LSU forces 6 turnovers, rallies to defeat Ole Miss
Max Johnson passed for 435 yards and three touchdowns to Kayshon Boutte, who had an SEC-record 308 receiving yards, as LSU defeated Ole Miss, 53-48, in an SEC game Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.
Johnson and Boutte connected on a 45-yard game-winner with 1:34 left and the Tigers held on when JaCoby Stevens recovered Matt Corral’s fumble at the LSU 27 with 40 seconds left.
It was the sixth turnover for Corral, who passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown. However, he threw five interceptions before the fumble.
LSU finished 5-5 a year after winning the CFP Championship with a 15-0 record. The Tigers have self-imposed a postseason ban amid an NCAA investigation into the program.
The Rebels fell to 4-5, but still are likely to receive a bowl bid.
Ole Miss overcame a 16-point third-quarter deficit and led 48-40 before Johnson started the LSU comeback by running one yard for a touchdown, though his two-point pass attempt fell incomplete.
LSU led 34-21 at halftime and on the first possession of the third quarter, Corral threw his fifth interception, Jay Ward grabbed his second, leading to Cade York’s 23-yard field goal.
Henry Parrish Jr.’s 10-yard touchdown run and Corral’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Dontario Drummond pulled the Rebels within 37-34.
York kicked a 50-yard field goal before Corral threw a 25-yard touchdown to Braylon Sanders to give the Rebels a 41-40 lead at the seven seconds into the fourth quarter.
Corral threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sanders on the first possession of the game.
The Tigers drove to York’s 34-yard field goal and Ward intercepted Corral and returned 31 yards for a touchdown that gave them a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run increased the Tigers’ lead to 17-7, but Jerrion Ealy returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
LSU answered with Johnson’s 32-yard touchdown pass before Parrish ran one yard for a touchdown that pulled Ole Miss within 24-21.
Johnson connected with Boutte for an 18-yard touchdown pass that gave the Tigers a 31-21 lead. York’s 34-yard field goal increased LSU’s lead to 34-21 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
