Both head coaches, Les Miles for LSU and Gus Malzahn for Auburn, are under fire for underperforming early in the season and poor production from their quarterbacks. LSU picked up a first down, but a holding call brought the play back. Auburn is only going to have a chance at this one if LSU screws up and gives it to them, so all they need to do is execute the gameplan and not take any over the top risks. Heisman hopeful and sophomore running back Leonard Fournette was held to only 101 yards on 16 carries.
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Hurts was 16 of 24 for 164 yards and ran for 54 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown dash on the opening drive.
White was 19-of-26 passing for 234 yards, and, again, showed his toughness. On the ground, Kamry Pettway rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown in 20 carries while Kerryon Johnson had 60 yards and a touchdown in 15 carries.
Auburn outgained LSU, 388-338.
Moments later, Auburn celebrated, as LSU’s play was taken off the board after review. The Bulldogs’ secondary has led the team to third in the SEC in pass defense nearly all on its own – the pass rush has produced a tie for second-fewest sacks in the league with only three. If you snap it before, then it’s a dead ball foul and a runoff ends the game. Etling hit wide receiver Travin Dural for 13 yards to the LSU 38. A few seconds and 41 yards later, the quarterback had cruised through the middle of the Georgia defense and into the end zone untouched. Moreau lumbered to the goal line and was initially ruled down short of paydirt. His only major stumble was a third-quarter fumble giving LSU a 12-10 lead.
It’s a tough order against LSU, but White will have to stretch the field for Auburn’s offense to run as Malzahn intends. “The big thing for me is that our players are playing their guts out and they are playing hard”. An incomplete pass and a 10-yard sack led to 51-yard field goal attempt by Colby Delahoussaye that had the distance but missed to the right. The three pointer was setup by a 36-yard reception by Darius Slayton to the LSU 18.
Etling barely overthrew D.J.
Key is an edge pass-rusher in the mold of former LSU star defensive end Barkevious Mingo, who was tall, relatively slender and fast. In receiving, Tony Stevens had 86 yards in eight receptions while Ryan Davis added 36 yards in five catches.
LSU trailed 9-7 at halftime. “We got a lot of field goals”.
LSU doesn’t have a quarterback.
An illegal shift penalty against LSU (2-2, 1-1) left the Tigers with a fourth-down play from the 15 with 5 seconds remaining, setting up the final-play drama.
For the fifth time, Auburn ended a drive with a field goal. The apparent touchdown was negated, and Auburn won 18-13.
The Tigers quickly vaulted into Auburn territory with a 35-yard end-around by Clark to the 40. The Tigers went into the locker room up 23-0, but unfortunately left their offense in there for the second half. Auburn recovered at its 31 with 11:33 left.
Cook scored on a 75-yard run on the Seminoles’ first play from scrimmage, an immediate response to USF starting the game with Quinton Flowers and Rodney Adams teaming on an 84-yard catch-and-run for a 7-0 lead.
Backup tailback Derrius Guice averaged 52 yards a carry in the first half. At the half, he had 27 yards passing That is, not good.
“I don’t know I’ve come as close to winning a game and finished second”, said Tigers coach Les Miles. A team has to be set for a full second before a snap is legal anyway.
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The play was reviewed, and it was over.
