No last-second touchdown, division spoiler or claiming of “The Boot” for Arkansas against LSU this year, only a bout of day-after Thanksgiving indigestion in the form of a 55-24 Tigers victory in Tiger Stadium that kept the team’s national title hopes alive.
The win also gave LSU (11-1, 7-1) its second SEC West crown in three years and will send the team to Atlanta for a rematch with the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship. The teams will meet in the Georgia Dome on Saturday at 7 p.m. CST.
LSU coach Nick Saban said he was proud of the team for its hard work and effort in the win, which he said was fueled by last year’s 21-20 loss to the Razorbacks that cost LSU the SEC West title.
“[It was] a lot of work that started last year – started in the offseason program,” Saban said. “And it was the thought of losing to Arkansas the way we did that was the first motivator for this team to get going to get better, to improve and I think it was a good catalyst for us.”
For the first part of this year’s game, LSU and Arkansas looked like a pair of gunslingers battling for the West title, with each team trading scores and turning Tiger Stadium into the OK Corral. But the No. 3 Tigers flexed their offensive and defensive muscle while the Razorbacks ran out of bullets.
After giving up 17 points in the first 17 minutes of the game, the top-ranked LSU defense appeared mortal at times, giving up a two-play, 76-yard drive that tied the score at 17.
Arkansas’ Cedric Cobbs had his way with the Tigers’ defense in the first half, rushing for 122 yards. Cobbs finished the game with 169 yards on 21 carries against a defense that had been giving up only 57.7 yards rushing per game all season.
“I had the offensive line behind my back and I guess I was just strong enough to take them physically,” Cobbs said.
The Tigers offense, however, was able to pick up the slack and reel off 48 unanswered points throughout the next two quarters, and the defense forced five turnovers that led to 28 LSU points and forced the Razorbacks (8-4, 4-4) into submission.
LSU quarterback Matt Mauck, who completed 12-of-19 for 186 yards and four touchdowns, found Skyler Green for a two-yard TD. LSU lost a chance to score when Justin Vincent fumbled inside the 10, but regained possession after Arkansas punter Jacob Skinner muffed the snap and LSU took over at the Arkansas nine.
Mauck said he felt both his and the offense’s performance were much improved from the Ole Miss game, and the team made a big statement by scoring 55 points against the Razorbacks.
“I was a little disappointed with my effort last week, and although I tried hard it just didn’t work out for me, but this week was much better,” Mauck said.
Wide receiver Michael Clayton, who caught three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown, said he hopes LSU gets the opportunity to play for the national title if it can beat Georgia on Saturday. The Tigers retained their No. 3 spot in the latest BCS rankings, but likely will need No. 2 USC to lose to Oregon State on Saturday to leap frog them in the standings.
“Whatever the computer says is basically what is going to happen,” Clayton said. “If we can’t control anything by winning, then hey, it’s not up to us. It’s been a great year and we want to play for the national championship.”
Clayton said regardless of what happens the rest of the way, the season has been special for the Tigers and he said the team is going to finish it strong.
“It gets much better with the SEC championship,” Clayton said. “I’ve been there before and it was the best feeling in my life.”
LSU trailed 7-3 in the first quarter after Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones hit DeCori Birmingham for a 53-yard TD on Arkansas’ first possession. Jones finished the game 4-of-12 for 100 yards passing, but was held to minus 20 yards rushing.
LSU linebacker Eric Alexander then regained the lead for the Tigers. Alexander, aided by Marcus Spears forcing Jones to fumble, scooped the ball up and raced in 25 yards for the score.
After Chris Jackson kicked his second field goal late in the second quarter, Corey Webster intercepted Matt Jones’ pass. That set up Devery Henderson’s 22-yard touchdown catch and gave LSU a comfortable 34-17 halftime lead.
“When they got that interception before the half and then took it in and scored, that was pretty much a thorn in our back,” said Arkansas safety Tony Bua, who had 12 tackles in the game. “We are not built to come back from big deficits.”
Saban said the second quarter was a big part of the game because the defense made several adjustments.
“I think the real turning point was when the game was 17-17 we started playing a little bit better on defense,” Saban said. “We were playing well on offense. To get two scores up by halftime, I think that whole sequence of events there was really important in the outcome of the game.”
The Tigers continued their offensive prowess in the second half, with Mauck connecting with tight end David Jones for a 37-yard touchdown and Justin Vincent doing the rest on the ground.
Vincent rushed for 105 yards on 22 carries and scored touchdowns from 23 and two yards in the third quarter to quash any hopes of an Arkansas upset.