'Bama upends No. 16 LSU in overtime thriller
Jimmy Carter
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Sports
Rashad Johnson's overtime interception and quarterback John Parker Wilson's subsequent touchdown plunge from a yard out made Nick Saban a winner in his return to Baton Rouge, La., as the top-ranked Tide pulled out a thrilling 27-21 overtime victory over No. 16 LSU (6-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference.)
Alabama (10-0, 6-0 SEC) clinched the SEC Western division championship with the win and kept its place in the driver's seat for a berth in the BCS national championship game.
"The players on both sides played their hearts out," said Alabama coach Nick Saban. "LSU's team played an outstanding game. Our players played hard in the game with a lot of tenacity and overcame a lot of adversity. My hats off to our players and the way they competed."
Alabama had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Leigh Tiffin's 29-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired, sending the game into overtime.
LSU got the ball first in overtime but quarterback Jarrett Lee was intercepted by Johnson in the back of the end zone, Lee's fourth interception of the game and Johnson's school-record tying third pick on the afternoon.
"I saw him roll out and we brought a blitz to pull him up because they had been running that play a lot in the second half," Johnson said. "It was a great play call by us to blitz him on that side so he couldn't get all the way out and throw the out route like he normally does. Then he was looking for his receiver on that side and just overthrew him."
Alabama immediately went for the big play, and Wilson hit freshman receiver Julio Jones for a 24-yard gain to the LSU one-yard line.
"After that interception Coach Saban said let's take a shot, so of course we threw it to Julio Jones," Wilson said. "He made a great play. It was a back shoulder ball. [He made a] great adjustment. He was able to beat them out."
Wilson punched it in on a sneak two plays later, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Tigers and giving Saban a triumphant return to the school he led to a national championship in 2003 before leaving for the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
Alabama (10-0, 6-0 SEC) clinched the SEC Western division championship with the win and kept its place in the driver's seat for a berth in the BCS national championship game.
"The players on both sides played their hearts out," said Alabama coach Nick Saban. "LSU's team played an outstanding game. Our players played hard in the game with a lot of tenacity and overcame a lot of adversity. My hats off to our players and the way they competed."
Alabama had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Leigh Tiffin's 29-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired, sending the game into overtime.
LSU got the ball first in overtime but quarterback Jarrett Lee was intercepted by Johnson in the back of the end zone, Lee's fourth interception of the game and Johnson's school-record tying third pick on the afternoon.
"I saw him roll out and we brought a blitz to pull him up because they had been running that play a lot in the second half," Johnson said. "It was a great play call by us to blitz him on that side so he couldn't get all the way out and throw the out route like he normally does. Then he was looking for his receiver on that side and just overthrew him."
Alabama immediately went for the big play, and Wilson hit freshman receiver Julio Jones for a 24-yard gain to the LSU one-yard line.
"After that interception Coach Saban said let's take a shot, so of course we threw it to Julio Jones," Wilson said. "He made a great play. It was a back shoulder ball. [He made a] great adjustment. He was able to beat them out."
Wilson punched it in on a sneak two plays later, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Tigers and giving Saban a triumphant return to the school he led to a national championship in 2003 before leaving for the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
Be the first to comment on this story