WATCH: John Emery Jr high-steps in for touchdown after breaking backfield tackle
LSU took the lead in the third quarter against Auburn with a huge touchdown run after a broken tackle by John Emery Jr. With LSU on the 20-yard line, they handed the ball off to Emery as Auburn’s Wesley Steiner found the gap in the offensive line immediately. Despite being hit in the backfield, Emery ended the play with a touchdown as he broke a pair of tackles.
John Emery Jr. breaking tackles for a touchdown
Steiner jumped into the backfield with a full sprint and hit Emery, only to have Emery shake him off and keep running. Adding insult to injury for the Auburn defense, another defender grabbed Emery’s facemask as he ran by before another defender took a shot at tackling him — only to see Emery high-step his way into the end zone from five yards out.
LSU started out facing a huge 17-0 deficit in the second quarter on Saturday night before a sack-fumble returned for a touchdown gave them momentum before halftime. Emery’s touchdown would prove the game-winning score as LSU held Auburn scoreless the entire second half on the way to a 21-17 victory.
Brian Kelly on the tough Auburn win
On the field after the win, head coach Brian Kelly was asked about about what he learned about his team against Auburn after battling back from a 17-point deficit to win.
“Well we’ve got grit,” answered Kelly. “To go on the road and not play your best, but to find a way to win against Auburn at Auburn — it’s a tough place to play. You know, the SEC’s hard. And each and every week when you win, you appreciate winning. Winning’s hard in the SEC.
“Our guys just kept playing. Made some plays, made the big play here at the end with the interception. And it wasn’t perfect, but sometimes you learn a lot about just grit and determination. And we’ve got a lot of coaching to do and we’ve got a lot of room for improvement.”