Special teams keep Tigers in it

• Published: Nov 22, 2009

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OXFORD, Miss. — Before the final minute of Saturday’s game turned to chaos, a defining moment in LSU kicker Josh Jasper’s career seemed a kick away.

Jasper had connected on a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter. A boot of similar length — maybe even shorter — could have completed a final-minutes comeback.

But Jasper, a junior who has hit from as far as 52 yards this season, never got the chance.

After picking up a first down at the Ole Miss 32-yard line, LSU lost 16 yards on three called pass plays. The Tigers suddenly faced fourth-and-26 from the 48 with nine seconds remaining.

Every yard the Tigers lost took them further from Jasper’s range.

A second-down sack of sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who threw incomplete on first down, brought the ball to the 41.

A third-down completion to Stevan Ridley, crowded by defenders in the left flat, brought it back to the 48.

With fourth down looming, LSU allowed 17 seconds to run off the clock before calling its final timeout. That, too, may have cost Jasper a shot at being a hero.

Jefferson completed a 43-yard pass to Terrance Toliver on fourth down, bringing the Tigers to the 5. But only one second remained — and LSU spiked the ball and time ran out.

Jasper stayed on the sideline. Jefferson spiked the ball, attempting to kill the clock.

Ole Miss survived 25-23.

“When Terrance caught it,” Jefferson said of the game’s final official play, “I thought the field-goal unit was going to come out, kick the field goal and we’d win the game.”

Considering the play of LSU’s special teams, it would have been a fitting ending.