GAME THREAD: NCAAF: TENNESSEE (9-3) at LSU (10-2)

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 8:43 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 7:20 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 6:27 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 4:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 3:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 2:42 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 2:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 1:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 1:25 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE (14) 7 0 7 0 14
LSU (5) 6 0 7 8 21 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: TENNESSEE - TD, CHRIS BROWN 11 YD PASS FROM
AHMAD PAIGE (DANIEL LINCOLN
KICK), 3:00. TENNESSEE 7-0
LSU - FG, COLT DAVID 30 YD, 6:31.
TENNESSEE 7-3
LSU - FG, COLT DAVID 30 YD, 11:53.
TENNESSEE 7-6
2ND QUARTER: NONE
3RD QUARTER: LSU - TD, DEMETRIUS BYRD 27 YD PASS FROM
RYAN PERRILLOUX (COLT DAVID
KICK), 3:08. LSU 13-7
TENNESSEE - TD, JOSH BRISCOE 6 YD PASS FROM
AHMAD PAIGE (DANIEL LINCOLN
KICK), 11:55. TENNESSEE 14-13
4TH QUARTER: LSU - TD, JONATHAN ZENON 18 YD
INTERCEPTION RETURN (RYAN
PERRILLOUX RUN FOR TWO-POINT
CONVERSION), 5:06. LSU 21-14</div>

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

** CONFIRMED **
NCAAF
TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 FINAL</div>

 

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- If Les Miles is indeed staying at LouisianaState, he evidently has found his quarterback of the future -and the present - in Ryan Perrilloux.


Filling in for the injured Matt Flynn, Perrilloux passed for 245yards and a touchdown Saturday to lead fifth-ranked LSU to a21-14 triumph over No. 14 Tennessee in the SoutheasternConference championship game.


Cornerback Jonathan Zenon scored the go-ahead touchdown on an18-yard interception return five minutes into the fourth quarterand linebacker Darry Beckwith sealed LSU's third all-timevictory in this contest with an interception with 2:42remaining.


The win salvaged a relatively disappointing campaign for LSU(11-2), which likely is headed to the Sugar Bowl. The Tigers,who were ranked No. 1 at two different points this season,suffered a pair of triple-overtime losses in SEC play.

The buildup to the game was overshadowed by rumors involving thestatus of Miles, who reportedly was considering leaving LSU tocoach at Michigan, his alma mater.


ESPN erroneously reported earlier Saturday that Miles had agreedto leave for the job opening in Ann Arbor.


But Miles emphatically denied the rumor hours before thecontest, calling ESPN's report "disinformation" while angrilycalling himself the "head coach at LSU" during an impromptu newsconference.


After putting to rest the speculation concerning his future,Miles was faced with the task of winning an SEC title withoutFlynn, who was sidelined with an injured right shoulder.

A senior and the starting quarterback in 11 of LSU's first 12games this season, Flynn suffered the injury November 23 in a50-48 loss to Arkansas - a shocking defeat which dropped theTigers from the top spot in the rankings and likely cost them achance at competing for the national title.


But with Flynn watching from the sideline, Perrillouxeffectively directed LSU's injury-plagued offense, completing20-of-30 passes. The sophomore was intercepted only oncedespite playing with an injured right index finger throughoutthe second half.


Perrilloux gave LSU its first lead of the contest three minutesinto the second half, rifling a 27-yard TD to Demetrius Byrd tomake it 13-7.


Tennessee (9-4) reclaimed the lead with three minutes left inthe third quarter when Erik Ainge found Josh Briscoe for asix-yard score to make it 14-13.


The Volunteers' defense held Perrilloux and LSU in checkthroughout the fourth quarter, capitalizing on an offense whichlost wide receivers Early Doucet and Trindon Holliday toinjuries.


But LSU's much-maligned defense stepped up, as Zenon interceptedAinge along the left sideline and raced into the end zoneuntouched to give the Tigers the lead for good.


Perrilloux rushed up the middle to convert the ensuing two-pointattempt, giving LSU a 21-14 lead.


Tennessee's last-ditch effort ended when Beckwith made a leapinginterception at the LSU 15.

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE (14) 7 0 7 0 14
LSU (5) 6 0 7 8 21 FINAL

TENNESSEE-TD, C Brown 11 YD PASS FROM E Ainge (D Lincoln
KICK) 3:00 1st Qtr
LSU-FG, C David 30 YD 6:31 1st Qtr
LSU-FG, C David 30 YD 11:53 1st Qtr
LSU-TD, D Byrd 27 YD PASS FROM R Perrilloux (C David
KICK) 3:08 3rd Qtr
TENNESSEE-TD, J Briscoe 6 YD PASS FROM E Ainge (D Lincoln
KICK) 11:55 3rd Qtr
LSU-TD, J Zenon 18 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (R
Perrilloux RUN FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION) 5:06
4th Qtr


TENNESSEE LSU
First downs 17 21
Rushed-yards 26-94 47-212
Passing yards 249 252
Sacked-yards lost 0-0 1-8
Return yards 29 19
Passes 20-40-2 21-33-1
Punts 5-36 4-45
Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1
Penalties-yards 0-0 9-44
Time of possession 23:52 36:08


Individual Statistics

RUSHING: TENNESSEE-Arian Foster 21-55, Gerald Jones 2-39, Lennon Creer
1-1, Jonathan Crompton 1-0, - Team 1-MINUS 1. LSU-Jacob Hester 23-120,
Trindon Holliday 6-58, Keiland Williams 5-34, Ryan Perrilloux 9-14,
Richard Murphy 1-0, - Team 2-MINUS 4, Early Doucet 1-MINUS 10.

PASSING: TENNESSEE-Erik Ainge 20-40-249- 2. LSU-Ryan Perrilloux
20-30-243- 1. Patrick Fisher 1-1-9- 0. - Team 0-2-0- 0.

RECEIVING: TENNESSEE-Josh Briscoe 8-79, Arian Foster 2-40, Chris Brown
2-35, Brad Cottam 2-28, Lucas Taylor 2-25, Austin Rogers 2-20,
Denarius Moore 1-16, Lennon Creer 1-6. LSU-Demetrius Byrd 4-72,
Brandon LaFell 3-65, Early Doucet 5-29, Keith Zinger 1-27, Charles
Scott 1-16, Richard Dickson 2-15, Richard Murphy 2-14, Quinn Johnson
1-9, Jacob Hester 2-5.


Att: 73,832</div>

 

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Louisiana State's future suddenly looksbright thanks to an emphatic declaration from coach Les Milesand a breakout performance by Ryan Perrilloux.


Filling in for the injured Matt Flynn, Perrilloux passed for 243yards and a touchdown Saturday to lead fifth-ranked LSU to a21-14 triumph over No. 14 Tennessee in the SoutheasternConference championship game.


Cornerback Jonathan Zenon scored the go-ahead touchdown on an18-yard interception return five minutes into the fourth quarterfor LSU (11-2), which secured a berth in the Sugar Bowl andstill has an outside chance to compete in the BCS title game.

The win salvaged a relatively disappointing campaign for theTigers, who were ranked No. 1 at two different points thisseason but suffered a pair of triple-overtime losses in SECplay.


But LSU still could find itself playing in the national titlegame if top-ranked Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia both loseSaturday. Regardless of LSU's bowl destination, Miles seemedsatisfied with his team's performance this season.

"I don't exactly know how votes will go, but we're the championsof the finest conference in America," Miles said. "We playedAuburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida. I challenge any other teamin America to go through this conference and come outunscathed."


The buildup to the game was overshadowed by rumors involving thestatus of Miles, who reportedly was considering leaving LSU tocoach at Michigan, his alma mater.


ESPN erroneously reported earlier Saturday that Miles had agreedto leave for the job opening in Ann Arbor.


But Miles emphatically denied the rumor hours before thecontest, calling ESPN's report "misinformation" while angrilycalling himself the "head coach at LSU" during an impromptu newsconference.


Miles confirmed his decision following the contest, claimingthat he did not contact Michigan while declaring hissatisfaction with his current job.


"I'm very fortunate to represent LSU," he said. "It's a greatplace. It's got everything. My family is happy. They saidthey want me. ... It's a very special place. I'm glad to behome."


After putting to rest the speculation concerning his future,Miles was faced with the task of winning an SEC title withoutFlynn, who was sidelined with an injured right shoulder.

A senior and the starting quarterback in 11 of LSU's first 12games this season, Flynn suffered the injury November 23 in a50-48 loss to Arkansas - a shocking defeat which dropped theTigers from the top spot in the rankings.


But with Flynn watching from the sideline, Perrillouxeffectively directed LSU's injury-plagued offense, completing20-of-30 passes en route to being named the game's Most ValuablePlayer.


"The adrenaline definitely was flowing," Perrilloux said. "Butthe coaches, they just stayed calm. We prepared well - I feltlike I prepared well - and we just came out and just executed.I just did whatever (Miles) asked me to do."


Perrilloux suffered a deep cut to his right index finger whilethrowing an interception late in the third quarter. But thesophomore played through the injury, finishing off the contestwith his throwing hand heavily taped.


"On the interception I threw, I hit my finger on a helmet andsplit my finger real bad," he said. "We taped it up and kept onpushing, kept on working."


Perrilloux was aided by senior Jacob Hester, who rushed for 120yards on 23 carries, and Trindon Holliday, who carried six timesfor 58 yards.


"We just tried to execute the game plan that was at hand and getthe victory," Perrilloux said. "Basically it was a team effortas far as us just coming out and executing on all threephases."


Perrilloux gave LSU its first lead of the contest three minutesinto the second half, rifling a 27-yard TD to Demetrius Byrd tomake it 13-7.


Tennessee (9-4) reclaimed the lead with three minutes left inthe third quarter when Erik Ainge found Josh Briscoe for asix-yard score to make it 14-13.


The Volunteers' defense held Perrilloux and LSU in checkthroughout the fourth quarter, capitalizing on an offense whichlost Holliday and wide receiver Early Doucet to injuries.

But LSU's much-maligned defense stepped up, as Zenon interceptedAinge along the left sideline and raced into the end zoneuntouched to give the Tigers the lead for good.


"When I saw the formation, I knew what they were going to run,"Zenon said. "I had the opportunity to jump on the ball, andthat's what I did."


Perrilloux rushed up the middle to convert the ensuing two-pointattempt, giving LSU a 21-14 lead.


Tennessee's last-ditch effort ended when linebacker DarryBeckwith made a leaping interception at the LSU 15, sealing theTigers' 10th SEC title and their first since 2003.

"We came together as a team and did our assignments," Beckwithsaid. "If it wasn't for the team doing their assignments, wewouldn't have made the interceptions."


"I was trying to throw a post to Quintin Hancock and theydefended it well," Ainge said. "When you get out of the norm ofwhat you're coached to do, and I tried to come back tosomething late, guys are flying over there."


Ainge finished 20-of-40 for 249 yards and two TDs for Tennessee,which fell to 2-3 all-time in SEC title games.


"(Ainge) played a heck of a football game," Vols coach PhillipFulmer said. "I'm not going to sit here and let him take all ofthe blame. We could have darn sure played better in a lot ofplaces."

 

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Louisiana State's future suddenly looksbright thanks to an emphatic declaration from coach Les Milesand a breakout performance by Ryan Perrilloux.


Filling in for the injured Matt Flynn, Perrilloux passed for 243yards and a touchdown Saturday to lead fifth-ranked LSU to a21-14 triumph over No. 14 Tennessee in the SoutheasternConference championship game.


Cornerback Jonathan Zenon scored the go-ahead touchdown on an18-yard interception return five minutes into the fourth quarterfor LSU (11-2), which secured a berth in the Sugar Bowl andstill has an outside chance to compete in the BCS title game.

The win salvaged a relatively disappointing campaign for theTigers, who were ranked No. 1 at two different points thisseason but suffered a pair of triple-overtime losses in SECplay.


But LSU still could find itself playing in the national titlegame since No. 1 Missouri and second-ranked West Virginia bothlost Saturday.


Regardless of LSU's bowl destination, Miles seemed satisfiedwith his team's performance this season.


"I don't exactly know how votes will go, but we're the championsof the finest conference in America," Miles said. "We playedAuburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida. I challenge any other teamin America to go through this conference and come outunscathed."


The buildup to the game was overshadowed by rumors involving thestatus of Miles, who reportedly was considering leaving LSU tocoach at Michigan, his alma mater.


ESPN erroneously reported earlier Saturday that Miles had agreedto leave for the job opening in Ann Arbor.


But Miles emphatically denied the rumor hours before thecontest, calling ESPN's report "misinformation" while angrilycalling himself the "head coach at LSU" during an impromptu newsconference.


Miles confirmed his decision following the contest, claimingthat he did not contact Michigan while declaring hissatisfaction with his current job.


"I'm very fortunate to represent LSU," he said. "It's a greatplace. It's got everything. My family is happy. They saidthey want me. ... It's a very special place. I'm glad to behome."


After putting to rest the speculation concerning his future,Miles was faced with the task of winning an SEC title withoutFlynn, who was sidelined with an injured right shoulder.

A senior and the starting quarterback in 11 of LSU's first 12games this season, Flynn suffered the injury November 23 in a50-48 loss to Arkansas - a shocking defeat which dropped theTigers from the top spot in the rankings.


But with Flynn watching from the sideline, Perrillouxeffectively directed LSU's injury-plagued offense, completing20-of-30 passes en route to being named the game's Most ValuablePlayer.


"The adrenaline definitely was flowing," Perrilloux said. "Butthe coaches, they just stayed calm. We prepared well - I feltlike I prepared well - and we just came out and just executed.I just did whatever (Miles) asked me to do."


Perrilloux suffered a deep cut to his right index finger whilethrowing an interception late in the third quarter. But thesophomore played through the injury, finishing off the contestwith his throwing hand heavily taped.


"On the interception I threw, I hit my finger on a helmet andsplit my finger real bad," he said. "We taped it up and kept onpushing, kept on working."


Perrilloux was aided by senior Jacob Hester, who rushed for 120yards on 23 carries, and Trindon Holliday, who carried six timesfor 58 yards.


"We just tried to execute the game plan that was at hand and getthe victory," Perrilloux said. "Basically it was a team effortas far as us just coming out and executing on all threephases."


Perrilloux gave LSU its first lead of the contest three minutesinto the second half, rifling a 27-yard TD to Demetrius Byrd tomake it 13-7.


Tennessee (9-4) reclaimed the lead with three minutes left inthe third quarter when Erik Ainge found Josh Briscoe for asix-yard score to make it 14-13.


The Volunteers' defense held Perrilloux and LSU in checkthroughout the fourth quarter, capitalizing on an offense whichlost Holliday and wide receiver Early Doucet to injuries.

But LSU's much-maligned defense stepped up, as Zenon interceptedAinge along the left sideline and raced into the end zoneuntouched to give the Tigers the lead for good.


"When I saw the formation, I knew what they were going to run,"Zenon said. "I had the opportunity to jump on the ball, andthat's what I did."


Perrilloux rushed up the middle to convert the ensuing two-pointattempt, giving LSU a 21-14 lead.


Tennessee's last-ditch effort ended when linebacker DarryBeckwith made a leaping interception at the LSU 15, sealing theTigers' 10th SEC title and their first since 2003.

"We came together as a team and did our assignments," Beckwithsaid. "If it wasn't for the team doing their assignments, wewouldn't have made the interceptions."


"I was trying to throw a post to Quintin Hancock and theydefended it well," Ainge said. "When you get out of the norm ofwhat you're coached to do, and I tried to come back tosomething late, guys are flying over there."


Ainge finished 20-of-40 for 249 yards and two TDs for Tennessee,which fell to 2-3 all-time in SEC title games.


"(Ainge) played a heck of a football game," Vols coach PhillipFulmer said. "I'm not going to sit here and let him take all ofthe blame. We could have darn sure played better in a lot ofplaces."

 

NCAAF: TENNESSEE at LSU

<div class="pre">SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA

** CONFIRMED **
NCAAF
TENNESSEE (14) 14
LSU (5) 21 FINAL</div>