LSU Returns the Favor, Beats Auburn 31-7
10/25/03

By Chris Macaluso
Special to LSUSports.net

BATON ROUGE -- Lightning and rain delayed the start of Saturday's Auburn-LSU showdown in Tiger Stadium and kept the LSU band from playing it's pre- ame show for the first time anyone asked could remember.

However, the ill climate did not stop LSU from showing 92,085 fans in person and a national ESPN television audience what team may be the best in the Southeastern Conference by dominating the visiting Tigers on both sides of the ball from the opening kick to claim a 31-7 victory and take a crucial step towards a SEC western division crown.

The win improved the ninth-ranked LSU Tigers record to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the SEC and set up what could be the deciding game for the SEC west against Ole Miss on the road on Nov. 22. The Rebels won Saturday as well, defeating Arkansas 19-7 and improving their conference record to 4-0.

The loss for Auburn dropped its record to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

Both teams finished the game with 15 first downs but the statistical similarities end there. LSU out-gained Auburn 381-193, had 87 return yards to Auburn's one and sacked Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell four times compared to no sacks on LSU's Matt Mauck.

"I'm proud of the way our players played in the game," said LSU head coach Nick Saban. "It was a total team win."

Auburn won the coin toss but elected to defer until the second half giving LSU the chance to jump out to an early 7-0 lead. Mauck lobbed a long pass over the Auburn defense to a wide-open Devery Henderson along the west sideline. Henderson sped into the endzone for a 54-yard touchdown giving LSU a 7-0 lead less than 2:00 into the game.

Henderson led all receivers with six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns while Mauck passed for 224 yards and three scores.

Auburn opened the door for another LSU score on its first drive of the game as Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville gambled twice with Heisman Trophy candidate tailback Carnell "Cadillac" Williams on fourth down succeeding once at his own 29-yard line with one yard to gain but stalling on his next attempt at the LSU 49. Six plays later, Mauck connected on his second touchdown pass as Michael Clayton took a middle screen and weaved his way through a mass of Auburn defenders for an 18-yard touchdown reception. The point after gave the hometown Tigers a 14-0 lead with 7:43 to play in the first quarter.

Skyler Green helped set up LSU's third touchdown of the first quarter with a 43-yard punt return after Auburn's offense sputtered again. Green's speedy return gave LSU a first down on the visiting Tiger's 28-yard line giving freshman tailback Alley Broussard a chance to extend the lead. Broussard rushed for 14 yards on 4-1 at the 19-yard line to extend the march before capping the five-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run on the next play to give LSU a 21-0 lead with 2:58 left in the first quarter.

Auburn's offense put together a strong drive on its next possession, moving the ball to the LSU 18-yard line. But the drive ended with no points as place kicker Phillip Yost pushed a 35-yard field goal attempt wide left.

Special teams troubles continued for Auburn later in the quarter as punt-returner Tre Smith fumbled a Donnie Jones punt at his own 29-yard line. That mistake gave LSU a chance to make a mistake of their own on special teams as the offense sputtered on just three plays after the fumble recovery and Ryan Gaudet came up a yard short on a 50-yard field goal attempt.

Smith gave LSU another shot at the endzone with less than 1:00 to play in the first half by muffing another Jones punt, this time at his own 30-yard line. But Mauck threw his fourth pass of the drive into the chest of Auburn defensive lineman DeMarco McNeil for an interception at the 14-yard line with 11 seconds left in the half.

LSU opened the second-half scoring with 8:28 to play in the third quarter when Gaudet connected on a 33-yard field goal to cap a seven play, 42-yard drive and give the hometown Tigers a 24-0 advantage.

The rain returned on the ensuing drive much to the dismay of the Auburn offense who had to resort to its passing game trailing by more than three touchdowns. Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell was harassed by a dominant LSU defensive front as fans scrambled for raincoats halfway through the third quarter.

Meanwhile, LSU turned to its ground attack, easily driving the ball deep into Auburn territory thanks to tailback Justin Vincent who carried the ball twice for 44 yards on a six-play 60-yard drive. Mauck and Henderson ended that attack with a 16-yard touchdown pass and catch giving LSU a 31-0 lead after the point after with 3:46 left in the third.

Vincent led all rushers, including the highly-acclaimed Williams, with 127 yards on 14 carries. Auburn's star back finished the contest with 61 yards on 20 carries. Broussard contributed to the LSU offensive dominance with 35 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown.

"We have got no excuses," Tuberville said. "They (LSU) lined up and whipped us on both sides of the ball. Offensively we didn't make anything work."

Auburn's offense finally cracked the scoring column with 6:10 to play in the game when Campbell connected with wide receiver Anthony Mix from six yards out capping a productive but time-consuming drive. The point after from Yost cut the LSU lead to 31-7.

LSU finished the game by driving the ball deep into Auburn territory again. Mauck took a knee at the Auburn 15-yard line as time expired.