The Recap: LSU 21, Auburn 17

The LSU football team is 4-1 on the season, and the latest win came in the typical dramatic fashion that the annual Southeastern Conference Western Division matchup between LSU and Auburn typically offers up.

After Auburn went up 17-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the home team never scored another point.

Meanwhile, LSU slowly chipped away to come back for the 21-17 win.

The early break came when LSU forced a turnover on defense that led to a touchdown, with defensive end BJ Ojulari stripping Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford and LSU defensive back Jay Ward scooping up the loose ball and returning it 23 yards for the touchdown to cut the lead to 17-7 with 6:33 left until halftime.

LSU then followed it up with a two-minute drill operated to perfection, and a rushing touchdown by quarterback Jayden Daniels cut the lead to 17-14 just before halftime.

With a little more than three minutes left in the third quarter, the final score of the game came on a 20-yard rush by LSU running back John Emery to push LSU ahead 21-17.

There were tight moments in the fourth quarter, but the game was ultimately secured when LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr. intercepted a pass intended for Koy Moore that allowed the LSU offense to get back onto the field and kneel out the clock.

Not a member? Join The Bengal Tiger on On3 Sports for 1-year – for only $1!

Here is the recap of the notable plays and scoring drives from the game

FIRST QUARTER

Auburn received the ball first, and immediately, the tone of the game shifted.

LSU cornerback Sevyn Banks was on special teams kickoff coverage when he lowered his head and delivered a hit that left him motionless on the field. The medical staff eventually carted Banks off the field.

The ESPN broadcast said LSU CB Sevyn Banks was alert and speaking with the medical staff. After being taken out on a stretcher, the broadcast said Banks would be taken to East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika for further evaluations. Later in the quarter, the broadcast shared an LSU spokesman confirmed Banks has movement in his extremities. Scary situation after he was carted off and taken to the hospital for further evaluations.

On the sixth play of the opening drive for Auburn, quarterback Robby Ashford found Ja’Varrius Johnson on 3rd-and-8 for a wide open 53-yard touchdown score. The busted play on the LSU defense appeared to be centered around backup defensive back Sage Ryan.

Auburn 7, LSU 0 – 12:57 remaining in the First Quarter

The LSU offense fell flat out of the gates, which was the same story across the first quarters of games against Florida State and Mississippi State. After three drives, the Tigers were forced into three punts after combining for just 52 yards.

After an LSU punt that was down at the one-yard line, Auburn quickly got out of trouble by hitting Johnson again, this time on a slant that went for 30 yards and got AU out of the shadows of their own end zone. Auburn coughed the ball up on the next play, but quarterback Robby Ashford dove onto the loose ball to keep possession as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the first quarter.

Auburn 7, LSU 0

SECOND QUARTER

Moments into the second quarter, the tough times continued for LSU.

Ashford hit Jarquez Hunter for a 61-yard gain to put the ball at the LSU 18-yard line, and Ashford followed up with a touchdown pass to Camden Brown on yet another busted play in the LSU secondary.

Auburn 14, LSU 0 – 14:04 remaining in the Second Quarter

After an illegal block put LSU behind the chains on first down, the Tigers went three-and-out and were forced into another punt.

Auburn answered with a field goal drive that pushed the lead out to 17-0.

Auburn 17, LSU 0 – 9:31 remaining in the Second Quarter

LSU moved the ball from the 15-yard line towards midfield, but were forced into another punt. After a special teams penalty (the fourth of the first half), the Tigers finally had something go LSU’s way.

On the first play of the drive, LSU’s BJ Ojulari stripped Ashford of the football, and senior defensive back Jay Ward scooped it up for the 23-yard return for a touchdown. After showing no signs of life on offense, the LSU defense answered the call to put seven points on the board.

Auburn 17, LSU 7 – 6:25 remaining in the Second Quarter

Auburn went on a 10-play drive following the turnover on offense, but it resulted in no points after Anders Carlson missed a field goal from 40 yards out.

Then, the game turned.

For the first time all night, the LSU offense clicked. And that led to an 11-play, 77-yard drive that was a two-minute drill worked to perfection.

The biggest play came when Daniels hit running back John Emery for a 39-yard gain to the goal line in the final minute. From there, Daniels punched in the touchdown to cut the lead to just three points.

After everything seemingly went wrong for LSU in the first half, the Tigers went into the locker room down just three points.

HALFTIME: Auburn 17, LSU 14

Both teams traded a couple of offensive possessions to start the third quarter before LSU got onto the board, again.

With 7 minutes remaining in the third quarter, LSU took over at the 37-yard line following a failed Auburn fourth down attempt and needed just nine plays to find the end zone thanks to running back John Emery. On his fifth touch of the night, Emery took the handoff on 2nd-and-11 and went 20 yards for the touchdown to put LSU ahead for the first time in the game.

The score marked a run for LSU of 21 unanswered points.

LSU 21, Auburn 17 – 3:32 remaining in the Third Quarter

Auburn answered with eight plays that led to a 4th-and-11, and once again, Auburn decided to go for it.

This time, the ball was intercepted by LSU’s Jarrick Bernard-Converse, but a flag was thrown for pass interference on LSU defensive back Sage Ryan, and the drive was extended. AU gained 11 yards on the next play to close out the quarter by knocking on the door for points at LSU’s 17-yard line.

FOURTH QUARTER

With Auburn knocking on the door for points, LSU’s defense came up with another huge answer.

On 2nd-and-10 from LSU’s 10-yard line, AU handed it off to former LSU wide receiver turned Auburn wideout Koy Moore on a handoff where he then threw it downfield – but it was intercepted by LSU true freshman linebacker Harold Perkins.

The turnover kept the score at 21-17 in LSU’s favor.

On LSU’s next possession, quarterback Jayden Daniels was sidelined with an injury that forced backup Garrett Nussmeier into the game. The Tigers weren’t able to get anything going, and punted it back to Auburn.

Fortunately for LSU, the defense answered by forcing a three-and-out, including a nice third down pressure on Ashford by Perkins.

Auburn punted it away, giving LSU the ball back up 21-17 with 8:11 remaining in the game.

With Daniels still sidelined, Nussmeier was back in at quarterback. But after picking up one first down, the Tigers were forced into another punt with just under six minutes remaining.

For a moment, all seemed to swing in LSU’s favor when Auburn muffed the punt and the Tigers recovered it. But two plays later, Emery fumbled the football and gave it back to Auburn with just under five minutes left in the game.

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby immediately gained 20-plus yards on a carry on first down, but the game was brought to a halt moments later when Greg Brooks Jr. intercepted a pass intended for Koy Moore and returned it to the Auburn 45-yard line.

On third down, running back Josh Williams moved the chains and allowed the Tigers to kneel out the clock and claim victory.

FINAL: LSU 21, Auburn 17