LSU's risky business still good

While LSU fans celebrated a last-second, come-from-behind 30-24 victory over Auburn, impartial observers were scratching their heads.

With LSU in field-goal position at the Auburn 22-yard line, it elected to throw for the end zone. There was one second left on the clock when Demetrius Byrd made the catch in the end zone against tight coverage. If the pass had fallen incomplete, LSU might not have had time to kick a field goal.

"God, if I just break that up and time runs out, we win," Auburn's Jerraud Powers told the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. "It just shows the guts and confidence that Coach (Les) Miles has in his team to try something like that."

Two weeks earlier, LSU converted five fourth-down plays in a come-from-behind victory against Florida.

Passing Perks Up: LSU's offense got a big boost from quarterback Matt Flynn, who had been bothered by an ankle injury, and wide receiver Early Doucet, who hadn't caught a pass since suffering a groin injury in the second game of the season.

Doucet had seven catches for 93 yards against Auburn. Flynn completed 22 of 34 passes for 319 yards and also ran 10 times for 34 yards.

Gators Banged Up: Five Florida starters were injured in Saturday's victory against Kentucky. Quarterback Tim Tebow (right shoulder), safety Major Wright (broken thumb), defensive tackle Clint McMillan (shoulder), offensive tackle Carlton Melder (heel) and cornerback Woody Pierre-Louis (arm).

Tebow stayed in the game with the injury to his non-throwing shoulder and told reporters afterward that it was OK, but Florida coach Urban Meyer said Tebow would be held out of contact in preparation for this week's Georgia game.

Wright's injury was believed to be the most serious.

Freshmen Support: Florida coach Urban Meyer is working more young players into the game on defense. True freshman defensive tackle Torrey Davis played two series in the first half and had a tackle for loss. True freshman defensive end Kevin Trattou sacked Andre Woodson for a 9-yard loss in the second half.

More Freshmen: Auburn has played 15 true freshmen this season, and six have started at least one game.

The Tigers started two true freshmen in the offensive line and two redshirt freshmen on defense against LSU. Three other freshmen were in the defensive rotation.

Throwing Tight End: Not many quarterbacks will get the kind of compliment Tebow received from Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon.

"He's like a fullback or tight end who can throw," Jarmon told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Overcoming Adversity: The Wildcats' 6-2 record is even more impressive when you consider that star running back Rafael Little and wide receiver Keenan Burton have been hampered by injuries and illness.

With Little and fellow running back Tony Dixon out with injuries in the second half, Kentucky relied on the running of freshman Derrick Locke, who finished with 14 carries for 76 yards against the Gators.

Burton, who had the flu last week against LSU, sprained a knee in the first half against Florida. In the two games, the preseason All-SEC wide receiver had seven catches for 46 yards.

Schaeffer Sighting: Former Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer, who lost his starting job to Seth Adams this season, finally got some playing time in Ole Miss' 44-8 loss to Arkansas.

Schaeffer completed five of 13 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in relief of Adams, who threw four interceptions against the Razorbacks, and has been intercepted 10 times in the last three games.

Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron didn't rule out a change.

"Seth's position is just like everybody else's," Orgeron told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "If you don't perform, I'll put in the next guy."

Extra Points: Miles criticized Auburn for the chop block that took All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey out of the game in the second half. "I thought that went out in the '70s," Miles told the Morning Advocate. … Florida allowed its first punt return of the season, a 9-yard gain by Burton midway through the second quarter. … Cornerback Trevard Lindley, Kentucky's best cover man, repeatedly lost one-on-one match-ups with Florida wide receiver Andre Caldwell and gave up a 66-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy. … Nine of the 18 recruits who already have committed to LSU attended the Auburn game.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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