The 2013 LSU Game

Here we go with another Auburn-LSU game once again in Baton Rouge.  Our Tigers are a huge underdog.  The line is something like 17.  Both teams are 3 & 0.  Is there any way Auburn can win this game?  We will soon find out.  There is no need to speculate or try to figure out what Auburn has to do to win this game.  Whatever will happen will happen and we wait and see.
FIRST QUARTER

LSU wins the toss and defers.                                                                                                               The rain is pouring down.                                                                                                                        The Tgers start at the 25.                                                                                                                       The Tigers run for two first downs out to midfield.
The Tigers move to a 3rd and 7 as Jaylon Denson gets his feet tangled up on the wet surface and has to be carried off the field.  Denson wasn't hit as he had to turn back to his right to try and catch the ball and his legs gave way.  It might be a knee injury.
Denson gets hand touches from teammates and seems to be in good spirits as he leaves the field.
Marshall gains 6 but Auburn fumbles on the exchange with CAP and LSU gets the ball.  Would've have been a first down.  LSU is at their 43.
A penalty moves the ball back to the 38.
On a third and 2 from the AU 49 there is a TD run right up the middle.
LSU takes immediate advantage of the turnover with 11:16 to go in the first quarter.

Auburn 0  LSU 7

We can't allow that kind of simple run up the middle or it WILL be a long night in Death Valley.
49 yards right up the middle.  The runner breaks the line of scrimmage and no defender is there.
3 plays.  57 yards for LSU.
AU starts again on the 25.
The rain is pouring down.
The Tigers go 3 and out.
Stephen Clark drops the punt snap and LSU is on the AU 10.
The same runner runs it right up the middle untouched and LSU is up 2 touchdowns early.
This is as bad a start as you could imagine.

Auburn 0  LSU 14

We have given LSU 2 quick touchdowns.  Our mettle will be tested.  For some reason I think this team will respond.  We may not win the game but we will get back in it.  Q says LSU is running at our weakness which is the middle of the D line with our 2 tackles and Jake Holland.
We have made 2 devastating mistakes so far.  We cannot have another one especially by a senior like Stephen Clark.
Auburn starts on their 25 for the third time tonight.
On 3rd and 1 we are short.
Auburn punts to the LSU 31.  I wonder why we didn't go for it just short of the 35.  The way this game has started what do we have to lose.
The Fighting Tigers drive into Auburn territory as the rain continues to fall.
We get a sack on their QB and LSU is 2nd and 17 from midfield.
After a gain of 7 LSU faces 3rd and 10.
There's a big completion in what looks like good coverage to the AU 16.
There's a run to the 13.  LSU is threatening again leading by 2 TDs already.
No gain.
Third down and 6 or 7 to go.                                                                                                              There's a FUMBLE and Auburn recovers at the 7.
Big turnover in the Red Zone.
Marshall runs for 6.
Mason runs for 9 and the first down at the 22.
No gain on a pass to Reed as the quarter ends AU facing 2nd and 10 from their 22.

SECOND QUARTER

A short pass completion leads to a 3rd and 2.
There's an incomplete pass and we have to punt from our 30.
There is a fair catch at the LSU 26.
LSU has taken advantage of Auburn's mistakes so far.
There is another big run up the middle of 54 yards.  The middle of DL is being exploited.
The one yard plunge finishes the deal and LSU is up 3 scores.
We simply cannot stop their running game right up the middle.  Their RB clears the line and either nobody is there or there is a missed tackle or two.  If you can't stop the run in the SEC you lose.  It's that simple.  Our defensive line is very weak.  LSU is much more powerful physically than Auburn.

Auburn 0  LSU 21

This is a sad spectacle of a superior team running over a much weaker team.
It's physical domination at the line of the scrimmage.
We have given up three runs of over 50 yards each.  They don't have to throw the football when you can dominate the line of scrimmage as LSU has done.
Auburn is getting manhandled.
AU starts on the 25.
Nick Marshall heaves the ball downfield on 2nd down right to the LSU defender on the overthrow.
LSU has the ball right back on their 35.
This is a real nightmare.
Finally we get a three and out and LSU has to punt for the first time.
AU is back on offense at their 26 trailing 21 to 0 with 10:20 left in the first half.
Mason runs to the AU 41 on first down.
Mason runs for 7.
There's a first down to the LSU 47.
Two incompletions and we move to 3rd and 10.  Why not run the football?
Marshall gains 5 on the scramble and we are 4th and 5 on the LSU 42.
We go for it and Marshall throws the ball behind Fulse on a slant.  Our announcers say that Nick Marshall does not look comfortable.  His passing accuracy is not there.  That could have been a throw and catch.  Q says he is not setting his feet.  Marshall must be rattled.  That could have been a completion.  Marshall mechanics are off Stan White says against a physical defense.  He is not squaring his shoulders.  I have often wondered why we don't throw more slants.  Maybe we simply cannot do it.  It looked the start of a good drive but it bogged down.
Frost is called for a horsecollar and we give LSU 15 yards.
Stan White says it's a good call.
I'm amazed at how LSU opens up such gaping holes in our defensive line.
LSU goes to 4th and 5 at the Auburn 36.
Bray faircatches the punt at the 10 with 5:26 left in the half.
There's a 7 yard completion to Louis and a 15yrd. unsportsmanlike on LSU.
With 4:01 left Auburn has to punt as a short pass to Davis is incomplete.
LSU faircatches at their 19. 
We need a turnover real bad!
Instead we get a three and out with 2 sacks on that LSU possession.
AU gets the ball on their 44 after a relatively short punt.
The Tigers go to 4th and 3 just across midfield.  Marshall overthrows another receiver. 
Our defense has stiffened but our offense has regressed.  We have moments of running football but we cannot complete passes mainly I think because Marshall consistently overthrows receivers.  A more accurate passer and we could complete passes because our receiver can get open.
Clark punts into the end zone and the half ends.
The defense plays better in the second quarter but our offense is not there.

THIRD QUARTER

The second half starts with Auburn fire!
The pooch kickoff gives LSU the ball at their 43 but on the first play Whitehead intercepts at midfield.
Tigers push quickly running and passing for the touchdown Mason running it in from the 2 for the score.
We have ourselves quickly a new ballgame!

Auburn 7  LSU 21

You talk about getting what we needed!  That'll do it.
LSU starts on the 25.
LSU moves quickly to a first down at their 47 and then a TD pass is called back on a holding call.
But there is another pass to a wide-open receiver an easy pitch and catch to the Auburn 8.                   All of a sudden our defense is defenseless.
We get a break and score but LSU comes right back down the field with wide-open receivers.
We stop their run but they have open receivers.
LSU punches it in and the Bengal Tigers answer the Auburn touchdown.  We are back where we started the second half.
A busted coverage on their tight end is the big play in the drive.

Auburn 7  LSU 28

The Tigers start on the 25.
The Tigers go quickly 3 and out to a 4th and 5.
Not what we needed to stay in this game.
LSU is on their 37.  Clark is not having a stellar night.
LSU fakes a 30-yd. FG attempt but Auburn holds.
We get the ball without LSU scoring but we are still down 3 touchdowns.
And we have to start on our 6.
The Tigers drive and there is a 52-yd. completion to Coates to the LSU one yard line!
But then we get a 5-yd. procedure penalty.  NO!
Then Marshall throws a pass beyond the line of scrimmage.
Now just like that it's 2nd goal from the 9.
Grant sweeps to the 2.                                                                                                                            3rd and goal from the 2.MASON RUNS UP THE MIDDLE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN!
The point after is good and the score tightens.
Can our defense respond?

Auburn 14  LSU 28

10 Plays.  94 yards.  Mason a two yard run for the score
LSU starts on their 19.
How about another turnover?
Not coming.
LSU drives again to the Auburn 34.
The third quarter clock expires with LSU facing 3rd and 9.  A big play coming to start the 4th quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

LSU converts and goes on to score again.  We can't stop them.

Auburn 14  LSU 35

Auburn goes 3 and out.

LSU punts and we are backed up.
The Tigers try to move the ball to save some face.
From the AU 35 there is a long completion to Coates down inside the LSU 20.
There is a first down at the LSU 12.
CAP runs it in from there.
We cut the lead with 6:33 left.  This team hasn't given up.  This is a good sign.
10 plays.  88 yards.

Auburn 21  LSU 35

The Tigers recover the onside kick!
Parkey follows the ball and falls on it.  Perfectly executed.
BUT on the replay they give ball to LSU.
Oh, my.
Our announcers say we are robbed.  It is clear that the ball went 10 yrds and we recovered.
The call on the field was a recovery and there is supposed to be clear evidence to over turn and it is not there.
With 5:04 LSU stops the clock with an incompletion and they have to punt.
Bray drops the punt but gets the ball back on the 16.
We move the ball quickly to our 44 but then Marshall throws the interception on an underthrow.
That's that but again this team did not quit and we were the victim of a clear bogus overturn by the replay judge on a beautiful recovered onside kick by the Tigers.
If we had not gotten behind so early we could have won this football game.
We lose but we could have won this football game.  No doubt.
This team did not quit.  Last year's team would have quit.
With 2:54 LSU punts and Auburn gets another possession on the AU 31.
THESE Tigers drive with the clock winding down passing and running.  The LSU defense is gashed.
Auburn drives to a first down at the LSU 4 yard line with 1:45 left.
A false start and we are back to the 9.  Not good.  Not good.
1:16 left 2nd and goal at the 9.
Marshall is dropped at the 17.
Now it's 4th and goal from the 17 with 42 seconds left.
Mason catches a short pass and is dropped at the 12.
LSU will win this game but Auburn fights to the end.
This team doens't quit.
This team played its heart out.  If only we could have that first quarter back.
This team caught a lot of adversity early but it never quit.
I say WAR EAGLE!

FINAL SCORE

Auburn 21  LSU 35