LSU was one stop from leaving Lexington with a road win. Sam Leavitt had just run 15 yards for a touchdown in overtime, putting the Tigers ahead 34 to 27. Kentucky answered with a touchdown, then quarterback Kenny Minchey ran in the two point conversion to hand LSU a 35 to 34 loss Saturday night.
It was a painful finish to a game in which LSU repeatedly found a way back in front.
LSU’s offense kept answering
The Tigers opened with a field goal, then responded to Kentucky’s first touchdown with an 11 play, 75 yard drive. Leavitt finished it with a 22 yard touchdown pass to Zach Grace.
Kentucky took the lead again on Brock Coffman’s punt return touchdown. LSU answered again. This time, a 14 play, 75 yard drive ended with Leavitt finding Jackson Harris for a 10 yard score. The Tigers trailed 21 to 17 at halftime, but their offense had already shown it could sustain drives against the Wildcats.
The biggest LSU play came in the fourth quarter. Trailing 24 to 20, the Tigers covered 75 yards in six plays. Harris took a pass from Leavitt, then threw 41 yards to a wide open Roman Mothershed for the touchdown that put LSU ahead 27 to 24.
That play captured what made the loss so frustrating. LSU had the creativity to strike quickly and the resolve to reclaim the lead. It could not close out the game.
The defense gave LSU chances to finish
After Mothershed’s touchdown, Kentucky moved into scoring range, but LSU held and Adam Zouagui missed a 42 yard field goal. Kentucky then recovered a Leavitt fumble at the LSU 13, yet the Tigers’ defense kept the Wildcats out of the end zone. Zouagui missed again, this time from 26 yards, leaving LSU ahead with just over three minutes remaining.
Those stands deserved a better ending. Kentucky got the ball back with 1:37 left and drove from its own 19 to set up a 33 yard field goal. Zouagui made it, tying the game at 27 with 12 seconds remaining.
One final swing in overtime
LSU needed only two plays to score in overtime. Leavitt’s 15 yard touchdown run and Scott Starzyk’s extra point gave the Tigers a seven point lead.
Kentucky scored on its possession and chose to settle the game with a two point attempt. Minchey’s run ended it.
LSU showed plenty of fight in Lexington. Leavitt produced two passing touchdowns and an overtime rushing score. Harris caught a touchdown and threw another. Grace and Mothershed delivered scoring catches, while the defense made two late stands after Kentucky reached field goal range.
The Tigers also have to reckon with the possessions they could not finish. A punt gave Kentucky a touchdown in the first half. A late fumble gave the Wildcats the ball deep in LSU territory. And after the defense preserved a three point lead, LSU could not run out the clock.
That is why this one hurts. LSU did enough good things to put itself in position to win on the road. Kentucky made the last play.
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