Tennessee Football: It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over as LSU Escapes 16-14

Wow!

If you turned off the TV after seeing Jordan Jefferson scamper 83 yards for a touchdown only 17 seconds into the game, you missed a game that instantly became an all-time SEC classic and one that will be talked about by both LSU and Tennessee fans forever. 

On a sunny afternoon in Baton Rouge, with Tiger Stadium a sea of purple and gold trimmed with a hint of orange, LSU and Tennessee wrote not just a chapter in SEC history, but a legendary folk tale.

The game began with a bang, a loud one.  Much maligned LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson took the first snap from scrimmage and burst through the line, going the distance of 83 yards to give LSU an early 7-0 lead.

It would be the only touchdown for LSU until later, much later.  The Vols would hold LSU out of the end zone for the next 59 minutes and 43 seconds.

Tennessee answered on a 1-yard touchdown run by Tauren Poole with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter, capping a 10-play, 63-yard drive.  The score was even at 7 as the two teams headed to the second quarter.

The second and third quarters saw no scoring by either team, but there was plenty of action. 

Tauren Poole for Tennessee and Stevan Ridley for LSU continued to pile up rushing yards.  Poole finished the day with 24 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown.  Ridley would wind up with 22 carries for 123 yards and "the touchdown."

The second quarter featured the hit of the day as LSU receiver DeAngelo Peterson was being dragged down by Nick Reveiz, when Malik Jackson unloaded.  The bone-jarring hit dislodged the ball from Peterson, with Tennessee getting the recovery.  

The Tennessee defense won the battle of turnovers with the fumble and 3 interceptions on the day.  Jordan Jefferson threw two and Jarrett Lee the other to Jantzen Jackson, Nick Reveiz, and LaMarcus Thompson.  The Vols had no turnovers but while winning the battle, the Vols were losing the war by converting none of the turnovers into scores. 

Early in the fourth quarter, LSU place-kicker, Josh Jasper hit a 31-yard field-goal to put LSU up 10-7.  But Tennessee answered right back, aided by a 37-yard pass-play from Matt Simms to Justin Hunter, scoring on a 3-yard keeper from Simms.  The play capped what would turn out to be the Vols last scoring drive of the day.

Tennessee held the 14-10 lead late in the fourth quarter when Coach Derek Dooley went for it on fourth-and-one at the LSU 31 yard-line. The decision not to attempt a 48-yard field goal was three-fold:

• The Vols were without their regular place-kicker Daniel Lincoln due to a pre-game injury,
• Michael Palardy had already missed a kick of the same distance earlier, and
• Dooley was trying to put the game away. 

The LSU defense came up big though, stopping Poole for no gain, and turning the ball over to the LSU offense with 5:41 to go in the game. 

Trailing the Vols by four, LSU began their drive at their own 32-yard line.  The 68-yard drive took 16 plays, including setbacks on penalties and included a fourth-and-14 conversion.

LSU drove to the Tennessee 8-yard line and had the ball first-and-goal with 40 seconds remaining.

On first down, Tennessee was called for pass interference, setting up LSU first-and-goal from the 2-yard line.  Following an incomplete pass, Jordan Jefferson rushed to the 1-yard line on second down. 

With no timeouts, LSU was scrambling to get to the line as the clock continued to run.  Both teams were running player substitutions in and out quickly for likely, the final play. 

With the clock almost at zero, LSU center T-Bob Hebert snapped the ball in the shotgun formation to Jordan Jefferson who mishandled the snap.

Jefferson was tackled for a loss as time expired.  The celebration in Volnation had begun.  Tennessee had seemingly won 14-10.  In the midst of the celebration were yellow flags on the field.

The Vols had 13 men on the field.  There would be one more play.

LSU coach Les Miles called Stevan Ridley's number one last time and the durable running back nudged the ball just past the goal line to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, giving LSU a remarkable 16-14 win. 

In a matter of seconds the "T" on the sides of the Volunteers helmets went from triumph to tragedy.

FINAL SCORE: LSU 16 Tennessee 14

Vol Notes:  Matt Simms finished the day 12-for-23 for 120 yards passing.  Gerald Jones returned for the Vols catching 5 passes for 45 yards. 

Eric Gordon relished his new role as kick-returner, returning 2 kickoffs for 60 yards and 1 punt for 21.  The Vols improved on third-downs converting 7-of-15 for 47%. 

The Vols were penalized 3 times for 11 yards, with the third penalty, 13 men on the field, for zero yards being the biggest.

Tennessee is now 2-3 overall and 0-2 in SEC play.  The Vols resume play next Saturday with a date in Athens vs. the Georgia Bulldogs.

Tiger Notes:  LSU(5-0,3-0 SEC) out gained the Vols 434-217 in total offense. 

Jordan Jefferson was 3-for-10 for 30 yards passing and 2 interceptions but rushed 5 times for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Jarrett Lee finished 16-for-23 passing for 187 yards and an interception  Next up for LSU is the Florida Gators.