Season 1, Week 3: LSU Edges Mizzou On Late Field Goal

LSU running back Jeremy Hill ran for two touchdowns in the Tigers' 34-31 victory over Missouri.
Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL - LSU 34, Missouri 31

TOP PERFORMERS
QB: Mettenberger (LSU) - 15-of-21, 248 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
QB: Franklin (Mizzou) - 15-of-20, 249 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

HB: Hill (LSU) - 20 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD
HB: Josey (Mizzou) - 18 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD

WR: Green-Beckham (Mizzou) - 6 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD
HB: Hill (LSU) - 4 catches, 74 yards

S: Webb (Mizzou) 11 tackles, 1 TFL
S: Loston (LSU) 11 tackles, 1 TFL



With the rain pouring in Baton Rouge, head coach Calvin Smith saw the ball fly through the uprights, and all he could do was stare up at the sky.

Missouri had it. But the defense gave it away.

James Hairston's 42-yard field goal with 7 seconds left was the difference maker in a back-and-forth affair that ended in a 34-31 victory for No. 9 LSU (2-0, 1-0) over Mizzou (1-1, 0-1), in a final drive that lasted 46 seconds after the visiting Tigers tied up the game.

"We felt comfortable with where we were after that field goal," Smith said. "It just wasn't meant to be. We fought hard, but we can't give up chances like that."

Both teams exchanged points for the majority of the afternoon, and the lead wasn't larger than six points. After Mizzou tied the game at 31-31 with 53 seconds remaining, LSU stormed down the muddy field of Tiger Stadium and got to within field goal range.

Despite the great drive that started on the LSU 24-yard line, Missouri's prayers were almost answered on 3rd and 11 at the Mizzou 25-yard line: LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger decided to throw the ball towards the endzone, right at Mizzou defensive back Randy Ponder.

In perfect position to make an interception, and an even better chance to run it out of the endzone for a good return, the senior dropped what he described as a "play that I should've made."

"I cost us that game," he said. "If I make that play, not only do we get the ball back, but I had nothing but green in front of me. That could've gone for six points, and we'd be talking a different outcome."

Ponder's right. Between him and the nearest defender was about 20-25 yards of nothing but open field. He could've taken it out of the endzone to either return it for a touchdown, or get Mizzou into field goal range for its own shot to win.

Instead, Hairston was given the chance to win the game and, despite Smith icing him in the cold rain, LSU's junior kicker booted the ball right down the middle for the game-winning points.

"Randy's going to beat himself up about this one, for sure," Smith said. "Yeah, he dropped that pick, but our defense couldn't make a play until they got deep on our side of the field. You can't do that and waste chances against a good team like LSU."

For the second straight game, Mizzou had trouble defending against a mobile quarterback who can also throw. Mettenberger rebounded after his average performance against TCU by going 15-of-21 for 248 yards, and added 66 yards on the ground. LSU running back Jeremy Hill scored two of the Tigers' three rushing touchdowns, as well.

One week after going 5-for-5 on field goals against the Horned Frogs, Hairston went 4-for-5 against Mizzou, with his lone miss coming on a 55-yard attempt at the end of the half. Smith had to take the chance on icing him, even though he was on fire all day.

"Anything could have happened, but that kid has ice water in his veins," he said. "When he made that kick, I just looked up and said, 'Of course.' I wasn't surprised. You make five last week and four this week in this conference, you're pretty good."

Yet the one bright spot that Smith and the Tigers can take away from this meeting in Baton Rouge is the play of senior quarterback James Franklin, who stats wise is the most efficient quarterback in the SEC through two games.

His quarterback rating of 230 leads the conference, and his seven touchdown passes tie him for third in the conference behind fellow seniors Tyler Russell (Mississippi State), Austyn Carta-Samuels (Vanderbilt) and Connor Shaw (South Carolina), and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M).

Aiding him get to that point is the conference's third leading receiver, Dorial Green-Beckham, reeling in six catches for 99 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

"Our offense, despite everything, has been stellar," Smith said. "James and Dorial have created an awesome connection through the air, and it's fun to watch. We're only two games in. They can get better, especially Dorial being so young."

The road doesn't get easier for Mizzou, especially with them having to stay on the road for another week when the Tigers travel to Hoosier Land to take on Indiana, who comes into this game on an impressive 3-0 start, albeit with wins against Navy and Bowling Green and an FCS squad.

And once again, the Tigers will be up against a quarterback who's not great at throwing the football, but the veteran defense will need to stop sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson from making an impact on the ground.

Mizzou will have two more non-conference games before it gets into the bulk of the schedule of SEC play against numerous top-15 teams, and Smith expects his players to use these next two weeks to prepare for what he calls "the hell period."

"It's coming," he said. "Before we know it, it'll be here, and there won't be anymore hiding. If we want to be a great team, we need to win these ballgames. It doesn't get easier."