BATON ROUGE — LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell and defensive tackle Kyle Williams were named Louisiana college football players of the week Monday by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association after the Tigers’ overtime 16-13 victory Saturday at Alabama.
Russell completed 16-of-30 passes for 229 yards and the game-winning touchdown strike over then No. 3 and previously undefeated Alabama. Russell hit Dwayne Bowe for an 11-yard touchdown on third-down in overtime to clinch the victory. The 229 yards passing was the most against the Crimson Tide this season as Russell directed an LSU offense that accounted for 274 yards, 16 points and no turnovers against the nation’s top-rated defense. The sophomore has now thrown for at least one touchdown pass in seven straight games.
Williams, who was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the week, played perhaps his finest game in an LSU uniform with a career-best 11 tackles (five solo) and 2.5 sacks in the Alabama win. The 2.5 sacks totaled 15 yards in losses and went with four quarterback hurries. Williams led an LSU defense that limited Alabama to just 13 points, including only three overtime points after the first 30 minutes of play. After giving up 10 points and 207 yards in the first half, the Tigers held the Crimson Tide to only four first downs and 77 yards in the second half and overtime, while sacking Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle six times in the game.