Sooners escape LSU in season finale

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

Throughout the season, LSU has asked its defense to be nearly perfect.

Saturday’s defensive effort was excellent, but it wasn’t perfect. The Tiger secondary busted a coverage to allow Isaiah Sategna to run free for the decisive 58-yard touchdown in a 17-13 Oklahoma win.

The defense intercepted John Mateer three times, got a fourth down stop and forced seven punts. Despite very little help from the offense, LSU led 13-10 with five minutes to play. That’s when Mateer and the Sooners went 84 yards in three plays to take the lead.

LSU’s first 10 points came thanks to defensive stops. The failed Sooner fourth down try set LSU up at midfield, and the offense was able to turn that into a field goal. The Tiger touchdown came on a 33-yard drive set up by an interception.

LSU’s first pick of Mateer gave the Tiger offense the ball on the doorstep of the end zone, but Michael Van Buren was intercepted on the next snap.

The high wire act the defense has to walk to make up for LSU’s offensive ineptitude makes winning games tough. LSU was able to do it at Clemson and against South Carolina, Florida and Arkansas.

On Saturday, Oklahoma never ran a play in LSU’s red zone.

LSU finished the season without cracking 25 points against an FBS opponent. Now the search for a new coach truly becomes the focus as the Tigers await their bowl fate.

THE STATS

Oklahoma out-gained LSU 393-198.

LSU was 2-for-14 on third down.

LSU punted nine times and went three-and-out seven times.

Van Buren: 14/25, 96 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.

Oklahoma ran the ball 28 times for 75 yards, 2.7 yards per attempt.

Oklahoma had seven pass plays of 15-plus yards. LSU had three. One came from Zavion Thomas‘s arm.

THE PLAYS

Harold Perkins snagged a deflected pass for an LSU interception. He returned it from the 48 yard line down to the Oklahoma four.

On LSU’s next snap, Van Buren  was intercepted by Peyton Bowen in end end zone.

Tate Sandell’s 38-yard field goal got the scoring started. 3-0 Oklahoma.

LSU’s defense stuffed a fourth and one run by the Sooners at midfield to set the offense up with a short field.

LSU used a pair of Sooner penalties and a Zavion Thomas pass to get into the red zone where the offense stalled. Damian Ramos tied the game with a 25-yard field goal. 3-3.

AJ Haulcy picked Mateer off at the Tiger 25 yard line and returned it back to the Sooner 33.

Two plays later, Van Buren sprinted right on third and one and rumbled down to the one yard line. Van Buren found Thomas on a swing route for a touchdown. 10-3 LSU.

Mateer was picked for a third time. DJ Pickett made the play in one-on-one coverage in the Oklahoma red zone to thwart a scoring chance.

Oklahoma dialed up a blitz beater and hit Deion Burks who split the middle of the field for a 45-yard touchdown to tie the score. 10-10 with 1:47 left in the third.

LSU got into field goal range and took itself out of it with a fumble on a reverse and a delay of game penalty. Van Buren made a play to hit Thomas to the 26 and set up a field goal.

Ramos drilled a 43-yarder. 13-10 LSU with 7:56 to play.

LSU’s defense busted a coverage to allow the Sooners to pull ahead. Isaiah Sategna got behind everyone for an easy 58-yard catch and run. 17-13 Sooners with 4:16 to play.

Barion Brown returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield.

LSU’s last gasp came on fourth and two from the Oklahoma 29 yard line. Van Buren’s pass for Bauer Sharp was batted down to seal it.