To see a video from the LSU vs Ole Miss game, click here.
The Tigers took two falls this weekend — the first was Saturday to Ole Miss, and the second was out of the polls.LSU dropped out of the BCS Standings on Sunday. And the Tigers fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2002.The drop comes on the heels of the Tigers’ 31-13 loss to Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium on Saturday, LSU’s first loss to the Rebels since 2001.LSU’s loss and subsequent slide in the polls only adds insult to injury.True freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson saw his most extensive action of the season Saturday in relief of redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee, who suffered an ankle injury late in the second quarter.Fans in Tiger Stadium erupted in cheers when Jefferson took the field, and they had even more to be excited about when he threw his first career touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Terrance Toliver five plays later.Jefferson’s touchdown cut Ole Miss’ lead to 21-10.”I knew he was coming to me the whole time,” Toliver said. “It was a go route, and I had a one-on-one, and I knew I could make a play.”Jefferson said he was glad for the playing time he got Saturday, but he knows the team has to move on after a disappointing loss.”I was very happy about the touchdown I had,” Jefferson said. “Playing in Tiger Stadium, my first time playing in more than one series, was a good experience for me. I was happy with what we did, but we came out with an ‘L.’ We have to suck it up and move on to next week.”LSU coach Les Miles said Jefferson did “a heck of a job” in relief of Lee, and Lee’s return is questionable for next week against Arkansas. “[Jefferson] gave his team a real lift with his feet and the throws,” Miles said. “It appears to me that will be the direction we go in as we go to the future.”The Tigers again had to play catch-up early on, as Ole Miss sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Mike Wallace on the first drive of the game. The two hooked up for another touchdown in the second quarter to give the Rebels a 21-3 lead.Lee threw his 16th interception of the season on the ensuing possession and opened the Tigers’ next drive with two incompletions following an Ole Miss 3-and-out.Lee completed a 20-yard pass to junior receiver Brandon LaFell on third down but writhed in pain with an injured ankle until trainers had to help him off the field.”They didn’t tell me anything, but I saw Jarrett’s ankle, and he was limping, so I kinda figured I was going to finish the game up,” Jefferson said. “When I was in the locker room, they gave me enough preparation and talk to get me going.”Miles said he is not optimistic about Lee’s return.”He was much hindered by injury,” Miles said. “It will be interesting to see how he goes. I hope like heck that he’s available this week, but I suspect not.”Also in the second quarter, LSU wide receiver Trindon Holliday appeared to have his first punt return for a touchdown since the North Texas game. But referees called the play back and tacked on a 5-yard penalty because Holliday had fielded the ball after illegally signaling to his teammates to back away from it.The Tigers scored their final points of the game on the first possession of the second half. The Tigers went on a nine-play, 39-yard drive that ended with a 52-yard field goal by senior kicker Colt David.Ole Miss’s defense shut down the Tigers’ running game in particular. LSU had just 37 yards on 29 carries.”Our defense did a remarkable job, and that is why we won,” said Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt. “They stopped [LSU] in the trenches and stopped the run — that was the key thing we had to do and to not give up the big play.”LSU sophomore safety Chad Jones said his team’s focus now is simple — win the last game and earn a spot in the best bowl possible.”We are going to Arkansas, and we are going to fight,” Jones said. “We want to beat them and get in a good bowl game. There is still a lot to play for this year.”—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]