AUBURN, Ala — Auburn’s student section wanted to storm the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
On fourth and 15, LSU junior quarterback Danny Etling found D.J. Chark in a window in the corner of the end zone as time expired in the fourth quarter. Chark gathered Etling’s pass. LSU (2-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) celebrates.
“Yeah, I celebrated,” Etling said. “I thought we won the game. I thought it was over. We all played hard. Anyone who wants to be down on us after this, then they’ve got other issues because we played hard every second of the game.”
Yes, Chark’s feet were in bounds.
Yes, Etling’s pass was legal and behind the line of scrimmage.
With one second remaining on the game clock, Etling called for the snap at the exact moment he heard the referee’s whistle resuming play as LSU trailed Auburn (2-2, 1-1 SEC) by five points.
He, and LSU, was a second too late — 13-18 Auburn wins.
“Basically, we had enough time in my opinion,” Etling said. “Clock was running, there’s a second left. As soon as the whistle sounded, I called for the ball. It was a quick second, or it’s just impossible to get the ball off in one second.”
Instead of a touchdown, LSU allowed six field goals prior to Chark’s once-touchdown, and now irrelevant catch, and faces its first two-loss September since 2000 under now-Alabama coach Nick Saban.
“Mixed emotions,” said LSU safety Jamal Adams. “It’s tough. This team worked so hard.”
“We look forward to playing more games,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “Playing next week in Tiger Stadium. Who knows? Just put your head. Work hard. Take it one game at a time. Just go have some fun and win and see where we’re at the back end.”
In a battle of the field goals: LSU made two. Auburn’s Daniel Carlson netted six, tying an Auburn program record, and defeated LSU in an ear-splitting Jordan-Hare Stadium as LSU lasted until its final heart beat on Saturday and possibly for the 2016 season.
Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson swished all six field goals on six attempts on Saturday. Carlson, a junior, also planted a nearby photographer in the face with one of his powerful kickoffs.
She’s OK, she tweeted during the game. LSU, after acquiring its second loss this season, is not.
“This is not the way we wanted to go out,” Adams said.
Adams, and LSU’s defense was on the field for too long, Miles said. The defensive unit held Auburn to 8 of 19 third down conversions as it was gassed for six 50-plus yard drives.
LIVE on #Periscope: #LSU coach Les Miles after #LSU‘s 13-18 loss against Auburn. https://t.co/Z4FWvZxXi5
— Christian Boutwell (@CBoutwell_) September 25, 2016
Auburn connected 19-of-27 passes for 234 yards via Sean White against LSU’s shortened defensive back staff.
Saturday was Auburn’s first win without scoring a touchdown since 2008.
“We did what we can as far as holding them to field goals,” Adams said. “On the sideline, we kept saying that they don’t need to score any more field goals. But hand claps to their kicker for just making the field goals. We were doing our job.”
In contrary, LSU, behind its wounded quarterback Etling, completed a mere 6 of 9 passes in the first half for 23 yards. The Purdue transfer finished with 15 completions on 27 attempts for 118 yards and one touchdown.
Leonard Fournette, who had two rushed in the fourth quarter for eight total yards, added his 18th 100-yard gain in a 109-yard effort.
In the second quarter, Etling was whacked with the crown of Auburn linebacker Tre’ Williams’ helmet, which led to Williams ejection in the middle of the second quarter because of a targeting penalty.
Etling was tested for a concussion, an LSU spokesman said, and has multiple open cuts on his face.
“I’m good. I’ve taken some hard hits in my life,” he said after the loss. “That was one of them. It’s fine. I pulled the ball, took off and ran he just got a good shot on me.”
How did it happen?
“The guy hit my helmet off then the next guy’s helmet hit me straight in the face.”
Danny Etling on hit to his face: “One guy knocked my helmet off, then the next guy hit me in the face with his face mask.” #LSU pic.twitter.com/mxHC3KSYoX
— Christian Boutwell (@CBoutwell_) September 25, 2016
