September 27, 2005
Tennessee 30, LSU 27 (OT)
It was a tale of two halves Monday night in Baton Rouge.
For the two quarters, the LSU Tigers could do virtually no wrong, running up an early 21-0 halftime lead on the visiting Tennessee Volunteers. The Tigers were gift-wrapped 14 points by starting quarterback Eric Ainge. Ainge fumbled the ball on the Vols' first drive and gave LSU excellent field position, which they cashed in for an early 19-yard TD. Then, leading 14-0, Ainge threw out of the back of his end own end zone to a waiting LSU defender who took the ball in two yards to make it 21-0.
Halftime couldn't come fast enough for the Vols who were fortunate to see LSU mismanage clock at the end of the first half and not get off a field goal attempt.
Ainge got the hook in the second quarter and in came former LSU quarterback and UT transfer, Rick Clausen.
And the game changed.
The Vols, whose offense had been lackluster all season, came to life under Clausen's leadership. Clasen led an early second-half scoring drive for the Vols and suddenly momentum was slowly draining from LSU. After ripping off close to 200 yards in the first half, LSU was held to 56 total yards in the second. More importantly, the Vols only gave up three points, keeping them in the game. UT's James Wilhoit tied the game with just over two minutes left in regulation.
LSU and Tennessee traded interceptions in the final two minutes and the game went to overtime.
In overtime, Tennessee won the toss and elected to go on defense. After holding LSU to a field goal, the Vols' offense took the field and gave the ball to Gerald Riggs. Riggs caught one pass and ran for the rest of the 25 yards needed to get in the end zone, including a third-and-one from the half-yard line to seal UT's upset, comeback win 30-27.
After the game, Clausen thanked his teammates twice on ESPN for the effort and head coach Phillip Fulmer called Clausen "the best story in college football."
Both teams now face a short week, getting ready for their next opponents on Saturday. Tennessee faces Ole Miss at home and LSU faces Mississippi State.
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