By Chris Macaluso
LSUsports.net
(9/11/00)
The game is on the line in the fourth quarter. The LSU Tigers are struggling to hold a lead, as the opposing team is driving for the tying or go-ahead score.
Writing the ending to that script the past two seasons has been an easy task for anyone watching. The Tigers surrender the go-ahead touchdown or fall just short in a heart-braking attempt to regain the lead in the waning seconds of the game.
But with the Houston Cougars driving late in the game Saturday night trailing by just eight points and the LSU defense seemingly on its heels, the Tigers scripted a different tale.
As Houston quarterback Jason McKinley tried to be the triumphant hero and lead the Cougars to their second win in as many years in Death Valley, LSU sophomore safety Damien James turned a tipped pass into an interception for a touchdown and the 2000 LSU Football Team added a happy ending.
“It feels a lot better,” James said. “Coming out with a win, 2-0. I think it’s pretty good that we still came out with a win.”
James’ 56 yard interception return added the final score to a 28-13 LSU victory and gave the Tigers their second win in as many games. But, unlike the whopping 58-0 victory the Tigers posted against Western Carolina in their opening game win one week earlier, LSU had to bite and scratch and claw its way to nearly every positive yard against a pesky Houston team.
First year LSU Coach Nick Saban said that’s not necessarily bad.
“I think this was a good thing for our team in a way,” Saban said. “We had to overcome adversity in this game, which we did.”
The adversity Saban spoke of didn’t rear its head until the beginning of the fourth quarter. After a slow offensive first quarter for both teams, the Tigers exploded in the second for 21 points while the LSU Defense kept the high-powered Houston passing attack grounded.
LSU kept the Cougars off the scoreboard through the third quarter and it looked as if the Tiger defense would have a chance to post consecutive shutout wins to open a season for the first time in more than 60 years.
But McKinley began to show signs of the reason he’s considered one of the top passers in all of college football. With 47 seconds left in the third quarter the Houston QB began an eight-play, 81 yard drive that eventually ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Middleton with 12:52 to play, cutting the LSU lead to 21-7.
McKinley hooked up with Middleton again, this time from 18 yards out just three minutes later. A missed extra point made the score 21-13 LSU and put the Cougars eight points off the lead with less than 10 minutes to play.
But the LSU defense tightened and didn’t allow the Cougars to get any closer. James intercepted a pass in the end zone to squash a 13-play Houston drive with 4:58 left in the game, then put the finishing touches on the contest by putting points on the scoreboard with his second pick of the night.
LSU safety Ryan Clark said it felt good to be on the winning side this time, watching his teammates celebrate instead of the other guys.
“I think it’s good that we got the win,” Clark said. “We needed to overcome some adversity. That’s been the M.O. on our team, when we get late in a game, we can’t hold up and win the game. We did that, and that’s a positive.”
Clark finished Saturday’s game with eight total tackles and broke up one pass. Sophomore Linebacker Treverance Faulk led the Tigers with 18 total tackles on the night.
Saban said he and his team will use the lessons learned in Saturday’s victory to help them prepare for a tough battle against Auburn to open Southeastern Conference play on the road next week.
“We made plays in the end when we had to make them,” Saban said. “I think that’s a good thing and I think that’s something to build on. We’re not going to play good football teams and have everything go well for us. We’re going to get in situations like that where we have to make plays with our backs against the wall. This was a start for what we need to do.”