LSU hangs with Alabama for 3 quarters until falling 38-17 - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

LSU hangs with Alabama for 3 quarters until falling 38-17

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Alabama running back TJ Yeldon dives for a touchdown. Alabama running back TJ Yeldon dives for a touchdown.
TUSCALOOSA, AL (WAFB) -

No. 10 LSU stayed with No. 1 Alabama until late in the third quarter, but the Crimson Tide pulled away with three long touchdown drives late in the game to beat the Tigers, 38-17 Saturday night.

LSU (7-3, 3-3 SEC) was plagued by crucial miscues early in the game. The Tigers' first drive of the game appeared to be culminating with a touchdown, but the ball was stripped from fullback J.C. Copeland's hands just short of the goal line and Dutchtown's Landon Collins recovered the fumble for the Tide. On the next LSU drive, quarterback Zach Mettenberger didn't see Elliott Porter's shotgun snap and the fumble was easily recovered by Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC). The turnover led to a 41-yard field goal by the Tide for a 3-0 lead.

Mettenberger connected with wide receiver Jarvis Landry on a 45-yard pass on a drive which ended with a Jeremy Hill touchdown in the second quarter to give LSU a 7-3 lead. However, the Tide regained the lead with an AJ McCarron touchdown pass to O.J. Howard. The score made it 10-7. Alabama would then extend that lead to 17-7 with a touchdown toss from McCarron to Kevin Norwood. LSU cut Alabama's lead to 17-14 before the end of the first half with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mettenberger to Travin Dural.

At the start of the third quarter, Mettenberger was saved from almost being intercepted when Dillon Gordon caught the pass the defender couldn't secure. LSU tied the game at 17-17 on a 41-yard field goal by Colby Delahoussaye. However, the Tide would convert a punt fake for a first down on a drive that helped them pull away from LSU 24-17 after a touchdown run by T.J. Yeldon. In the fourth quarter, Alabama had a touchdown called back because of an illegal formation. However, just two plays later, Yeldon scored again to give Alabama the 31-17 lead.

Odell Beckham Jr. returned the following kickoff for 82 yards, but Alabama held the Tigers at the Tide's 21-yard line and took over on downs. Alabama wrapped up its win over LSU as McCarron threw his third touchdown pass of the game. This one went to Jalston Fowler to make it 38-17.

LSU has a bye week to regroup before facing Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium on Nov. 23.

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