BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – At the very least, LSU has proved during it’s 6-0 start that it has an uncanny knack for pulling out close games.
Last Saturday night’s dramatic win at Florida, set up by a nearly botched fake field goal in the final minute, was only the latest close call in a season full of tense finishes for the No. 9 Tigers.
Head coach Les Miles likes the way his players have responded to late-game adversity, but not some of the mistakes they’ve made to get themselves into those situations. Against Florida, he noted, the Tigers controlled much of the game and could have won more comfortably if they hadn’t turned the ball over twice and given up a kick return for a score.
“We control our own destiny,” Miles said. “If we can eliminate some issues like two turnovers and a kickoff return, it would enhance our chance to do some things. We need this team to play better. We have to get ready to play our very best.”
So far, it’s been one frantic finish after another.
In their first game of the season, the Tigers had to break up a fourth-down pass play in the end zone to preserve a 30-24 victory against North Carolina.
Two weeks ago, LSU failed to manage the clock successfully in the final seconds against Tennessee, but were given a reprieve when the Vols were penalized for having too many players on the field. The Tigers then scored a touchdown on an untimed play at the end of the game for a 16-14 victory.
Against Florida, LSU used a fake field goal to sustain its game-winning drive. After picking up the first down, The Tigers scored a touchdown with six seconds left in a 33-29 victory against the Gators.
Throw in a six-point victory against West Virginia and four of LSU’s six wins have come by a combined margin of 18 points.
“This team is a committed group of men,” Miles said Monday. “They enjoy being tested. We have really strong leadership.
“When a guy stands up in the meeting room and says ‘This is how I’m going to play and you play like me,’ that means something. Players listen when it comes from a coach. When it’s said by a player, it has a completely different meaning because it’s coming from an equal.”
Miles made two key decisions in the Tigers’ victory at Florida. First, he decided to stay with his two-quarterback system. Jordan Jefferson started six series and led LSU to two field goals. Jarrett Lee started five series and guided the Tigers to two touchdowns.
On two other series, Lee brought LSU inside the Gators’ 10. Jefferson then replaced Lee and eventually scored a couple of rushing touchdowns.
“Operating two quarterbacks is the best scenario,” Miles said. “Both have contributions to be made. I want both guys to be able to contribute positively. Both are rooting for each other. Both need to have success so they can play a lot.
“If the quarterbacks play like they played against Florida, minus an interception, I’d like that. Both played comfortably last week. There was a little more swagger at that position.”
The second decision involved going for the fake field goal on fourth-and-three at Florida’s 36. Miles called a timeout right before Josh Jasper was going to try a game-tying 53-yard field goal.
“We saw that the defense was in a position we could take advantage of,” Miles said. “During the timeout, we checked things with the offensive line. I felt good about the defense they were in. The odds were in our favor that if we didn’t score, we would at least get a first down.”
The fake called for holder Derek Helton to flip the ball over his shoulder to Jasper. However, Helton’s flip hit the ground. Fortunately for the Tigers, the ball stayed parallel – ruled a lateral, not an incomplete pass as Florida argued – and bounced right up to Jasper. After snagging the ball, Jasper ran for five yards and a first down.
LSU now has an opportunity to win open a season 7-0 for the first time since 1973. The Tigers will play host to FCS member McNeese State on Saturday before traveling to Auburn.
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