The LSU football team beat Arkansas, 33-30, in overtime on a chilly Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
LSU junior kicker Josh Jasper tied the game with four seconds left on a 41-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.
Jasper gave LSU a 33-30 lead in overtime on a 36-yard field goal on the first possession of the extra period. The Memphis, Tenn., native finished the night a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts.Arkansas went for a field goal on its possession in overtime to send the game to a second extra period, but Razorback junior kicker Alex Tejada’s 36-yard attempt sailed wide right.The victory marked the first time LSU has won an overtime game since a 23-20 victory against Ole Miss on Nov. 18, 2006 in Tiger Stadium.Arkansas appeared to have the game won on a 12-play, 75-yard drive in the fourth quarter that lasted 2 minutes, 47 seconds and gave the Razorbacks a 30-27 lead with 1:18 left in the game.Arkansas got to the LSU 15-yard line thanks to a personal foul penalty on Tiger junior safety Chad Jones. Jones hit a Razorback receiver in mid-air and appeared to have led with his helmet.Three plays later, the Razorbacks went for it on fourth-and-nine and scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett to sophomore wide receiver Joe Adams.LSU then moved the ball down the field methodically on offense, setting up the game-tying kick for Jasper.LSU opened the second half on offense, but Tiger sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson was intercepted by sophomore linebacker Jerry Franklin on the drive.Arkansas took advantage of the interception and scored on a 13-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Ronnie Wingo to cut the Razorbacks’ deficit to 17-13.LSU responded with a nine-play, 67-yard drive that resulted in a 15-yard touchdown catch by sophomore tight end Deangelo Peterson. The touchdown, set up by a 21-yard catch by senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell, gave LSU a 24-13 lead.The Razorbacks scored on their next possession on an eight-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Broderick Green to cut their deficit to 24-20 with 4:15 left in the third quarter.Arkansas cut its deficit even closer to 24-23 on a 40-yard field goal by junior kicker Alex Tejada with 9:52 left in the game.Jasper nailed a kick of his own, a 47-yarder, on the Tigers’ next drive to push LSU’s lead to 27-23.Arkansas drove all the way to the LSU 28-yard line on its first possession of the game, but Mallett was intercepted by Jones when Mallett overthrew a receiver on the fifth play of the drive.LSU didn’t capitalize on the turnover, as the offense was forced to punt after moving only 12 yards.Arkansas took a 3-0 lead on the following drive thanks to a 47-yard field goal by Tejada, tying a career long.LSU senior running back Trindon Holliday excited fans in Tiger Stadium on a 24-yard kickoff return after the Arkansas field goal. Holliday accounted for 31 more yards on the ensuing drive that led to a 16-yard touchdown catch by LaFell, the 24th touchdown catch of his career, giving LSU a 7-3 lead.Holliday picked up another big play on a 23-yard punt return after Arkansas’ third drive of the quarter. The return led to a 47-yard field goal by Jasper, giving LSU a 10-3 lead right before the end of the first quarter.The Zachary native kept his stellar performance rolling in the second quarter, sprinting 87 yards to the end zone on another punt return to give LSU a 17-3 lead with 12:29 left in the frame.Holliday’s fortunes turned later in the second quarter when he muffed a punt with 4:49 left in the half. The ball was recovered by Arkansas freshman defensive back Darius Winston but only led to another Razorback punt.After LSU punted on its next drive, Arkansas drove down to the LSU 18-yard line but could only muster a 35-yard field goal by Tejada. The field goal cut the Razorback’s deficit to 17-6.Check back later for more details. —-Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected]