LSU edges Alabama 16-13

By Darrell Laurant  |   Saturday, November 12, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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You knew it would be like this -- bruising defense, a few big plays, a close game. With the 3rd ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the 5th ranked LSU Tigers both ranked nationally among the Top 10 defenses entering their key SEC matchup in Tuscaloosa, a shootout was highly unlikely.

"We came in to win the SEC and the national championship," said Alabama QB Brodie Croyle.

But not this year. After 'Bama had to settle for Jamie Christenson's field goal on its first possession in overtime, Bengals' QB JaMarcus Russell hit WR Dwayne Bowe with an 11-yard scoring pass on 3rd and 6 to give LSU a 16-13 victory.

The result leaves Southern Cal and Texas as the only unbeaten teams still standing -- at least among those in contention for the national title.

Croyle was sacked five times by a swarming LSU Tigers defense, and Alabama's stop unit lived up to its reputation, as well. The Tigers managed only 72 yards in the first half, while Alabama was held to just six net yards following intermission.

LSU's Chris Jackson missed two long field goals in the second half, but managed to hit a 42-yarder with 5:46 remaining in the contest to send it into overtime. Freshman Glen Coffey almost pulled off a dramatic finish with a long run with a Croyle flat pass, but was finally hauled down inside the enemy 10 by the desperately pursuing Tigers as time expired.

The Alabama Crimson Tide took a 10-0 lead at halftime on a Christenson field goal and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Croyle to D.J. Hall. LSU countered after intermission when Russell collaborated with RB Justin Vincent on a 10-yard scoring play prior to Jackson's field goal.

Kenneth Darby turned in a heroic effort for the home team, rushing for 104 yards, but LSU kept him out of the end zone. Vincent rushed for 56 yards to lead LSU, which got 229 passing yards from Russell.

It was the first time LSU had been involved in a game involving two Top 5 teams since 1959. The Tigers will now no doubt leapfrog over Alabama and into the thick of national title contention. They also moved into the top spot in the SEC West.
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