Factors overlooked in defeat

• By RANDY ROSETTA AND GARY LANEY
• Advocate sportswriters
• Published: Nov 10, 2009

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Two key decisions in LSU’s 24-15 loss to Alabama were lost in the wave of angst and protest over the widely publicized Patrick Peterson interception that was ruled out of bounds and Julio Jones’ back-breaking 73-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

While both were dwarfed somewhat by those two flash-point plays, each quietly played a large role in the Crimson Tide’s victory in the hard-hitting Southeastern Conference slugfest.

1. Why go for two?

When the Tigers (7-2, 4-2 SEC) notched a go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter on Stevan Ridley’s nimble 8-yard run, LSU opted to go for a two-point conversion instead of kicking the point-after.

The touchdown gave the Tigers a 15-10 lead.

LSU’s attempt failed when Jarrett Lee’s quick pass to Deangelo Peterson was knocked away by Bama defender Mark Barron.

“On the opportunity to go for two at that point, I didn’t think there would be a lot of scoring in that game, and the want to make the three-pointer more important certainly was there,” LSU coach Les Miles said Monday at his weekly press luncheon.

“I wanted to go get the two if I could. It still appears to me to be the right call.”

The ripple effect of LSU’s decision prompted Alabama to go for two after a fourth-quarter touchdown to make the score 21-15. The Crimson Tide converted its attempt.

Had the Tigers kicked after their touchdown, Alabama likely would have kicked after its score. That would have made the score 23-16 after Tide kicker Leigh Tiffin’s field goal with 3:04 left in the game instead of 24-15, and LSU would have needed only one score to catch the Tide.

2. Punting on fourth-and-short.

The second decision came early in the final period, right after Tiffin’s second field goal narrowed LSU’s lead to 15-13.

LSU got the ball at the 20-yard line after a touchback and picked up 9 quick yards when Lee connected with Russell Shepard on a bubble screen and Shepard carved out 4 yards on a stretch play.