Game 6: LSU 28, Florida 24

• Published: Jan 3, 2008

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Playing its first home game as the nation’s No. 1-ranked college football team in more than 48 years, LSU set attendance records for Tiger Stadium and the number of tailgaters on campus.

It’s doubtful any of them would be stunned if evidence emerges that the Tigers and reigning national champion Florida elicited record-setting decibel levels, and perhaps a notable bump on the geology department’s seismograph.

On a Saturday night sure to become part of LSU lore, the Tigers erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 28-24 victory over the No. 9-ranked Gators, scoring the winning touchdown on Jacob Hester’s 2-yard run with 1:09 left.

Hester ran into the south end zone for the game-winning score on third-and-goal. Florida’s last-second Hail Mary pass by Tim Tebow from the LSU 46-yard line fell to the ground after Chad Jones batted it down.

Quotable

“Things weren’t going our way until the fourth quarter. We said that if we keep moving the ball and playing our game, everything will work out for us.”

JACOB HESTER, LSU running back

Game ball

To LSU running back Jacob Hester, who rushed for 106 yards on 23 carries including the game-winning score on a 2-yard run with 1:09 left to play. Hester lay in the end zone after the score but was not injured.

“Actually, my helmet broke and I was on extra point,” Hester said. “I couldn’t get my helmet snapped. It was a pretty good acting job.”

Play of the game

LSU was 5-of -5 on fourth down Saturday, but perhaps no conversion was bigger than the one with 10:15 remaining. On fourth-and-3 at the Florida 4, Matt

Flynn rolled right and hit wide receiver Demetrius Byrd for a touchdown to pull the Tigers within 24-21. The score was set up when Tim Tebow’s pass over the middle caromed off a helmet into the hands of Kirston Pittman at the Gators’ 27.