Tommy Deas
BATON ROUGE, La. | Just as you might expect, another high-stakes game with two ranked teams and national and SEC West consequences on the line went down to the wire in Death Valley.
Which plays mattered the most? Here is a look at the game-changing moments from Saturday night's 20-13 Alabama victory over LSU:
Overtime, Alabama ball first-and-10 from the LSU 25:
Who could have guessed that fifth-string tight end Brandon Greene would be a hero for Alabama? Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin called his number on the first play of overtime, and Greene ran open down the middle of the field and hauled in a reception from Blake Sims. He bulled his way to the 1-yard line before going down, setting up Alabama's game-winning touchdown.
UA had to overcome a 15-yard personal foul at the end of that play and another 5-yard procedure penalty after getting back to the 1, finally scoring on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Sims to DeAndrew White. The UA defense did the rest to seal the victory.
Alabama ball, third-and-10 at the LSU 48 with 25 seconds to go in regulation:
Sims rolled out with hope fading and passed downfield to Christion Jones, who made a diving reception for a 22-yard gain to get Alabama within field goal range.
Alabama rushed to line up and spiked the ball with 12 seconds to go. Sims connected with White for a 16-yard gain to set up Adam Griffith's 27-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.
Alabama ball, second-and-5 from the UA 6 with less than 90 seconds in regulation:
The game was tied 10 and looked to be headed to overtime when T.J. Yeldon ran for no gain and fumbled the ball away.
LSU recovered and took over with 1:13 to go. A 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Tigers backed the ball up, but Colby Delahoussaye kicked a 39-yard field goal with 50 seconds to go to put LSU up. It seemed like the turnover and kick had sealed Alabama's fate, but it only served to set the scene for a dramatic Crimson Tide comeback for the ages.
Alabama ball, fourth-and-3 at the LSU 22, late in the first half:
Griffith, the Crimson Tide's kicker, had been in a monumental slump coming into the game, and that was only compounded when he clanged a 27-yard field goal attempt off the left upright for another miss earlier in the first half.
UA coach Nick Saban stuck with his kicker, and he came through with a 39-yard kick for a 10-7 Alabama lead going into halftime. That kick served to bolster Griffith's confidence for the field goal in the game's final second to send the contest into overtime.
Alabama ball, fourth-and-4 at the LSU 32, midway through the second quarter:
Saban elected to go for it and Sims rolled right to hit Amari Cooper for a 9-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Sims and Cooper connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 7.
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1702107
BATON ROUGE, La. | Just as you might expect, another high-stakes game with two ranked teams and national and SEC West consequences on the line went down to the wire in Death Valley.
Which plays mattered the most? Here is a look at the game-changing moments from Saturday night's 20-13 Alabama victory over LSU:
Overtime, Alabama ball first-and-10 from the LSU 25:
Who could have guessed that fifth-string tight end Brandon Greene would be a hero for Alabama? Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin called his number on the first play of overtime, and Greene ran open down the middle of the field and hauled in a reception from Blake Sims. He bulled his way to the 1-yard line before going down, setting up Alabama's game-winning touchdown.
UA had to overcome a 15-yard personal foul at the end of that play and another 5-yard procedure penalty after getting back to the 1, finally scoring on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Sims to DeAndrew White. The UA defense did the rest to seal the victory.
Alabama ball, third-and-10 at the LSU 48 with 25 seconds to go in regulation:
Sims rolled out with hope fading and passed downfield to Christion Jones, who made a diving reception for a 22-yard gain to get Alabama within field goal range.
Alabama rushed to line up and spiked the ball with 12 seconds to go. Sims connected with White for a 16-yard gain to set up Adam Griffith's 27-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.
Alabama ball, second-and-5 from the UA 6 with less than 90 seconds in regulation:
The game was tied 10 and looked to be headed to overtime when T.J. Yeldon ran for no gain and fumbled the ball away.
LSU recovered and took over with 1:13 to go. A 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Tigers backed the ball up, but Colby Delahoussaye kicked a 39-yard field goal with 50 seconds to go to put LSU up. It seemed like the turnover and kick had sealed Alabama's fate, but it only served to set the scene for a dramatic Crimson Tide comeback for the ages.
Alabama ball, fourth-and-3 at the LSU 22, late in the first half:
Griffith, the Crimson Tide's kicker, had been in a monumental slump coming into the game, and that was only compounded when he clanged a 27-yard field goal attempt off the left upright for another miss earlier in the first half.
UA coach Nick Saban stuck with his kicker, and he came through with a 39-yard kick for a 10-7 Alabama lead going into halftime. That kick served to bolster Griffith's confidence for the field goal in the game's final second to send the contest into overtime.
Alabama ball, fourth-and-4 at the LSU 32, midway through the second quarter:
Saban elected to go for it and Sims rolled right to hit Amari Cooper for a 9-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Sims and Cooper connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 7.
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1702107
