Alabama Gets Its Kicks, but LSU Takes 19-18 Win

Tommy Hodson fumbled one chance, but he didn’t let a second opportunity get away.

Hodson completed 3 passes for 64 yards to set up David Browndyke’s 34-yard field goal with 28 seconds left that gave No. 13 Louisiana State a 19-18 victory Saturday over No. 18 Alabama.

Alabama’s Phillip Doyle just missed a 54-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the game.

The victory kept the Tigers (6-2 overall, 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference) tied with Georgia for the conference lead.

“You don’t give Tommy Hodson a second chance,” LSU Coach Mike Archer said.

The Crimson Tide (6-2, 4-2), which once led, 15-0, appeared to have the game in control when Willie Wyatt recovered Hodson’s fumbled snap at the Alabama 38 with 3:55 left. “I thought our defense would give us another chance,” Hodson said.

It did, forcing a punt after yielding a yard in three plays.

Hodson took the Tigers 68 yards in 8 plays to the Alabama 17 to set up the game-winning field goal. The key play was a 30-yard pass to Tony Moss at the Alabama 18.

It was a disappointing setback for the Crimson Tide, which got only three field goals and a touchdown in four trips inside the 20 in the first half. “It was a great effort by both teams, but on the little fine details, the kind that win championships, we’re not there,” Alabama Coach Bill Curry said.

Doyle, who also missed kicks of 55 and 59 yards, gave Alabama an 18-16 lead midway through the period when he kicked a 20-yarder.

Doyle had first-half field goals of 35, 24 and 33 yards, the last of which gave the Crimson Tide a 15-0 lead.

Mickey Guidry came off the bench to replace the ineffective Hodson and immediately completed 3 passes for 39 yards in a 69-yard scoring drive that ended on Jay Egloff’s 4-yard run with 2:52 left in the half.

In the third quarter, Hodson completed passes of 35, 17 and 11 yards to set up a 37-yard field goal by Browndyke.

The Tigers took the lead less than 2 minutes later after Jimmy Young recovered Lamonde Russell’s fumble at the LSU 46.

Three plays later, Hodson found Moss across the middle at the Alabama 35 and he raced into the end zone to complete the 48-yard scoring play.