KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The same mistakes and misfortunes that plagued LSU in road losses to Auburn University and the University of Florida converged into a seemingly insurmountable force Saturday against the University of Tennessee.
The Tigers again were on the sour end of a game-changing controversial call like against Auburn and again committed a laundry list of self-inflicted mistakes like against Florida.
But those circumstances simply did not matter this go-round for the Tigers.
No. 13 LSU (7-2, 3-2) overcame four turnovers and nine penalties against No. 8 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2) and pulled out a last-minute 28-24 victory in front of 106,333 fans in Neyland Stadium.
With nine seconds left in the game and LSU trailing 21-24, LSU junior quarterback JaMarcus Russell tossed a game-winning, 4-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Early Doucet.
“Our football team has character,” LSU coach Les Miles said emphatically in an emotional postgame press conference. “Our football team would not be denied. That’s who we are.”
Russell finished the game completing 24 of 36 passes for 247 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Tigers’ final drive came in response to the Volunteers’ 17th point of the game off LSU turnovers.
LSU senior wide receiver Dwayne Bowe fumbles at the Tennessee 46-yard line as Louisiana native and Volunteers senior defensive back Jonathan Wade forced the turnover.
On Tennessee’s first play following the turnover, freshman quarterback Jonathan Crompton hurled a 54-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Robert Meachem. The score gave the Volunteers a 24-21 advantage with 7:29 left in the fourth quarter.
The freshman signal caller entered the game with 14:22 remaining in the second quarter. Tennessee senior and starting quarterback Erik Ainge battled a sprained ankle during the week leading up to the game.
LSU junior defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey sacked Ainge around his ankles in the first quarter. The sack was Ainge’s final play of the game.
“[Ainge] got tackled, and he not only re-injured that ankle a bit, but I think he hurt the other one a bit too,” Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said.
While in the game, Ainge went 1-for-passing for 3 yards.
Crompton completed 11 of 24 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
“Jonathan’s going to be a heck of a quarterback,” Fulmer said. “I couldn’t have asked any more out of him.”
LSU dug itself a 17-7 hole after the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
Tennessee sophomore strong safety Demetrice Morley intercepted Russell’s pass at the LSU 31-yard line and returned the pick for a touchdown.
The interception gave the Volunteers the lead and the momentum with 13:41 left in the third quarter.
But the Tigers responded to the adversity as they did the entire game, Miles said.
“We are a team that comes out, and in the opening drive of the second half, throws one to them for 7 [points], and says, ‘You know what? It doesn’t matter,'” he said.
Russell led the Tigers on a 10-play, 77-yard touchdown drive to close the LSU deficit to three points, 17-14.
Bowe hauled in the 5-yard touchdown throw from Russell. The grab was Bowe’s 22nd career touchdown catch, which set a new LSU record for touchdown receptions in a player’s career.
LSU did not settle and forced a Tennessee punt on the ensuing possession.
Once the Tigers regained possession, they marched 52 yards on eight plays to take a 21-17 lead.
LSU true freshman running back Keiland Williams ran into the end zone from 7 yards out for the Tigers’ third score of the game.
LSU’s running game, which has struggled all season, played a large role in the victory.
Nine Tigers had at least one rushing attempt and collectively netted 231 yards on the ground.
Russell led all rushers with 82 yards, but Williams’ 17 carries was a game-high.
“Coaches really emphasized that we would run the ball and be more physical than them,” LSU sophomore center Brett Helms said. “We had an extra week to prepare for it, and that’s what we did in practice, and it carried over to the game.”
A strong rushing attacked paired with solid defense contributed to LSU’s success.
The Tigers’ defense held Tennessee to 248 total yards of offense and forced one turnover.
“We shut their offense down for the most part,” LSU senior defensive end Chase Pittman said. “I’m just really proud of everybody.”
Tennessee place kicker James Wilhoit converted a 24-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left in the second quarter to propel to the Volunteers to a 10-7 halftime lead.
Russell’s first interception of the game set up the Tennessee field-goal scoring drive.
Volunteers free safety Jonathan Hefney intercepted Russell’s attempted pass to freshman tight end Richard Dickson at the LSU 8-yard line. Hefney returned the pick to the LSU 38-yard line.
In the second quarter with LSU leading 7-0, Crompton engineered an 8-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to tie the score.
Crompton capped the drive by tossing his first-career touchdown on a 37-yard strike to Meachem.
The Volunteers’ scoring drive began at their own 20-yard line following a controversial touchback ruling on a preceding punt by LSU senior punter Chris Jackson. His punt bounced into the end zone for a touchback, but Miles argued that Morley touched the punt before it landed in the end zone, making it a live ball.
LSU recovered the punt in the end zone, but an official review upheld the touchback ruling made on the field.
“My eyes are getting bad,” Miles said. “I saw that ball move when [Morley’s] hand went by it. The instant replay guy cannot wear home goggles. He’s got to make the call.”
The Tigers scored the first touchdown of the game with 14:32 left in the second quarter after Russell completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Craig Davis.
The scoring drive consisted of 13 plays, gained 70 yards and took 5:46 off the clock.
LSU converted a fourth-and-one at the Volunteers’ 26-yard line to extend the drive. And the fourth down conversion was preceded by three third down conversions to keep the drive going.
—–Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]