Final
Flynn tosses three touchdowns, leads LSU past Auburn
Oct 21, 2007 - 6:01 AM BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Louisiana State's national championship hopes are still alive.Matt Flynn capped an impressive second-half comeback with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Byrd with one second left as No. 5 LSU defeated 18th-ranked Auburn, 30-24, on Saturday night in a battle of Southeastern Conference rivals.
With second-ranked South Florida suffering a loss to Rutgers on Thursday night, LSU (7-1, 4-1 SEC West) will likely move up in all the polls and should jump to third in the Bowl Championship Series standings.
"I thought our defense played really well," LSU coach Les Miles said. "With our offense, what Byrd and Matt Flynn did was spectacular. The return of Early Doucet on the offensive side helped us a ton."
With the clock ticking down, Flynn threw a strike to Byrd, who had a step on the defender in the left sideline of end zone, giving LSU a 30-24 edge. Flynn completed 22-of-34 passes for a career-high 392 yards and three touchdowns.
"I started waving to (offensive coordinator Gary Crowton) in the press box that I was open, and he called it for me," Byrd said of his game-winning touchdown catch. "I had a free release to the outside. I thought I was going to have to go up to catch the ball but it went right in my hands."
"That really surprised me," Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox said of LSU's decision to go for the end zone in the final seconds. "It was a gutsy call and I think there was only one second left on the game clock. An incomplete could end the game, but they converted and my hat's off to them."
With LSU leading, 23-17, in the fourth quarter, Cox orchestrated a nine-play, 92-yard touchdown drive to give Auburn the lead. Cox found Rodgeriqus Smith in the end zone from three yards out to cap the game-winning drive with 4:43 remaining.
Trailing, 17-7, at the break, Flynn passed for 222 yards and led LSU on five scoring drives in the second half.
LSU's comeback started on the opening drive of the second half when Flynn's 34-yard strike to wide receiver Early Doucet helped set up a 29-yard field goal by Colt David, which cut Auburn's advantage to 17-10.
LSU squandered a great opportunity to tie the game with seven minutes left in the third quarter. With the ball at midfield, Flynn tried to connect with Brandon LaFell, who was behind the Auburn defense.
LaFell, however, juggled the attempted reception right into the hands of Auburn defensive back Patrick Lee. It was Lee's third interception of the season.
"It is not like that was a perfect game in anyway," Miles said. "It was sloppy, but played very competitively. The bye week hits us at the right time."
On LSU's next drive, Byrd took the ball to the Auburn 9-yard-line by hauling in a 58-yard catch on a perfectly thrown deep ball by Flynn. LSU had to settle for a field goal, though, as Flynn threw three consecutive incompletions.
LSU took its first lead of the night when Flynn connected on a six-yard touchdown pass to running back Jacob Hester with 12:42 left in the fourth quarter. On a play-action rollout, Flynn found Hester in the flat and the 224-pound senior dove for the pylon to give LSU a 20-17 lead.
David tacked on another field goal - his third of the night - with 8:12 left in the fourth to extend LSU's lead to 23-17.
"Colt David kicked some pressure field goals," Miles said.
Auburn (5-3, 3-2) set the tone early, marching down the field on its opening possession of the game. Cox capped an 11-play drive with a 17-yard touchdown toss to Montez Billings to take an early 7-0 lead.
Cox passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns and Brad Lester, who missed the first five games of the season, racked up 114 total yards.
"We came out very physical and got the running game going, but in the second half they shut down the running game and that's are game," Cox said. "We had to score late and we started throwing it around and moved (the ball)."
LSU answered when Flynn connected with Keiland Williams on a 46-yard touchdown strike with 3:19 remaining in the opening quarter to knot the score at 7-7.
Backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, who is much faster than Flynn, came in to run the option but the plan backfired. Perrilloux took a rush to right side and fumbled right into the arms of Auburn defensive back Jerraud Powers, who scrambled 37 yards before being pulled down at the LSU 3-yard-line.
Three plays later, Carl Stewart plunged into the end zone from one yard out to give Auburn a 14-7 edge with 9:34 remaining in the first half.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
AUBURN (18) 7 10 0 7 24
LSU (5) 7 0 6 17 30 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: AUBURN - TD, MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS
FROM BRANDON COX (WES BYRUM
KICK), 4:50. AUBURN 7-0
LSU - TD, KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS
FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID
KICK), 11:41. AUBURN 7-7
2ND QUARTER: AUBURN
Oct 21 12:34 AM
TD LSU DEMETRIUS BYRD 22 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:34 AM
TD LSU DEMETRIUS BYRD 22 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:34 AM
TD LSU DEMETRIUS BYRD 22 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:34 AM- NCAAF
TD LSU
DEMETRIUS BYRD 22 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN
(COLT DAVID KICK)
AUBURN (18) 24
LSU (5) 30 0:01 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:34 AM - 157
rootsRUWTbot Took away 47 roots (Ranked Teams (18 v 5), Close Finish)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:34 AM - 199
rootsRUWTbot Added 17 roots (Ranked Teams (18 v 5), Upset, Close Finish)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:31 AM - 182
rootsRUWTbot Added 17 roots (Ranked Teams (18 v 5), Upset, Close Finish)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:29 AM - 165
rootsRUWTbot Added 27 roots (Ranked Teams (18 v 5), Upset, Close Finish)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:27 AM
TD AUBURN RODGERIQUS SMITH 3 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX (JOSH BYNES KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:22 AM
TD AUBURN RODGERIQUS SMITH 3 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX (JOSH BYNES KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:22 AM
TD AUBURN RODGERIQUS SMITH 3 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX (JOSH BYNES KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:22 AM- NCAAF
TD AUBURN
RODGERIQUS SMITH 3 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX
(JOSH BYNES KICK)
AUBURN (18) 24
LSU (5) 23 3:21 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:22 AM - 133
rootsRUWTbot Added 37 roots (Ranked Teams (18 v 5), Upset, Close Finish)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:22 AM - 96
roots - NCAAF
FG LSU
COLT DAVID 33 YD
AUBURN (18) 17
LSU (5) 23 8:12 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 21 12:09 AM - NCAAF
TD LSU
JACOB HESTER 5 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN
(COLT DAVID KICK)
AUBURN (18) 17
LSU (5) 20 12:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 11:55 PM - NCAAF END, 3RD QTR
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
AUBURN (18) 7 10 0 17
LSU (5) 7 0 6 13 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: AUBURN - TD, MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS
FROM BRANDON COX (WES BYRUM
KICK), 4:50. AUBURN 7-0
LSU - TD, KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS
FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID
KICK), 11:41. AUBURN 7-7
2ND
Oct 20 11:42 PM - NCAAF
FG LSU
COLT DAVID 26 YD
AUBURN (18) 17
LSU (5) 13 2:03 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 11:36 PM - NCAAF
FG LSU
COLT DAVID 29 YD
AUBURN (18) 17
LSU (5) 10 11:21 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 11:03 PM - NCAAF HALFTIME
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
AUBURN (18) 7 10 17
LSU (5) 7 0 7 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: AUBURN - TD, MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS
FROM BRANDON COX (WES BYRUM
KICK), 4:50. AUBURN 7-0
LSU - TD, KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS
FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID
KICK), 11:41. AUBURN 7-7
2ND QUARTER
Oct 20 10:33 PM - NCAAF
FG AUBURN
WES BYRUM 22 YD
AUBURN (18) 17
LSU (5) 7 1:44 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 10:25 PM - NCAAF
TD AUBURN
CARL STEWART 1 YD RUN
(WES BYRUM KICK)
AUBURN (18) 14
LSU (5) 7 9:34 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 10:02 PM - NCAAF END, 1ST QTR
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
AUBURN (18) 7 7
LSU (5) 7 7 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: AUBURN - TD, MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS
FROM BRANDON COX (WES BYRUM
KICK), 4:50. AUBURN 7-0
LSU - TD, KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS
FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID
KICK), 11:41. AUBURN 7-7
Oct 20 9:45 PM
TD LSU KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:41 PM
TD LSU KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:41 PM
TD LSU KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN (COLT DAVID KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:41 PM- NCAAF
TD LSU
KEILAND WILLIAMS 46 YD PASS FROM MATT FLYNN
(COLT DAVID KICK)
AUBURN (18) 7
LSU (5) 7 3:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:41 PM
TD AUBURN MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX (WES BYRUM KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:22 PM
TD AUBURN MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX (WES BYRUM KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:22 PM
TD AUBURN MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX (WES BYRUM KICK)
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:22 PM- NCAAF
TD AUBURN
MONTEZ BILLINGS 17 YD PASS FROM BRANDON COX
(WES BYRUM KICK)
AUBURN (18) 7
LSU (5) 0 10:10 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Auburn(18) vs. LSU(5)Oct 20 9:22 PM
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