AUBURN, Ala. — Ole Miss halted LSU 364 days before the start of Saturday’s game against Auburn. LSU reeled off seven consecutive Southeastern Conference wins and carried the streak into Jordan-Hare Stadium.
But the Tigers could not uncork the bottle of champagne to celebrate the one-year anniversary.
Turnovers and field position plagued those purple and gold Tigers as the Auburn Tigers used their claws to shred No. 10 LSU 31-7 on a rain-drenched afternoon. Quarterback Marcus Randall resembled former LSU quarterback Jamie Howard in his 1994 game against Auburn as Randall completed four passes to the wrong team.
The sophomore signal caller struggled through the constant drizzle going 9-of-20 through the air for 79 yards and the four interceptions.
Randall said he was prepared for the rainy conditions, but the turnovers killed too many offensive drives.
“The ball was a little wet, but that was no excuse because they had to play with the same ball. And we knew that coming in,” Randall said. “We practiced with a wet ball on Thursday, but we just didn’t go out and get it done today.”
The Auburn defense picked off Howard six times in 1994 leading to LSU’s demise.
“You have bad days, but I really didn’t want to have it today,” Randall said.
Players and coaches preach the difference between winning and losing football games often occurs as a result of the team’s field position.
Auburn won the battle and the game as its average field position was at the LSU 49 while LSU’s was only at its own 22.
“Well we always talk about turnovers and field position and I think when you play football games on days like today, it becomes even more important that you don’t turn the ball over and that you get turnovers,” said LSU head coach Nick Saban. “And we weren’t successful in getting them and we gave it away too many times. And we gave away too much field position to give ourselves a chance to be successful.”
Auburn (5-3, 3-2 SEC) struck first taking advantage of the Travarius Robinson interception as tailback Ronnie Brown capped off a 28-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
Safety Donnay Young picked off another Randall offering and AU kicker Philip Yost booted a 19-yard field goal to give Auburn a 10-0 advantage with 8:42 left in the second quarter.
That was all Auburn needed.
The Auburn rushing attack continued to motor through the opposing defense tallying 216 yards on the ground, despite the loss of starting tailback Carnell (Cadillac) Williams. Brown ran for 95 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns while Tre Smith tallied 80 yards on 11 carries and a score.
The only bright spot on an otherwise dreary offensive display for LSU (6-2, 3-1) came on running back Joseph Addai’s eight-yard touchdown scamper.
Tailback Domanick Davis’ production slipped as the rain poured down.
He rushed for 42 yards on 14 carries and hindered LSU’s chances from the start by fumbling the ball on the first play from scrimmage.
Auburn kicker Damon Duval prevented Davis from becoming a factor on kickoffs as Duval continuously knocked the ball into the endzone.
“We kind of knew he was going to do that. The boy can kick,” Davis said. “It was frustrating because we couldn’t get the offense good field position.”
James suspended indefinitely
Saban announced the indefinite suspension of free safety Damien James from the team for violating team rules and policies.
James did not practice this week nor travel with the team to Auburn.
Saban said he talked to James Friday about his violations of team policy and rules. His future status with the squad is unknown.
“I have to meet with some people in the early part of this week to see exactly what his future is going to be, but it doesn’t look good for him,” Saban said.