The rule on the field was a touchdown, but SEC replay officials ruled the play wasn’t snapped before time expired.
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But the apparent winning touchdown was nullified after the play was reviewed and it was determined that the ball was not snapped before the time expired, giving Auburn a most improbable 18-13 victory Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He nearly did again on Saturday at Auburn, but instead an apparent LSU win was overturned by instant replay, and Auburn escaped with a much-needed 18-13 victory for head coach Gus Malzahn.
“We knew that the referee was not going to blow a whistle”. After the big win over LSU, Malzahn said, “I think Auburn fans have a lot to look forward to”.
LSU center Ethan Pocic thought he got the snap off before time expired.
Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman coaches against the Cincinnati Bearcats at TDECU Stadium.
“Danny (Etling) told us to snap it and that’s what we did”, Pocic said.
“I knew that the clock went to zero”, Malzahn said. “That’s just the way it is”.
Kentucky 17, SC 10 • Benny Snell Jr. scored the go-ahead touchdown from 1 yard midway through the fourth quarter, Boom Williams broke a 43-yard TD and host Kentucky held off SC for its third straight series victory over the Gamecocks (2-2, 1-2).
LSU really lost the game two plays earlier.
Daniel Carlson kicked six field goals, tying a school record, to account for all of Auburn’s scoring. “It’s insane. One second you do (win), but then one second you don’t”. “I just thank God we won”.
PROTECTING WHITE: Auburn just faced Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, and he had two sacks. While the Tigers didn’t score a touchdown on offense against LSU, they did gain 388 yards, 18 first downs and had rhythm for the majority of the night, consistently moving into scoring territory. It marched down the field into the red zone, but with one timeout left, it became too careless with the expiring clock. The Bayou Bengals trailed by one point and were in field goal range.
He had 2 carries for 8 yards in the fourth quarter. His longest kick being made from mid-field. “Our guys fought. It’s good to win one when the pressure’s on and you’ve got to find a way”.
The feeling by many in and around the LSU program was that Miles would need to contend for the Western Division championship to be totally safe this season. “We’ve just got to defend the play”. “We have to throw it behind us”.
STOPPING FOURNETTE: Auburn defenders are seeking redemption for the embarrassments dished out by LSU tailback Leonard Fournette.
After an elated celebration, the LSU Tigers left the field deflated as the Auburn Tigers danced around that same field.
An 11-play, 51-yard Auburn drive took 6:05 off the fourth-quarter clock, and Auburn again finished it with a field goal of 29 yards off the right foot of Carlson.
The first half belonged to Auburn’s defense and Carlson. Pettway 4-yard run to the LSU 9 sets up first and goal. Moreau lumbered to the goal line and was initially ruled down short of paydirt. That gave LSU a 7-3 lead. After video review, Auburn linebacker Tre Williams was ejected for targeting.
A 35-yard run around the right end by Fournette moved LSU to the Auburn 40, but Etling took a helmet-to-helmet hit two plays later and left the field for a first-down play at the Auburn 24.
FACING STEELE: Auburn first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele left the same job at LSU to work for Malzahn.
In the end, Auburn found a way to win and kept Malzahn from having to eat his words.
Replay led to two significant reversed calls in the first half.
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