On Saturday all eyes were on the SEC, the most dominant conference in college football, which delivered some great games and amazing finishes.
#2 LSU Drops #12 South Carolina 28-16
The day started with two undefeated teams, LSU (3-0, ranked #2) and South Carolina (3-0, ranked #12), facing off in Louisiana. LSU came into the game with a 15 game winning streak at home and a 10 game winning streak versus the Gamecocks. South Carolina’s head coach Steve Spurrier definitely wanted to break both streaks, and bring his career record against LSU to 12-1 (11-1 was as head coach of Florida). However the Tigers proved to be too much, and ending the day as one of only three teams undefeated in the SEC. The game was close for most of the first half, with the score being tied after the first quarter (7-7).
LSU lead 14-7 for most of the second quarter, ending the first half with the momentum in their favor. With a little over a minute left in the second quarter, LSU extended their lead after a 15 yard run by the Tiger’s kicker Colt David who scored via a fake field goal. The play call was brilliant, surprising everyone who witnessed the rare fake, including Steve Spurrier who could do nothing but laugh after LSU took the lead 21-7. Although there was a whole half still to be played, the Tiger’s 21 first half points would be enough to secure the victory.
LSU would score the only points in the third quarter with the Tiger’s feature running back, Jacob Hester, running for a nine yard touchdown to extend their lead to 28-7.
In the fourth, South Carolina shut out LSU, but could only add nine points to their score, off a field goal and a touchdown (they didn’t convert on the two point conversion). Although they lost 28-16, South Carolina played a great game. Entering the game, LSU outscored their opponents 137-7 and if the game was played in South Carolina, the game could’ve ended in the Gamecock’s favor.
#21 Kentucky Holds Off Arkansas 42-29
Later in the day, Kentucky (ranked #21) faced off against Arkansas. This game was exciting until the end, with the winner undecided until the final four minutes. Although the first half ended with Arkansas leading the Wildcats 20-14, Arkansas dominated the first two quarters. With less than a minute left in the second quarter, Arkansas was leading 20-7 and ready to enter the locker-rooms with the large lead. However, Kentucky recovered a fumble right before the half ended and scored with 26 seconds left in the second quarter.
In the second half, Kentucky’s Andre Woodson proved why he’s a Heisman candidate and led his team to victory when they needed him most. The Wildcats scored the third quarter’s only points off a touchdown thrown by Woodson to Keenan Burton bringing the score to 21-20, giving Kentucky the lead for the first time in the game. In the fourth quarter, Arkansas would fight back; within 11 seconds, the Razorbacks scored 9 points via a safety and an 82 yard kickoff return by Felix Jones to bring the score to 29-21 in Arkansas’ favor. Although the momentum seemed to be in the Razorback’s favor, the game was far from over. Less than four minutes later, Kentucky would cut the lead to 29-27, after a two yard touchdown run by Kentucky running back Derrick Locke.
It was still Arkansas’ game to lose after the touchdown, because Kentucky did not convert a two point conversion to tie the game. Despite being down, Kentucky’s defense didn’t panic. Upon receiving the ball, Arkansas’ Heisman candidate running back Darren McFadden ran the ball three straight times, but fell short of a first down, only accumulating 9 yards, forcing the Razorback’s to punt. After the quick 3 and out, Kentucky had the ball once again with 5 minutes left to go. The Wildcat’s started the drive with their running back Derrick Locke carrying the ball for 31 yards off 4 carries and after a five yard Arkansas penalty, Kentucky’s offense found them-selves on the 32 yard line in Razorback territory. Then Woodson took over, and on the next play, Woodson passed to Keenan Burton again for a 32 yard touchdown and the lead changed for the last time with Kentucky bringing the score to 35-29 after they converted the two point conversion after the touchdown. When they took over on offense with a little less than four minutes to go, Arkansas had plenty of time to score and re-take the lead, but Kentucky’s defense again was too tough for Arkansas. After four plays, Arkansas had to forfeit the ball, and Kentucky delivered the final blow with a minute to go, when Andre Woodson scored another touchdown, this time on the ground, off a one yard rush. That touchdown brought the game to 42-29, which was ultimately the final score.
#22 Georgia Outlasts #16 Alabama 26-23
Alabama (ranked #16) entertained Georgia (ranked #22), and finished Saturday with a bang. Possibly the most exciting game of the day, Georgia and Alabama played a thriller until the end. Georgia led most of the game, but Alabama was always within striking distance. Defense and special teams played an important role for both teams in this game, with both teams yielding only two touchdowns each and the kicker’s going a combined 4-6 on their field goal tries, including three field goals for over 40 yards or more.
In the first half, Georgia’s defense seemed impenetrable, allowing only three points on a field goal which was kicked as time expired at the end of the second quarter. However, Alabama’s offense woke up in the second half, scoring 17 points that included 10 unanswered points to end the fourth quarter. Georgia’s offense was consistent through out the game scoring 10 points in each half. Although Alabama’s team did allow the 20 points, their defense stepped up when needed.
With a little more than 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter, after an impressive drive lead by quarterback John Parker Wilson and running back Glen Coffee, Alabama had to settle for a field goal which brought the score to 20-13 in Georgia’s favor. Once the Bulldogs regained possession of the ball, after a quick first down, Georgia’s offense was shutdown by the Crimson Tide’s defense. After only having the ball for 1 minute and 40 seconds, Georgia had to punt and gave Alabama the chance to comeback.
The Crimson Tide had only 4:38 to score from the 12 yard line in their territory. Three and half minutes later, John Parker Wilson capped an 88 yard drive with a touchdown and after the extra point; the score was tied at 20. Although there was less than a minute left in the game when they started there next drive, Georgia went for the win and managed to put themselves in field goal position with only a few seconds left in the game. Then as time expired, Georgia’s kicker Brandon Coutu, who hit a 47 yard field goal earlier in the game, attempted a 48 yard field goal with the wind blowing against him and from the left hashes to win the game. The kick had enough distance, but unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the ball was a couple inches too far to the left and the game would have to be settled in overtime.
In overtime, Alabama started with the ball and after allowing 10 straight points, Georgia’s defense was finally able to stop John Parker Wilson and the Crimson Tide. Alabama only gained two yards and had to kick a 40 yard field goal. After the field goal was converted by Leigh Tiffin, who went 3-3 on his field goal tries throughout the game, Georgia took over on offense, and only one play was needed to decide the game. On first and ten from the 25 yard line, off play action, Georgia’s quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a perfect 25 yard touchdown to Mikey Henderson to win the game for the visiting Bulldogs, with the final score being 26-23.
The SEC will definitely be a tight division all season, and the conference champion will be most likely be decided the last week of the season. LSU is the favorite, but Florida (ranked #3) who won 30-24 against Ole Miss this past
weekend can definitely win as well, especially if they beat LSU on October 6th, which will be played in Louisiana. Both LSU and Florida are undefeated and have tough schedules remaining, so the SEC title may come down to who wins the game.
