SEC

LSU goes to pass to secure victory

LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) completed 19 of 30 passes for 273 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the seventh-ranked Tigers to a 37-17 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday in Baton Rouge.
LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) completed 19 of 30 passes for 273 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the seventh-ranked Tigers to a 37-17 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday in Baton Rouge.

— Zach Mettenberger slung accurate passes over the middle, lofted timing throws down the sideline and demonstrated for a second consecutive week that LSU could move the ball through the air.

Mettenberger passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 7 LSU kept alive faint hope of an SEC title with a 37-17 victory over No. 21 Mississippi State on Saturday night.

“He’s at a hot streak right now. I think that’s something Zach and the fans and really everybody have been waiting on all season,” LSU center P.J. Lonergan said. “It’s good to finally see him get in that rhythm.”

One week after passing for a career-high 298 yards in a narrow loss to Alabama, Mettenberger completed 19 of 30 passes without an interception against the Bulldogs. His top target was sophomore Jarvis Landry, who had nine catches for 109 yards — both career highs — including a 19-yard touchdown catch to help the Tigers (8-2, 4-2 SEC) beat the Bulldogs (7-3, 3-3) for the 13th consecutive time.

“I think it is just everybody on the offense just maturing. We are really young in the receiving corps,” Mettenberger said. “They are starting to know their assignments and are running better routes. That is all I can ask. If we can continue to keep clicking like this there are going to be big games for everybody like what Jarvis had tonight.”

Mettenberger’s other scoring pass went to Spencer Ware, who made a diving catch on a 20-yard timing throw down the right sideline.

“Our passing game obviously is coming,” LSU Coach Les Miles said. “Zach is playing extremely well. He’s got a nice touch on the ball. I think he knows where he needs to go. He’s making quality decisions.”

The Tigers also got touchdowns from fullback J.C. Copeland on a 1-yard run and safety Craig Loston on a 100-yard interception return in the final minutes.

Tyler Russell completed a career-high 26 passes on 38 attempts for a career-high 295 yards and a touchdown to Chad Bumphis that got the Bulldogs as close as a field goal early in the third quarter before they faded in their third consecutive loss, all against ranked teams.

LSU’s defense shut out Mississippi State during the last 27:52, during which Tigers defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo each sacked Russell and Loston made his interception.

“We felt some of their players were pretty good at rushing the passer, so we did some things to get the ball out quick and it was effective,” said Russell, who passed to Bumphis nine times for 140 yards. “Unfortunately they made more plays than we did. ... Sometimes you can fight as hard as you want and still not win the game.”

Bulldogs leading rusher LaDarius Perkins was held out of the game. Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen said Perkins strained his quad Wednesday but still warmed up in hopes of playing before coaches decided against playing him.

“He wanted to go but we made the decision not to let him go tonight,” Mullen said

Mississippi State wound up with only 47 yards rushing, but Mullen chalked much of that up to play-calling after his team fell behind.

One of the loudest cheers of the night came when Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M was announced during the first quarter — a result that kept LSU alive in the SEC West. LSU’s only hope is to finish in a three-way tie in league play with the Crimson Tide (9-1, 6-1), and Aggies (8-2, 5-2). However, that would require a shocking victory by downtrodden Auburn over Alabama in the Iron Bowl in two weeks.

MISSOURI 51,

TENNESSEE 48, 4OT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Andrew Baggett kicked a 35-yard field goal in the fourth overtime period Saturday as Missouri rallied from a two-touchdown halftime deficit to beat Tennessee.

Missouri forced overtime when James Franklin threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dorial Green-Beckham on a fourth-and-12 play with 47 seconds remaining.

Each team scored touchdowns on its first two overtime possessions, including a 5-yard run by Tennessee holder Tyler Drummer on a fake field-goal attempt. Each team reached the end zone again in the third overtime but failed to make its ensuing two-point conversion attempt. Missouri’s defense finally came through in the fourth overtime when safety Ian Simon broke up a fourth-and-3 pass to Zach Rogers from the Missouri 18.

Tyler Bray threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns for Tennessee (4-6, 0-6). Franklin threw four touchdown passes and Kendial Lawrence ran for two scores for Missouri (5-5, 2-5).

VANDERBILT 27, MISS 26

OXFORD, Miss. — Jordan Rodgers hit Chris Boyd for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 52 seconds remaining and Vanderbilt rallied to top Mississippi.

The Commodores (6-4, 3-3 SEC) are now bowl eligible for the second consecutive season for the first time in school history.

Vanderbilt trailed 23-6 early in the third quarter, but Rodgers found Jordan Matthews for a 52-yard touchdown pass minutes later to start the Commodores’ rally. Rodgers completed 20 of 35 passes for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns. Matthews caught nine passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.

Ole Miss (5-5, 2-4) must beat either LSU or Mississippi State over the final two weeks to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2009. Bo Wallace threw for 403 yards and a touchdown. Bryson Rose kicked four field goals.

Sports, Pages 31 on 11/11/2012

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