Account
Classic SEC Football: Auburn Tops LSU in 1994 in 'The Interception Game'
June 8, 2012
Every Friday, The SEC Blog will feature one classic game from the storied history of SEC football.
When Auburn and LSU meet on the gridiron, catchy monikers for classic games seems to follow. The two teams have etched names like "The Earthquake Game," "The Upright Game," "The Hurricane Game" and "The Night the Barn Burned" into the SEC lexicon.
In 1994, the two teams met at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 17, 1994 in one of the wildest games in SEC history.
Auburn entered the game ranked No. 11 and riding a 14-game winning streak under second-year head coach Terry Bowden; while LSU entered with a 1-1 record.
LSU jumped out to a 23-9 lead going into the fourth quarter, but that's when the shenanigans started.
With 12:14 to play, LSU quarterback Jamie Howard threw late over-the-middle and was picked off by Ken Alvis. Alvis returned it to the five, rolled over Howard, who was attempting to make the touchdown-saving tackle, and reached over the goal line for the 41-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 23-16.
Just over a minute later Howard threw into triple coverage on 3rd-and-10 and was picked off by Fred Smith at the 32-yard line. Smith dove over two LSU Tigers into the end zone to tie the game at 23.
LSU then embarked on a 13-play, 70-yard drive that drained 5:42 off of the clock. But the drive stalled, and LSU settled for an Andre LaFleur field goal to give them a 26-23 lead.
Auburn went three-and-out and punted back to LSU with 3:42 to play. All LSU needed to do was bleed the clock to end Auburn's winning streak.
That didn't happen.
After Auburn used its last timeout to set up 3rd-and-4, Howard again threw into triple coverage. The ball was tipped and picked off by Brian Robinson, who cruised into the end zone to give Auburn the unlikely 30-26 lead.
But it wasn't over.
LSU quickly moved the ball into Auburn territory, but on 2nd-and-10 from the 25-yard line. Howard again threw into triple coverage and was again picked off by Robinson at the 10-yard line. Robinson was blindsided by an LSU wide receiver at the 30, the ball sprung loose, and LSU recovered it at the Auburn 47 with 44 seconds left.
After a completion got the Tigers to the Auburn 32, Howard went to the end zone, but the pass was intercepted by Chris Shelling to seal the game and cap off one of the most improbable comebacks in SEC history.
Click here for the game box score.