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Defense steps up as LSU edges South Carolina

Oct 19, 2008 - 5:48 AM COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) -- After getting embarrassed a week ago, Louisiana State's defense returned to form on Saturday.

Charles Scott's second touchdown of the game broke a tie late in the fourth quarter as 14th-ranked LSU pulled out a 24-17 victory over South Carolina in Southeastern Conference action.

Keiland Williams rushed for 77 yards and Scott gained 58 on the ground for LSU (5-1, 3-1 SEC West), which absorbed a 51-21 setback at Florida.

"The situation and how we played Florida didn't settle well with us," Tigers coach Les Miles said. "It will be something we'll remember for some time. I think this was certainly the way to put it in the rearview mirror. But we will have learned from both of these two games, how to play and what not to do."

Tied at 17-17 midway through the fourth quarter, the Tigers went on an impressive 11-play, 83-yard drive capped by Scott's 2-yard touchdown run with 4:16 remaining.

South Carolina (5-3, 2-3 SEC East) quarterback Stephen Garcia was intercepted on the next possession, and LSU ran out the clock to seal the win.

The Tigers trailed by seven at the half but tied the game with 44 seconds remaining in the third quarter on Richard Dixon's 7-yard touchdown catch from Andrew Hatch.

"We fixed some things and came out in the second half with our heads up," LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee said. "It's a great win after last week and everything that happened. We knew this week we had to keep our heads up and stay positive."

LSU limited South Carolina to 254 total yards - 39 on the ground - and allowed four first downs during the second half while forcing three turnovers.

"The defense had a lot of swagger," Miles said. "They were awfully strong that second half. If we play like that - offense, defense and special teams - we will play anybody in the country."

Colt David's 48-yard field goal gave LSU a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter, but Ryan Succop tied the contest with a 21-yard field goal with 13 minutes to play in the second.

The Tigers answered with a 12-play, 78-yard drive - capped by a 5-yard run from Scott to give the visitors a 10-3 lead with 4:03 remaining in the half.

But South Carolina roared back as Stephen Garcia tossed a 26-yard touchdown to Weslye Saunders, tying the score at 10-10. Carlos Thomas then intercepted Lee and returned it to the LSU 6-yard line, setting up Mike Davis' 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal to give the Gamecocks a 17-10 lead 22 seconds before intermission.

"They had a little more rushing yards then we did, but our defense played really well," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. "We got one score. It was a tough night, we had our chances."

The loss snapped the Gamecocks' four-game winning streak.