Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - A.J. McCarron turned it on when his team
needed him the most.
The junior quarterback tossed a go-ahead, 28-yard touchdown pass to T.J.
Yeldon with less than a minute remaining to lift No. 1 Alabama to a 21-17
triumph over fifth-ranked LSU in a rematch of last season's national
championship game.
Drew Alleman missed a 45-yard field goal that would have given LSU a 20-14
lead with 1:34 left, but instead gave the Crimson Tide possession at their own
28.
McCarron, who was just 1-of-7 for zero yards in the second half before the
final drive, found his rhythm as he hit Kevin Norwood on three consecutive
plays to move Alabama to the LSU 28.
After a pass intended for Norwood in the end zone fell incomplete, McCarron
swung a screen pass out to Yeldon, who juked a defender and scampered 28 yards
into the end zone to give Alabama the decisive advantage with 51 ticks on the
clock.
The Tigers had one final try, but Zach Mettenberger was sacked by Damion
Square to end the game and keep the Crimson Tide's undefeated season alive.
McCarron finished 14-of-27 for 165 yards and a score, while Eddie Lacy added
83 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries for Alabama (9-0, 6-0), which has
claimed four of the last six meetings against LSU, including a 21-0 victory in
last year's national title game.
Mettenberger completed 24-of-35 passes for a career-high 298 yards and a
touchdown and Jeremy Hill added 107 yards and a score on 29 carries for the
Tigers (7-2, 3-2), who had their school-record 22-game home winning streak
snapped.
GAME NOTES:
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