AUBURN, Ala. – The 24th-ranked Auburn Tigers scored on their first two possesions in the second half as they handed LSU its first loss of the year, 34-17, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn opened the second half with a 13-10 lead and immediately stretched it to 20-10 on a 19-yard scoring strike from Ben Leard to Clifton Robinson less than five minutes into the half. Leard finished the game 21-for-30 for 225 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
LSU responded on its next drive with an 81-yard march capped off by Josh Booty’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reed to close the lead to 20-17.
However, that was as close as LSU would get as Tim Carter returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and a 27-17 Auburn lead.
LSU struck first in the game when Booty rolled out to the right and found Reed streaking down the sideline and aired it out for a 75-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. Booty had 214 yards passing, 167 of which went to Reed.
Five plays later, Auburn running back Rudi Johnson coughed up the ball at the Auburn 22-yard line and Trev Faulk quickly pounced on the it, giving the Tigers a golden opportunity. The Tigers quickly marched to the Auburn five-yard line where their drive was halted. John Corbello split the uprights for a 22-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes.
Auburn responded with a 42-yard field goal by Damon Duval on its next possession
LSU had an opportunity to regain a 10-point advantage midway through the second quarter, but a 51-yard field goal attempt by Corbello sailed wide left despite having more than enough distance.
Auburn finally drew even with just over three minutes remaining in the first half when Ben Leard hit a wide open Robert Johnson in the left corner of the end zone for a 20-yard scoring play.
Auburn took the lead it would never relinquich with just under a minute left in the first half when Duval nailed his second field goal, a 32-yarder, to give head into the locker room with a 13-10 advantage.
Johnson, who rushed for 139 yards on 36 carries, added a touchdown with three seconds remaining in the game for the final outcome.