LSU Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide Match Player Stats On Nov 09, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 9, 2013

No. 1 Alabama 38, No. 12 LSU 17: AJ McCarron tossed three touchdown passes and T.J. Yeldon rushed for 133 yards and two scores as the unbeaten Crimson Tide used a dominant second half to pull away from the visiting Tigers.

McCarron become Alabama’s all-time leader in career passing yards while completing 14-of-20 passes for 179 yards, and the Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 SEC) used two lengthy drives in the second half to win their third straight against the rival Tigers. The Tigers were held to 52 total yards in the second half, when they were outscored 21-3.

Zach Mettenberger was 16-of-23 for 241 yards and a touchdown for LSU (7-3, 3-3), which began the game with two first-quarter turnovers, including a fumble at the goal line on its first possession. The Tigers tied the game at 17 on their first drive of the second half when Colby Delahoussaye drilled a 41-yard field goal, but Alabama’s defense quickly took control.

LSU led 7-3 early in the second quarter on Jeremy Hill’s 3-yard run before Alabama answered with two touchdown passes - one for 52 yards to O.J. Howard and the next a 9-yard strike to Kevin Norwood. Hill had 42 yards on 13 carries for the Tigers, who trailed 17-14 at the half when Mettenberger capped a 75-yard drive with a 6-yard scoring pass to Travin Dural.

Yeldon scored on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter to give Alabama the lead and the Crimson Tide moved ahead 31-17 on his 1-yard score with 10:31 remaining in the fourth. McCarron sealed the victory with 4:10 to play with a 3-yard scoring pass to Jalston Fowler.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Crimson Tide improved to 71-3 under coach Nick Saban when leading at the half. … Mettenberger become the first player in LSU history to throw for 2,500 yards or more in back-to-back seasons. … The key play of the game may have been Alabama’s third-quarter fake punt on fourth-and-2 from its 41-yard-line, part of a 14-play, 79-yard drive that resulted in Yeldon’s 4-yard run and gave the Crimson Tide a 24-17 lead.