Pregame:
2:40am- Alarm goes off--this is going to be a loooong day.
3:25am- Leaving my apartment in Auburn now, bound for Baton Rouge, should take about six hours to get there.
6:30am- Entering Mississippi.
6:36am- Just saw a string of billboards for some casino in Biloxi advertising the musical acts coming in this month; Frankie Valli, Patti LaBelle, and Michael Bolton are on the schedule. It’s like a mid-2000’s Super Bowl Halftime Show!
6:41am- Stopped off for gas and breakfast in Moss Point, Mississippi, and as always, McDonald’s breakfast burritos are undefeated. Side Note: While I have been to Louisiana before to cover the Sugar Bowl last year, I had never truly been to Mississippi, since I did not stop. I wanted to take this time to point out that you have not been to a state unless your foot has physically touched the ground at any point. Driving through does not count, nor does the airport when on a connecting flight. So now I have officially been to Mississippi. That is all. Back to the trip.
7:43am- Entering Louisiana.
9:19am- I have arrived in Baton Rouge, and was informed upon entering the athletics administration building that I cannot pick up my press pass or parking tag until 11am. So that doesn’t exactly thrill me. I will head back towards the downtown area and report anything interesting that I find.
12:18pm- Nothing really interesting downtown, finally parked (after getting in a minor screaming match with a parking attendant), and made my way up to my seat in the press box.
12:20pm- Initial impressions:
1) It’s hot today, I mean really hot. It’ll be interesting to see how that affects play.
2) Just looking at Tiger Stadium, you can absolutely tell how huge the capacity of this place is. Totally closed off at one end, looks like it holds in the sound really well.
3) Nice facilities all around. Press box is honestly nicer than I thought it would be. You can tell LSU puts a lot of money to the upkeep of Death Valley.
12:25pm- Grade A press box food ,which is obviously the most important thing I will write about all day. Rice, actual good quality hot dogs, and an incredible shrimp creole. I think I want to live here. Louisiana food for life!
12:52pm- OK, so traffic and parking issues were not just me. Plenty of non G-rated talk from the fellow Auburn beat writers pregame. For a school with such rich football tradition, the city and campus seems shockingly poorly-equipped to host major events such as this.
2:10pm- You can tell this crowd is used to night games. Pretty close to kickoff and we’re not even close to filling this place up. Those that are here, however, are making a good bit of noise.
2:23pm- The LSU band does its thing… and the crowd is shockingly into it. Excellent work as expected. It’s 90 degrees at kickoff with a partly cloudy sky.
2:34pm- ON FIELD PYROTECHNICS. THIS PLACE HAS IT ALL. Tiger Stadium is ready to, as the natives say, geaux.
First Quarter:
15:00- Auburn will receive after LSU wins the toss. Kick results in a touchback, and Auburn will start from its own 25.
14:33- Kerryon rips off a decent run for 20, and LSU gifts Auburn with a late hit out of bounds.
13:13- Daniel Carlson comes in after the Auburn drive stalls and nails a 46 yard field goal.
Auburn 3, LSU 0.
12:07- Long pass from Etling is caught by DJ Chark and subsequently stripped by Steven Roberts. Carlton Davis started running it back, but as I look at a replay, the pass may have simply been incomplete due to a lack of a “football move”.
12:07- Auburn does indeed have it, starting at their own 48.
11:31- Stidham RIPS one downfield to Will Hastings for the 49 yard touchdown, and just like that, Auburn has built up a double digit lead on LSU.
Auburn 10, LSU 0.
8:22- LSU was starting to move the ball, but their drive stalled right around midfield, and punted the ball away. Auburn will take over at their own 19.
5:57- Auburn calls timeout from their own 47, as they are methodically marching down the field once again.
4:05- GIGANTIC PLAY on 3rd and long with Stidham connecting with Ryan Davis all the way down to the 4 for a 52 yard gain, and Kerryon Johnson does the rest on the next play. It could be, dare I say it? A blowout!
Auburn 17, LSU 0
1:50- LSU offense with a quick 3 and out, after a great first down sack from Jeff Holland. Punt settles at the AU 23.
0:00- The first quarter ends, with Auburn getting set for a 3rd and 9 from their own 37. Find out what happens….NEXT!
Auburn 17
LSU 0
Second Quarter:
15:00- That 3rd and 9 play results in a big catch from Darius Slayton for a 25 yard gain down to the LSU 38.
13:02- A couple of bad penalties put the offense in a tough spot, and Gus Malzahn takes his second timeout prior to a 3rd and 21 play.
12:56- Stidham is hurried and has to get rid of it. Carlson comes in and knocks through a 48 yard field goal.
Auburn 20, LSU 0
12:40- LSU gets nailed with a block in the back, which negates what was a nice return. Now the Bayou Bengals start from their own ten.
11:40- Russell Gage scampers for 70 yards to give LSU their first real scoring chance of the day.
10:00- The Auburn defense STUFFS LSU at the one. LSU will go for it on 4th…
9:19- Touchdown LSU. Sullivan takes it that one yard into the endzone.
Auburn 20, LSU 7
9:10- Kamryn Pettway is alive!
8:43- For multiple plays in a row!
8:05- Auburn offense goes 3 and out. Tiger Stadium has woken up, and it is starting to get loud.
6:28- LSU now goes 3 and out, and Auburn will start from their own 30.
4:47- Excellent catch by Ryan Davis for the first down. 15 yards down to the LSU 32.
2:21- The Auburn drive stalls inside the 10, Daniel Carlson on for the 26 yard attempt…
2:16- Guess what? It’s good.
Auburn 23, LSU 7
2:06- DJ Chark hauls in a 37 yard pass from Etling, and gives LSU a chance to put more points on the board before we break.
0:40- Ed Orgeron calls timeout, with the home Tigers knocking on the door. 2nd and 10 coming from the 14.
0:32- Gage hauls in an LSU touchdown on a leaping grab off the Etling pass. The extra point is rattled through.
Auburn 23, LSU 14
0:27- Auburn starts at the 20, Kerryon runs it forward for seven, and it’s halftime in Baton Rouge.
Auburn 23
LSU 14
Third Quarter:
15:00- LES! The loudest cheer from the crowd the entire day thus far was for former LSU Head Coach Les Miles being announced when the 2007 Championship team was being honored at the half.
9:39- LSU starts their second half opening drive hot but it eventually stalls at their own 40, and Auburn will take over on their own 10 after the punt.
5:42- Auburn has a drive of their own that stalls, this time at the 37. LSU will start from the 25 after the punt.
4:41- LSU responds with a quick 3 and out. The punt falls to Roberts at the 30, and that is where AU will start.
3:28- You like 3 and outs? Because we’ve got ‘em! The Auburn punt sets up LSU at the 24.
2:56- Etling slings a 31- yard pass to the near sideline to give LSU a first down at midfield.
1:07- However, LSU makes nothing out of it. Auburn drive will start at the 25 after the touchback on the punt.
0:00- A scoreless third quarter… on to the fourth!
Auburn 23
LSU 14
Fourth Quarter:
14:53- More 3 and outs, this is getting exhausting…
14:33- LSU runs that punt all the way back—75 yards by DJ Chark. It’s getting…CLOSER.
Auburn 23, LSU 21
7:47- LSU downs a punt inside the 5 at the 3. That is where Auburn will work from, clinging to a two point lead. Remember, Auburn once led this game 20-0.
6:55- 3 and out. Shocker. Punt from deep in the endzone will settle at the 45. Excellent field position for LSU, down just 2.
3:40-Headed down to the field. End of game and postgame comments from Coach Malzahn on the way.
0:00- Well, you saw it. Brutal loss for Auburn, still have not defeated LSU in Baton Rouge since 1999.
Final Score:
LSU 27
Auburn 23
Postgame Comments from HC Gus Malzahn:
“Obviously a tough loss. We started out quick, I was really pleased with our tempo offensively in the first half”.
“The biggest play of the game was the punt return. We had covered those pretty well all season long”.
