LSU running back Charles Scott reacts after scoring game-winning touchdown on a 33-yard run. It was his 2nd TD run of the day and 2nd on the season.

Unsportsmanlike conduct for excessive celebration changed the outcome of the Georgia-LSU game Saturday. After Bulldogs QB Brandon Cox threw a Touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 1:17 left to play, giving UGA a 13-12 lead, Green was penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration and the penalty was to be enforced on the kickoff. Georgia kicked off at their 15 yard line and Trindon Holliday returned the punt into field goal range! Two plays later, Charles Scott busted a 33 yard TD-run to give LSU the 20-13 victory. After the TD, Charles Scott was penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration, on what appeared to be more of a make-up call than anything else. Brandon Cox threw an interception on the following drive, securing the victory for LSU.

The endzone celebration was the second time in the game Green was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the second one proved costly. After watching the play five or six times their seemed to be no evidence that Green did anything wrong. He was mobbed by his teammates and celebrated rather calmly on what was an outstanding reception over CB Chris Hawkins.

After 6 combined points through three quarters, both offenses scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Georgia took over the lead on an 18 play, 60 yard drive concluding with a 4^th down pass from Cox to Shaun Chapas with 14:26 left in the game. At that point it seemed like the game was slipping away from LSU. After dominating the entire 1^st half on both sides of the ball, LSU had -11 yards in the 3^rd quarter and the defense looked frustrated following LSU’s inability to punch the ball in the endzone.

Jordan Jefferson, whose decision making was poor all game, led an 88 yard drive resulting in a touchdown with 2:58 left in the game. Jefferson connected with freshman receiver Reuben Randle on two huge pass plays on the drive, one on a 3^rd and 10. The key play of the drive was a Jefferson 26-yard scamper down to the UGA 13. Charles Scott pounded it in giving LSU the 12-7 lead.

Then Cox led a go-ahead drive culminating in an unbelievable TD reception by Green. The key play on that drive was a 46 yard pass to Taylor King on 3^rd down, with Cox exploiting the broken coverage. That drive gave Georgia a 13-12 lead and it seemed like LSU let this one slip away, but that yellow flag saved the day for the Tigers.

The LSU defense was absolutely stellar. They tackled extremely well and forced four 3-and-outs and allowed one first down in the first half. They shutdown the Bulldogs running game and limited A.J. Green to 5 catches, but Green still gained 99 yards. Patrick Peterson played as well as you could have on Green, including knocking a few passes away from Green and limiting his YAC. The defense nearly had another goalline stand on 4^th and short, only to give up a TD on an 18 play drive. The only play that they got burned on was the 45 yard completion to King, where Peterson didn’t realize he had man coverage throughout and no safety help. I feel confident they can defend against top offense. Granted Georgia’s offense came in the bottom half of the SEC in offensive categories, LSU’s defense made them look like Louisiana-Lafayette for a good portion of the game.

Once again, LSU’s offense played inconsistent. The offense was been able to march all over Georgia’s defense, but they can’t put the ball into the end zone until the 4^th quarter. LSU settled for two field goals and opted to go for it on a 4^th and short but failed in the first half. They ended the first half without taking a shot at the endzone or kicking a field goal in Georgia territory because they burned through their timeouts earlier in the half. LSU had decent success on the ground, except for the option, and through the air to Terrance Tolliver, Brandon LaFell and Reuben Randle.
LSU gets their first win in Athens for the first time since I was born, 1987.
Up next for the Tigers. They play #1 Florida Gators at 7:30 in Death Valley. It is a better Florida team and a weaker LSU team during the Gators last visit to Baton Rouge. Two top-5 teams should make for appointment TV.