LSU junior kicker Josh Jasper wanted an opportunity make a kick with the game on the line.Jasper seized that chance with a 41-yard field goal that hooked inside the uprights to tie the game at 30 with four seconds left in regulation.Jasper had watched from the sideline last week as his chance to defeat Ole Miss evaporated. But Saturday, LSU coach Les Miles called on Jasper to send the game into overtime against Arkansas and eventually to take the final 33-30 lead.”I knew if I was going to get the chance, I wasn’t going to miss,” Jasper said after the game. “I was excited for my team mainly because they worked hard all week. For me to be able to help out at the end, that’s just wonderful.”The Tigers got the ball first in overtime and gained 6 yards on consecutive runs by sophomore running back Stevan Ridley. The drive then stalled after sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson’s pass to senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell fell incomplete.Miles called on Jasper again to put LSU ahead. The Memphis, Tenn., native drilled a 36 yarder to put the Tigers in front, 33-30, and eventually give LSU (9-3, 5-3) the win against Arkansas (7-5, 3-5) after an Alex Tejada field goal went begging wide right.”It was very fitting that we get into the back half of this game, and we have to play well in tight quarters, which is what this team does and how they operate,” Miles said. “For us to come out with victory, I’m just happy for my team.”With the win, LSU reclaimed the Golden Boot for the first time since 2006 and solidified its chance to play in a New Years Day bowl game. The Tigers broke a six-game losing streak against Southeastern Conference foes in November.LSU improved to No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches’ Top 25 and No. 15 in the Associated Press poll after the win. The Tigers also moved up the BCS standings to No. 13 after the Arkansas win.Before Jasper got his opportunity, the Razorbacks reclaimed their second lead of the game, 30-27, with 1:18 remaining. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett zipped a 14-yard pass to sophomore receiver Joe Adams in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown on fourth-and-9 to seemingly doom the Tigers for the third consecutive year.Arkansas converted two third downs on the go-ahead drive with an 18-yard hook up to sophomore running back Dennis Johnson and a 23-yard connection to sophomore wide receiver Greg Childs to extend the eventual 75-yard drive.After holding Arkansas to 91 yards passing in the first half, the LSU defense was unable to pressure the strong-armed Mallett in the second half. Mallett finished the game 17-of-39 passing for 227 yards and one touchdown.”[Mallett] has one of the strongest arms we’ve faced all year,” said LSU senior linebacker Perry Riley, who had eight tackles. “He did a great job in the second half.”The Tigers answered with a drive of their own down the field. After Jefferson took a sack, he completed four of five passes for 37 yards. The last came on an 8-yard swing pass to Ridley, who scampered out of bounds at the Arkansas 23-yard line to stop the clock with nine seconds remaining, giving Jasper the opportunity to tie the game.”We practiced this type of scenario in practice throughout the whole week,” said Jefferson, who finished 17-of-25 passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns. “We made sure if that scenario came again, we’d be prepared for it.”Jasper went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including two 47-yarders.”He’s been doing great for us all year,” Riley said of Jasper. “We’ve counted on him plenty times this year, and he’s gotten it done for us.”- – – -Contact Jonathan Schexnayder at [email protected]