Texas Longhorn All-America wideout Jordan Shipley made all kinds of plays against the LSU Tigers in week 1, but he probably will remember the one that he didn't make the most. With :21 left on the game clock the Longhorns, trailing 31-27, were facing a 4th and goal from the Tiger 8 yardline and needed a touchdown to win the game. Heisman contender Colt McCoy dropped back and managed to evade the rush long enough for his roommate to slip the double coverage used by the Tigers. What happened next had to shock everyone in the stadium and at home, the sure-handed Shipley couldn't hold on to the pass. Jordan Shipley had torched LSU for 208 all-purpose yards (including a 100 yard kick return) and 2 touchdowns, but he couldn't come up with the game winner.
This was the last meaningful play of what was a truly epic game. The Longhorns got on the board first with a 34-yard field goal by Hunter Lawrence, which would be the only score of the 1st quarter. LSU answered with a 10-yard scoring run by Senior RB Keiland Williams, who stepped up with a 71 yard performance on the day in place of a sometimes nicked up Charles Scott. The following kickoff is where Shipley first did his damage, dodging all tacklers to give the Horns a 10-7 advantage. An interception return by LB Jared Norton would make it a 17-7 game and some in Tiger Stadium began to wonder if they would witness a blow out. LSU would get a 36-yard field goal by Josh Jasper right before the half, making the score at intermission 17-10 Texas.
The 3rd quarter is where the Tigers, particularly Sophomore QB Jordan Jefferson, would wake up. After tossing 2 interceptions in the first half, Jefferson threw touchdown passes of 16 and 7 yards to Freshman receivers Rueben Randle and Tim Molton in the 3rd quarter. Shipley would be heard from again on a 67-yard touchdown reception from McCoy, but the Tiger defense really started to bow its collective neck especially on 3rd and 4th downs where Texas was a combined 5-14 on conversions. The Horns did also get a field goal, giving them a 27-24 lead going into the 4th quarter.
In the final quarter the Tigers were able to churn out rushing yards with Scott and Williams as it appeared that the Longhorn defense may have finally worn down some. "Chuck da Truck" Scott lived up to his name with 2:36 left in the game, running through a Texas defender to give the Tigers the go ahead score. Still, tension filled the air as the Horns seemingly were unstoppable on their final drive, marching it down inside the LSU 10 yardline. That tension was replaced with jubilation when the football sailed through the Longhorn great's hands. Junior Safety Chad Jones, the closest Tiger to the last play, had this to say afterwards "We have a great amount of respect for those guys. They came in here and traded blows with us all night, but in the end we were able to make one more play. I know they'll be ready for us next year in Austin."
Nice game! Makes you wish you could watch these things. Videos?
ReplyDeleteI didn't upload any, but I'll have to remember that for next time.
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