October 15
October 15, 2007
Ruberta LaCoste
October 17, 2007The top-ranked LSU football team lost for the first time in 14 games, as the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats overcame the Tigers in three overtime periods, 43-37, on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.
LSU (6-1, 3-1 SEC) led by 13 points late in the fourth quarter, 27-14, but was unable to hold off the Wildcats.
Kentucky (6-1, 2-1 SEC) bounced back from its only loss of the season at the hands of South Carolina in front of 70,902 fans. It was the Wildcats’ first victory over a top-ranked team since 1964.
In the third overtime period, Kentucky benefited from pass interference call on third-and-goal from the 6, allowing a new set of downs. On third-and-goal from the 7 after a delay-of-game penalty, wide receiver Steve Johnson caught a wide open pass from Andre Woodson in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
In the third overtime period, you must go for two points. LSU stopped Kentucky from getting two additional points, but it didn’t matter as the Tigers were denied a first down on four straight running plays on their third overtime possession.
LSU allowed 250 yards passing and 125 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, quarterback Matt Flynn struggled completing 17-of-35 attempts for 130 yards and a touchdown while being sacked three times. The Tigers had 261 yards rushing with Charles Scott (94 yards) and Jacob Hester (61 yards) leading the way. Penalties hurt LSU as it finished with 12 for 103 yards.
Kentucky jumped out to a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter, but the Tigers answered with a 1-yard touchdown rush by Scott early in the second quarter. After a Colt David 31-yard field goal an another rushing touchdown by Scott, LSU took a 10-point lead, but allowed a late first-half touchdown. However, the Tigers still led at the half, 17-14.
The Tigers added to their lead when Richard Dixon caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Flynn early in the third quarter. David’s 30-yard field goal gave LSU a 27-14 lead with 3:49 left in the third quarter, but a late Kentucky charge allowed it to tie the game. Richard Murphy scored for LSU in the first overtime, while each team traded field goals in the second.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to No. 5 in both major polls, and in the first Bowl Championship Series poll released on Sunday, came in at No. 4.
LSU will now play host to Auburn at 8 p.m. in a game televised by ESPN. The battle of Tigers will feature LSU, which has not lost in four home games this year and Auburn, who has not lost in both of its road games this season. The No. 18 Auburn Tigers (5-2 overall, 3-1 in SEC) are led by quarterback Brandon Cox (1,064 yards, four touchdowns), running backs Ben Tate (597 yards, four touchdowns) and Mario Fannin (five touchdowns) and wide receiver Rodgeriqus Smith (397 yards, three touchdowns). Auburn is allowing just over 10 points per game in the SEC this season. Meanwhile, LSU is averaging 34.5 points per game in its four conference contests this season.
SOCCER FINISHES 1-1
The No. 19 LSU soccer team rebounded from a 2-0 loss to Auburn on Friday by edging Alabama, 2-1, on Sunday.
With the win, the Lady Tigers improve to 9-2-4 overall and 3-1-2 in the SEC. Against the Crimson Tide, Malorie Rutledge got the game-winning goal. Earlier in the game, Rachel Yepez got the Lady Tigers on the board.
LSU will conclude its four-game road streak this weekend when it plays at Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. on Friday and at Kentucky on Sunday at noon.
VOLLEYBALL HAS ROUGH WEEKEND
The No. 18 volleyball team fell to Kentucky in a five-game match on Sunday. On Friday, LSU lost a similar match to Tennessee. Both games were on the road.
On Sunday, Lauren DeGirolamo led the Lady Tigers with 19 kills. Kyna Washington and Brittnee Cooper each added 18 kills for LSU, which fell to 15-4 overall and 7-3 in the SEC.
DeGirolamo had 21 kills against Tennessee while Marina Skinder added 16 and Cooper posted 13 kills and 10 blocks.
The Lady Tigers return to action on Wednesday when they host Ole Miss at 7 p.m. LSU will then host Arkansas on Friday at 7 p.m.
