of the opportune field position, driving 63 yards in just under a minute, with McCarron delivering the dagger.

LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger finished the half 10-of-18 for 92 yards but took two sacks. Hill has 13 carries for 66 yards.

Alabama will get the ball to begin the second half.

Stay tuned to lsureveille.com and on Twitter @TDR_Sports, @AbshireTDR and @CassaraTDR for updates.