TIGERS STILL RAIN OVER REBELS WIN 53-48

It’s SEC Championship Weekend, and the Tigers are hosting the Ole’ Miss Rebels in Death Valley. No LSU isn’t playing for the title this weekend. This is a makeup game that has been rescheduled to play due to COVID.

The Tigers come into the contest having upset the No. 6 team in the country Florida Gators, in The Swamp. A 24 point underdog point underdog to out-right winners, the Tigers are looking to repeat that success against the Rebels this week.

The Rebels will be without their two most prolific offensive weapons this week in receiver Elijah Moore, and tight end Kenny Yeboah. Both of whom opted out earlier this week for the NFL draft. Moore and Yeboah have combined for nearly 60 percent of the Rebels passing attack this season, catching 113 passes of the 192 receptions. With 14 of the 25 TDs for the Rebels.

The Rebels came into the game with the No. 4 passing offense, and fourteenth scoring offense in the nation, scoring nearly 40 points per game.

Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin and LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron have a bound that goes back nearly 20 years to their coaching days at USC. But have taken slightly different routes to get here today.

The Tigers started off the week as one and half point favorites but that line has quickly dwindled and the Tigers are now one point underdogs to the Rebels.

The Tigers won the toss and elected to receive, trying to get off to a fast start, and keep the Rebels off the field.

That drive stalled and only goes for one yard. The Tigers are in to punt.

Zach Von Rosenberg boomed a punt 50 yards down to the Ole Miss 20, but penalties backed the Rebels up to their 15. Matt Corral got the Rebels into scoring position early with a big pass of 57 to Casey Kelly down to the LSU 26. Three plays later Corral, would hit Braylon Sanders from 20 yards out to put the first points on the board. Ole Miss 7 – LSU 0

On the next Tigers possession, Max Johnson would hit TE Kole Taylor for 20 yards, and Koy Moore for 11 moving them into position for a Cade York field goal. Ole Miss 7 – LSU 3

Ole Miss would get the ball back, and Matt Corral would throw his first of five interceptions on the night. Jay Ward undercut the out route and returned it for a pick six. PAT was good. LSU 10 – Ole Miss 7

Late in first quarter with the Rebels driving, Corral was intercepted again. This time by Todd Harris, who returned it 13 yards to the LSU 28 yard line. A slight drizzle has started on the game.

Johnson and company were back on the field. A quick slant to Koy Moore turns into a gain of 26. Running back Josh Williams gashed the Rebels defense for 30 yards on one carry to bring up 1st and goal from the four. Then a dive of two yards, followed by Max Johnson on a QB sneak for no gain. Finally, on 4th and inches Johnson plowed his way in for the score. LSU 17 – Ole Miss 7

 The Rebels however, would not lay down and continued to fight. The ensuing Avery Atkins kick was brought out from the end zone and returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Jerrion Ealy. LSU 17 – Ole Miss 14

Two drives later, Ali Gaye would flush Corral from the pocket, force the strip sack, and catch the ball before it hit the ground. This would be Corral’s third interception on the night. The drizzle has turned to rain.

LSU would take over at the Ole Miss 40, and on 4th and 2 Max Johnson would connect with Kayshon Boutte running wide open in the endzone from 32 yards out. LSU 24 – Ole Miss 14

The Rebels hit plays of 19 and 24 yards and a one yard plunge to get into the end zone. LSU 24 – Ole Miss 21

It seems that Max Johnson was finding his rhythm with Boutte as he hit him for 22 yards and an 18 yard TD to cap off the drive with 58 seconds left in the 1st half for Boutte’s second TD of the night. LSU 31- Ole Miss 21

Not to be outdone, Jabril Cox intercepted a Corral pass and returned it 14 yards to the Ole Miss 19. Unfortunately, the Tigers drive stalled and they were forced to settle for a field goal. LSU 34 – Ole Miss 21

Start of the second half and the Tiger looked fired up, Jay Ward picked off Corral’s first pass and returned it 16 yards. The Tigers drove down and were able to notch a field goal to add to their lead. LSU 37 – Ole Miss 21

However, second half adjustments slowed the Tigers a bit. Corral started scrambling more and the Tigers started getting a bit out of synch. Corral had a big run of 25, then a play action pass of 17 set up a 10 rush for a touchdown. The Rebels would go for two, but fail. LSU 37 – Ole Miss 27

The Tigers were forced to a three and out. Zach Von Rosenberg had another 50 yard punt. Rain and cold wind are coming in like a hammer out of the night sky pounding the playing surface.

Ole Miss came out running this time, setting up big gains of 18, 21, and 25. Ending with a play action to Drummond for a five yard touchdown. LSU 37 – Ole Miss 30

The fourth quarter was a back and forth slug fest to see which team would blink first. Ole Miss had regained the lead and was ahead 48 – 40 after a two yard run by Corral that left a referee bloodied and possibly concussed. Max Johnson led the Tigers offense on a 10 play 75 yard drive to get to them into the end zone. Ole Miss 48 – LSU 46 the two point failed. The defense for the Tigers held and sack by Neil Farrell, forced the Rebels to punt.

The Tigers with just over two and a half minutes left in the game went three plays and 56 yards for a score. Johnson connected with Boutte for a recorded setting pass of 45 yards that not only made Kayshon Boutte the LSU single game receiving record holder, but also the SEC single game receiving record holder with 308 yards receiving.

Final Score: LSU 53 – Ole Miss 48