By The Associated Press
Gerald Riggs Jr. pushed into the end zone from a yard out in overtime to give 10th- ranked Tennessee a 30-27 comeback victory Monday night over LSU in the Tigers’ hurricane-delayed home opener.
Rick Clausen, an LSU transfer, led the Volunteers (2-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) back from a 21-point deficit in the second half to send the game to OT at 24-all.
“Getting done what he got done, coming back here to win this football game at a place where he had been, I don’t know if there is a better story in the world than what this guy has done,” Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said.
The fourth-ranked Tigers had the first crack in overtime, but managed only a 31-yard field goal by Colt David.
Riggs accounted for all the Vols’ yards in overtime with a 10-yard reception and four runs. He powered through the line and in for the game-winner on third down to send the hurricane-weary Louisianans home with a bitter loss.
“I don’t know what happened out there. We played like a joke out there in the second half,” LSU defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. “It was nothing they did, it was everything we did. It was just an absolute joke in the second half. It was a complete and total breakdown.”
Hurricane Katrina forced the No. 4 Tigers to postpone their first home game, and move their second to Arizona State, where LSU came away with a dramatic victory.
Then Hurricane Rita created another delay and set up the first Monday nighter in Tiger Stadium. The crowd was a bit smaller than usual, but the fans were loud as ever and the Tigers (1-1, 0-1) certainly looked like a team eager to play when they jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half.
“There was no panic,” Ful- mer said. “We challenged each other.”
Clausen came off the bench to rally Tennessee with a touchdown pass and a 1-yard touchdown sneak that made it 24-14 with 9:35 left in the fourth. He finished 21-for-32 for 196 yards and appeared to settle the Vols’ quarterback controversy.
Jonathan Hefney intercepted JaMarcus Russell and returned it 26 yards to the LSU 2 on the next possession. When Riggs scored from a yard out with 7:15 left in regulation, the crowd went silent as the lead was down to three.
Then Tennessee’s defense forced another LSU punt and Riggs’ 22-yard run helped get James Wilhoit in position for a 28-yard field goal that tied it.
LSU had one last shot in regulation when LaRon Landry intercepted a pass at the Tigers 45 with 17.7 seconds left. But all LSU could manage was a last-play heave into the end zone that was picked off as time expired.
Vanderbilt: Wide receiver George Smith was shot in the arm at a party Sunday at a university apartment building, a school spokeswoman said. He was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital, was treated and released.
South Carolina: Quarterback Blake Mitchell probably won’t play Saturday against Auburn, coach Steve Spurrier said. Instead, Spurrier is changing his offense for freshman Antonio Heffner, who is more comfortable running the ball than staying in the pocket.
Memphis: Quarterback Will Hudgens broke his right leg Saturday at Tulsa, three weeks after the Tigers’ original starter, Patrick Byrne, broke his leg in the opener.
