Tigers get in last lick to beat Bulldogs

For most of the day, it was a defensive struggle. Then, with the clock winding down, Louisiana State and Georgia started trading touchdowns as though the defenses weren’t even on the field.

The Southeastern Conference rivals combined for three touchdowns in the final three minutes, but Charles Scott scored the one that mattered most on a 33-yard run with 46 seconds remaining to give No. 4 LSU a wild 20-13 victory over 18th-ranked Georgia on Saturday.

“Our football team, if you turn your back on them, they will beat you up,” LSU Coach Les Miles said. “We have competitive men, and they like to play. I am so proud of them.”

Next up: a showdown with No. 1 Florida in Baton Rouge next Saturday night.

Scott appeared stopped at the line, hemmed in by at least three Georgia tacklers. But he stumbled out of the pack, putting down a hand to stay up, and didn’t stop running until he got to the end zone.

“I played mad, with controlled rage,” said Scott, who rushed for 95 yards in 19 carries.

Neither team reached the end zone through the first three quarters, but the fourth was different.

In the end, LSU (5-0, 3-0 SEC) benefited from an excessive-celebration penalty after A.J. Green’s brilliant touchdown catch put Georgia ahead with 1:09 left. The Tigers got good field position on the kickoff and won it on Scott’s run.