Game 7: Kentucky 43, LSU 37

• Published: Jan 3, 2008

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When LSU became the consensus No. 1 team in college football and the unanimous pick atop the AP poll on Oct. 7, Les Miles compared his team’s midseason ranking to being ahead at halftime.

“There’s nothing more insignificant,” Miles said.

Six days later his Tigers led No. 17-ranked Kentucky by three points at halftime, 13 points during the third quarter and six entering the fourth.

One quarter and three overtimes later, they lost the lead, a fourth-down conversion streak, a 13-game winning streak and the No. 1 ranking.

Steve Johnson caught a 7-yard pass from Andre’ Woodson on the first series of the third overtime, and Kentucky linebacker Braxton Kelley stopped LSU running back Charles Scott at the 16-yard line, 1 yard short of a first down, to seal the Wildcats’ 43-37 victory over the Tigers.

Five years after LSU’s last previous visit to Commonwealth Stadium, when Kentucky fans stormed the field prematurely as the Tigers pulled off the Bluegrass Miracle, fans in blue and white finally got their celebration.

The Tigers wore stares that looked far through the interview room, out to a beyond where presumably they hoped for answers.

Quarterback Matt Flynn, however, rightly predicted there was no reason to give up.

Quotable

“The season’s not over. This team’s going to bounce back.”

MATT FLYNN, LSU quarterback

Game ball

To Kentucky quarterback André Woodson, who refreshed his credentials as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Woodson completed 21 of 38 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. He also ran 12 yards for a touchdown — his longest carry of the season.