3 locals part of LSU’s BCS plans
January 3, 2012
Top 12 of 12
January 3, 2012
The several month, 12-game grind of a college football season is filled with bumps, bruises and adversity.
That is, of course, unless you’re LSU and the calendar is marked 2011.
Then it’s pretty much smooth sailing every step of the way.
LSU mashed its competition this season, throttling 12 of 13 opponents by double digits, outscoring opponents by a whopping 500-137 margin.
The Tigers have scored seven 30-point wins and two 40-point wins in their 13- game run, beating several of the best teams in the country along the way, including PAC-12 champion Oregon, Big East champion West Virginia and, of course, the No. 2 team in the country, Alabama.
LSU’s 2011 traveling tour rolled through seven states this season (Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia).
The one constant theme at every stop? Dominance.
Here’s a game-by-game look at the only undefeated team in college football’s season.
Game 1: Sept. 3 vs. Oregon* W 40-27
Turmoil surrounded LSU as they entered their Sept. 3 season opener against then-No. 3 Oregon. The Tigers were without senior starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson for his alleged role in a Baton Rouge bar fight and all of the team’s pregame headlines circled around that fracas, instead of the Oregon matchup. In the face of adversity, LSU responded and dominated the Ducks, rallying from an early 6-3 deficit to take a 33-13 fourth quarter lead. Oregon attempted to rally late, but could never get closer than the game’s 40-27 outcome. Senior Jarrett Lee filled in for Jefferson admirably, protecting the ball and completing 10-of-22 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Game 2: Sept. 10 vs. Northwestern State W 49-3
A week after beating the Ducks, LSU avoided a letdown, pounding Northwestern State early and often in a decisive rout. LSU outgained the Demons 400-95 in this overmatched landslide, which saw the Tigers debut of probable future starting quarterback Zach Mettenberger. The former JUCO standout completed 8-of-11 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown in the blowout. Lee wasn’t half bad either, completing 9-of-10 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers also rushed for 175 yards as a team in the blowout, while limiting the Demons to -4 yards on the ground on 27 carries.
Game 3: Sept. 15 @ Mississippi State W 19-6
In a short week coming off the Northwestern State rout, LSU received its first test of the season from Mississippi State and its pesky, bell-ringing fans. The Tigers and Bulldogs fought to a stalemate for two and a half quarters. But with the game tied at 6 with five minutes to play in the third quarter, LSU took control and never looked back, pouring in two field goals and a touchdown in the final 20 minutes to score a 19-6 victory. Lee completed 21-of-27 passes for 213 yards in the win. But the headlines were dominated by LSU’s not-yet-known secondary, which limited the Bulldogs to just 15-of-25 passing for 141 yards and two interceptions.
Game 4: Sept. 24 @ West Virginia W 47-21
For the third time in four games, LSU was on the road against a ranked opponent when they rolled into West Virginia. When the clock read triple zeroes on this night, the Tigers were unquestionably the early season No. 1 team in the country. In front of a wild Mountaineer crowd, LSU stormed to a 27-7 first half lead and never looked back, scoring a dominant 26-point win. Lee had arguably his best effort of the season in the win, tossing for three touchdowns, no interceptions and 180 yards in the rout. But the hero of this game again was the now-well-known LSU secondary. Sophomore Tyrann Mathieu returned an interception to the 1-yard-line to set up one of the Tigers’ scores and junior Morris Claiborne returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score to secure the win.
Game 5: Oct. 1 vs. Kentucky W 35-7
Lee carried LSU through September on his own. On October’s first day, he got a little help from an old friend. Jefferson returned to action against Kentucky after having his criminal charges lessened. The quarterback scored on his first play back, taking a quarterback sneak into the end zone for a first quarter score. The Tigers limited the Wildcats to just 155 yards of total offense in the rout, keeping Kentucky at arm’s length with 179 rushing yards. Mathieu made the headlines for a second-straight week against Kentucky, forcing a fumble and returning it 20 yards for a touchdown.
Game 6: Oct. 8 vs. Florida W 41-11
LSU did whatever it wanted offensively in its sixth game of the season – a showdown with Florida. Things went so smooth that even the Tigers’ punter Brad Wing got in on the act, rushing for 44 yards on a fake punt. The rush was initially a touchdown, but was called back due to a pre-score celebration. The officials couldn’t keep LSU out of the end zone all day, however, as the Tigers punched the Gators in the mouth early and often, rushing for 238 yards on 49 carries. The one-two punch of Lee and Jefferson also had success, each hitting long passes against the Gators’ secondary.
Game 7: Oct. 15 @ Tennessee W 38-7
Les Miles said following this game that LSU wasn’t at its best. The scoreboard surely didn’t back up Miles’ assessment. The Tigers dominated the Vols in all stages of the game to score the easy win. Lee did the passing, completing three touchdowns in the win. But Jefferson emerged as a rushing threat, compiling 73 rushing yards and a touchdown in the blowout. Tigers’ junior Rueben Randle did his best to stretch Tennessee’s defense, hauling in five passes for 86 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Game 8: Oct. 22 vs. Auburn W 45-10
Auburn may be the defending national champions. On Oct. 22, only one team showed championship form – LSU. The Tigers, who were playing without Mathieu, Spencer Ware and Tharold Simon, showed they had BCS poise, routing the SEC’s other Tigers in dominant form. The three suspended players missed the game after an alleged failed drug test. But LSU’s backups stepped to the plate. Sophomore Michael Ford and freshman Kenny Hilliard replaced Ware, combining for 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Senior Ron Brooks showed he “takes what he wants,” too, running an interception back for a touchdown in the win, replacing Mathieu.
Game 9: Nov. 5 @ Alabama W 9-6
LSU’s first meeting with the Crimson Tide was dubbed as the Game of the Century. It ended up being the Battle of the Field Goal. With neither team scoring a touchdown in this fierce, hard hitting battle, the Tigers’ special teams efficiency was the difference, as three Drew Alleman field goals pushed LSU past Alabama in overtime. The Crimson Tide’s story wasn’t nearly as bright as two Alabama kickers combined to miss four field goals in the loss. Neither team eclipsed 300 total yards in the game, but the offensive hero was Jefferson, who rescued a struggling Lee from Alabama’s fierce defense and pushed the Tigers to the win with both his arm and legs.
Game 10: Nov. 12 vs. W. Kentucky W 42-9
One week after rescuing LSU from the depths of Alabama, Jefferson made his first start of the season in the Tigers’ 10th game – a nonconference tilt with Western Kentucky. LSU wasn’t exactly crisp in the win, but Jefferson played well, completing 8-of-14 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. Lee also came into the game late and threw for a touchdown, but his presence in the team’s offense was never significantly felt again after Jefferson’s emergence as the starter. The Tigers rushed for 291 yards in the blowout of the Hilltoppers, including 119 yards from former Hahnville standout Alfred Blue.
Game 11: Nov. 19 at Ole Miss W 52-3
LSU’s final road test of the season wasn’t over before it started. But it was pretty darned close. Playing overmatched Ole Miss, LSU scored 12 seconds into the game on an interception return for a touchdown by Brooks. The Tigers held a 35-0 second quarter and 49-3 third quarter lead over the Rebels and lame duck head coach Houston Nutt. The game was so lopsided that LSU had an opportunity to make the score even worse late in the game, but instead opted to kneel the football four times inside the Rebels 5-yard-line with five minutes to play in the game. The win guaranteed the Tigers at least a share of the SEC Western Division title.
Game 12: Nov. 25 vs. Arkansas W 41-17
LSU’s dream season appeared to be in serious jeopardy for a quarter and a half against Arkansas. A Tri-parish native and a honey badger had other plans. With LSU trailing 14-0 in the middle of the second quarter, Hilliard ignited LSU ignited with a 6-yard touchdown run. Less than two minutes later, Mathieu took a punt 92 yards for a touchdown to tie the game and set an uncontrollable snowball rolling down hill. With the score tied, LSU battered and bruised the Razorbacks, scoring 41 of the game’s final 44 points in a blowout. Hilliard toted for 102 yards on the ground in the win. He was assisted by 96 from Ford and 53 from Jefferson. The win clinched the SEC West for LSU and set up a showdown with Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
Game 13: Dec. 3 vs. Georgia* W 42-10
For the second-straight game, LSU’s undefeated mark appeared on shaky footing. The Tigers didn’t record a single first down in the opening half and trailed 10-0. But Hilliard and Mathieu again decided enough was enough, pushing LSU into the big game. Mathieu again returned one punt – and nearly two – for a touchdown in the win, while also recovering a fumble. Hilliard picked up a struggling Jefferson’s slack and gashed Georgia for 72 yards on eight carries for two touchdowns. The LSU defense made life miserable for Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray in the win, sacking him four times, picking off two of his passes and limiting him to just a 40 percent completion percentage. The win marked LSU’s fourth SEC Championship since 2001. Combined with a loss from Houston earlier in the day and the Tigers officially finished the regular season as college football’s only unbeaten team.
* denotes game played on neutral field
LSU sophomore halfback Spencer Ware makes a move during a game
last season. Ware was the Tigers’ feature back during the team’s
13-0 season.
