AP Top 25 College Football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — 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 » 17
pdhuff#552644 writes:
They're also gettin' ready for another loss in the SEC CG.
Then Utah.
bmcreynolds#558786 writes:
No complaints about the replay official? That was the worst blown call on the LSU interception ever! Replay clearly shows BOTH FEET were inbounds and the ball in his posession and the replay official lacked the ability to overrule the play on the field. Pathetic!!!
Liberal_Vol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
panties4tebow writes:
Just take care of floriduh in the rematch!!!!
allvol32 writes:
Even well before the blown interception review by the officials I was saying the exact same thing that I said during the TN-AL game and the FL-GA game "the fix is in on this one...". LSU was outpenalized by AL about 8 penalties to 1 midway through the game.
You can just tell by the way the officials are generally calling the game. There seems to be lots of no calls when FL or AL commits easily spottable fouls right in front of the officials but then there are lots of head scratching ticky-tack calls on whoever they're playing. I was also amazed at some of the spots being backed up by a yard or two when TN played AL and TN had the ball.
I hate to think it but it sure looks like the SEC is in love with the idea of two undefeated teams playing in the SEC championship game. I admit I like that idea too but only if the two undefeated teams got there without outright assitance from the ref's.
But don't dare criticize the officials...eh Slive?
WLafIndianavol writes:
Enjoy the ride Bammer Morons because the ride is soon to end in the SEC CG and the bowl game. Bammer will again walk away with NOTHING!
Liberal_Vol writes:
Yeah and we'll stop that clown in his second year like we stopped Julio in his second year. Second year because he won't make much impact his first year like most freshmen.
VolsAllTheWay writes:
LSU got slived. But please don't tell Mikey I sad so, can't afford the fine.
CoverOrange writes:
Totally agree!
VolunteerLifer writes:
You are correct. I thought there was no question it was an interception.
I guess bama is the better team, but because of that blown call, which came at a critical time, I'm not certain of it.
But I'm going to root hard for bama to beat the clingons in the SECCG.
kman29 writes:
I love how UT fans like yourself feel as if Bama playing for the national title makes your life easier as a UT fan than if UF playing for it. Maybe its because Bama hasnt been there in 17 years and Florida would be playing in the national title game for the 5th time in 14 years and your tired of it. But based off of each fan base. You really think the Bama fan base is going to be easier on UT fan than UF? lol! Good luck with that!
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
No, the reason we favor Bama for the NC game is because Bama will better represent the superiority of the SEC.
mytrifecta writes:
The blown call on the interception was a complete joke. SEC football under Slive has all the credibility of WWF. These kids play too hard and sacrifice too much for the game to be decided by an officiating crew that's clearly biased.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Your post, as usual, is full of poor assumptions. I want bama to win SECCG because gators have it coming to them. Then I want bama to lose in the NC game because they've got it coming to them.
AtlantaTide writes:
Child Logic 101
AtlantaTide writes:
Bless your little hoosier heart. It just kills you to see the Bammers to keep winning! LOL, you are my fav poster beacuse it is so easy to visualize you cursing the TV, the wife or the internet posts. Sigh...you have some life little man.
bigorangeslice writes:
Gosh danggit daggonit! why cain't them bammers just lose one? cause o them daggon refs. I wouldn't be surprised if Saben done PAYED THEM REFS!!!!
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