Alabama beats LSU to move into SEC title game
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11/09/2009 12:00 AM ET By JOHN ZENOR (AP)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -Julio Jones left defenders grasping at his heels and Alabama's defense was typically immovable. The Crimson Tide is riding that combination to the SEC championship game for the second consecutive season.
The popular Jones made the biggest play of what has been a relatively quiet sophomore season, breaking free for a 73-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and No. 3 Alabama locked down No. 9 LSU in a 24-15 victory Saturday.
Leigh Tiffin booted a 40-yard field goal with 3:04 left to seal it and the Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) earned a rematch with No. 1 Florida for the league championship.
The hard-hitting affair left the Tigers (7-2, 4-2) without injured quarterback Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott for most of the second half.
"It was a tough, physical game," said Alabama coach Nick Saban, who beat his former team for the second straight year. "Man, those games are fun to be a part of."
The win touched off another big celebration for Alabama, which survived a 12-10 victory over Tennessee two weeks ago with Terrence Cody's two blocked field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. Tiffin came up big in that one, too, with four field goals.
Jefferson had an ankle injury and Scott hurt his right shoulder in the third.
LSU coach Les Miles, who said Scott's injury was probably the more serious, didn't shed much light on their status.
On Jefferson, Miles said the quarterback was "trying to get back in the game. We felt like it would be best that he sit."
"I still like our chances, injuries or not. No excuses," he added.
LSU would have taken control of the West. The Tigers, whose only other loss came to the Gators, took a 15-10 lead into the fourth but managed only 9 yards in the quarter. They had won four straight games at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Once again, though, LSU is left taking a backseat to its former coach.
Saban & Co. moved a step closer to their second straight perfect regular season. The Tide outgained LSU 452-253, and narrowed the number SEC national championship contenders to two.
Alabama is 9-0 for a second consecutive season, which hasn't happened since 1973-74 under Bear Bryant.
Greg McElroy completed 19 of 34 passes for 276 yards with two touchdowns and an interception as the Tide aired it out 25 times in the first half against a defense that was putting extra defenders near the line.
The second half was more typical Tide. Mark Ingram gained 106 of his 144 yards after the half to continue to mount a strong campaign for Heisman Trophy consideration.
Jones had his best game of the season, with four catches for 102 yards, including his second touchdown.
"We practiced that all week," he said. "A situation like that, I feel like I should just step up and make the play. I did what I had to do."
And the Tide defense — as it has all season — came through in the end.
Needing two scores, backup quarterback Jarrett Lee and LSU couldn't get it to midfield in the final minutes.
Alabama hadn't left them much time, anyway, milking more than six minutes off the clock in setting up Tiffin's final kick, made possible when a running into the kicker call led Saban to go for it on fourth-and-1 just across midfield.
Ingram got the first down after taking a direct snap.
"That gives everybody confidence," McElroy said. "It's coach Saban having faith in us."
Tiffin, who became Alabama's all-time leading scorer in the game, also had a 20-yarder early in the fourth after a drive that took nearly six minutes.
LSU had failed on a 2-point try late in the third quarter trying to push its lead to seven points. Trent Richardson's 2-point run after Jones' touchdown made it a two-score game at the end.
Alabama gave fans two things they covet in the process: The lead and big plays from Jones, who hasn't made as many as he did in his fantastic freshman year.
He caught a short pass from McElroy, juked a defender and sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown.
"Put it in his hands, and you never know what's going to happen," McElroy said.
Then Richardson made it 21-15 Alabama.
Alabama forced the short-handed LSU offense into a three-and-out, then pushed the ball across midfield.
After Patrick Peterson nearly picked off McElroy's pass — he was ruled out of bounds — Jones' catch converted a third-and-7 to help move the Tide into field goal position.
"There's not one part of the team that didn't play well," Saban said. "The offense played extremely well. Greg played well. The receivers played well. We ran the ball. The offensive line did a fantastic job."
Jefferson and Scott were thriving before going to the sidelines.
Scott ran for 83 yards and his 34-yarder was the longest run play given up by Alabama this season. Jefferson passed for 114 yards and also had some success running the option.
"Losing those two guys was a big blow to our offense," receiver Terrance Toliver said. "It was a letdown to lose both of them, but Jarrett came in and played hard."
Lee was 4 of 10 for 44 yards with an interception on a fourth-down play at the end, and the Tigers were held to 95 yards rushing.
LSU's defense held its own through three quarters. Drake Nevis sacked McElroy in the third quarter for a safety, cutting Alabama's lead to 10-9.
Fullback Stevan Ridley bounced off 354-pound nose guard Terrance Cody for an 8-yard touchdown run and the 15-10 lead. Scott's big run set up the TD, but also ended his day. The pass for 2 did not connect.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Amen to that okie its all a set up to make a game go the way they want it you can bet that the gators will win the champion game against Bama because the officals will make sure of that. It is sad that is going on everyone can see that
Bama did not beat LSU the referees did I have nothing against bama I would love to see you go on to beat the gators but it want happen because the referees will make a call to make you lose good luck
I know that everyone is talking about SEC officiating, but I watched almost every snap of 4 or 5 games yesterday (from all conferences), and I saw "bad calls" galore. Calls that changed momentum and lead to potentially "unearned" victories and losses. The SEC might be in the spotlight, but bad calls happen in every conference, in every game. Stop trying to make it sound like it's only happening in the southern states. You will be able to find mistakes in ANY game depending on what team you are routing for...it's just another opportunity for the losing team (or their fans) to make excuses.
rpatter...just stop the crying! you lost again and peek at the tv when alabama stomps florida and texas.
Just like the bye week Alabama enjoyed before having to play LSU AT Alabama?........Just like the bye week Florida had before they had to play LSU? LSU is the only team to have to play top ranked teams coming off their bye weeks. No other team in the country had a schedule like LSU did. Florida's schedule was WEAK, and Alabama was just as weak.
LSU didn't choke, butthead. After losing your starting quarterback and your star running back AND you're playing the number 3 team in the country AT THEIR HOUSE.....I would hardly call that choking.
I wonder how much the alumni paid officials to throw that game Bama's way? It's obvious, the way the SEC has been officiated there is some BS going on, and "they" wanted a Florida/Alabama SEC championship game probably because of the money it would bring in.
Just ask Arkansas.....
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Being neither a Bama nor LSU fan, I was horrified at the officiating!!!! That was obviously an interception that LSU had called an incomplete pass. Is it me, or does it seem the college officiating is getting worse than the NFL's???? Bama may have gone on to win the game anyway; however, that interception would sure have been a momentum turner. Sad!!!
3 Billion dollars will buy you a lot of officiating! Just stating the truth. Money and greed has taken over college football. Why is it that it is the SEC that signed the huge 3 billion dollar contract and oh yes it also the SEC that every week has several controversal calls that always go for the big power house teams! To hell with the smaller teams their effort doesn't mean a thing in a bought game from the SEC worth billion. Why have instant replay when million can watch and see it one way and one bought SEC offical can call it any way he wants??? It was plan that was an interception...millions are not blind we saw it over and over again from all angles. And so what you suspended your bought crew...what compensation did you give to Ark and Ga? Makes me sick to my stomach that money greed and power has taken over college sport!
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People only dislike the sec because you bumpkins go around telling anyone who will listen that your the best college football conference. Well your not. There is no best football conference only some really good teams and your conference has two, that is it. and even that is debatable when you take into account your officiating! So keep hating everyone else and continue your myopic bragging. I know better you cretins.
all of you sec haters guess what we don't care.you just can't stand it because we r so good and alabama is back
Bama Alum here. Hat's off to the Tide coaching staff for their successful adjustments as the game wore on. I also think that this game was won back in the summer by the strength and conditioning program that the players committed too then - Bama seemed to get stronger as the LSU players were being worn down as evidenced by the total domination of the Tide in the fourth quarter - 9 yards of total offense by LSU in that quarter. I'm not going to make any predictions about what will happen in the SEC championship game right now because the Tide has another big game next week with Mississippi State - an opponent who is enjoying a bye week and who gave Florida all it wanted. As coach Saban says, one game at a time. Roll Tide!
Nice choke LSU! Obvious you did not want it that bad. I do not like SEC teams; especially Florida. As much as I dislike Alabama, I hope they smash Florida in the title game so Texas can then clobber Alabama in the BCS title game.
Bama didn't look great in the game, but they looked MUCH better than against the Vols. Florida had their hands full against LSU as well; though Tebow was just coming off of his concussion. If McElroy can continue to get his confidence back, I really think The Tide has a shot at beating Florida. It's true McElroy missed a few passes that he shouldn't have, but several dropped or missed passes were incredible throws; definitely not the QBs fault. None of this matters if Alabama can't win out the rest of their schedule, so they just have to take it one game at a time. Beating that LSU defense was a good start though. I'd love to see a Texas/Tide national championship...I just hope Bama doesn't use all of their energy in the SEC title game like they did last year, and not have anything left in the tank for the big game. The Tide is back in 09/10...ROLL TIDE!!!
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