LSU Gives Team Effort in Victory Over Auburn, 31-10

No. 9 LSU put together a complete performance, holding the SEC's second-best offense to 193 yards while rolling past rival Auburn, 31-10, in front of 92,654 at Tiger Stadium.
LSU (6-1, 4-1 SEC) became bowl eligible for the 10th-straight season and bounced back from its first Saturday night loss in Tiger Stadium in 33 games two weeks ago against No. 1 Florida, 13-3. The Tigers have won three-straight over Auburn for the first time since 1935-37.
Auburn (5-3, 2-3 SEC) lost its third-straight game, as the Tigers were held 271.9 yards below their season average.
Coming off the bye week, LSU starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson was efficient under center. The sophomore completed 21-of-31 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a 15-yard run in the first quarter, while his only mistake was a fumble into the Auburn endzone in the second quarter. At least three of Jefferson's passes down the field were dropped by open receivers.
Jefferson was sacked three times, but netted 26 yards on the ground. His favorite target was junior wide receiver Terrance Toliver, who had a career-high nine catches for 86 yards and a 14-yard touchdown.
Wide receiver Brandon LaFell added six grabs for 67 yards and made a 17-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
Offensively, LSU amassed 376 yards of total offense and matched his season-high point total despite two missed field goals (49 and 52 yards) and Jefferson's fumble inside the 5-yard line.
LSU freshman Russell Shepard made the most of his first action at running back, hitting a hole created by left guard Will Blackwell and running past the Auburn defense for a 69-yard touchdown. The longest play of the season gave LSU its final score with 1:09 left in the third quarter.
Auburn's high-powered offense never stood a chance against the more agressive LSU defense. Starting quarterback Chris Todd finished 8-of-14 passing for 47 yards and an interception. He was sacked four times. Wide receiver Kodi Burns lined up in the "Wildcat" formation and ran six times for 17 yards.
Running back Ben Tate led Auburn with 67 yards on 18 carries.
The LSU defense continued dominate, pitching a first-half shutout in which it allowed only 42 yards. LSU forced two turnovers and added another on a muffed punt that led to a field goal to end the half. With LSU defensive reserves playing the final drive of the game, Auburn scored its only touchdown and gained 30 percent of its total offense.
Safety Danny McCray recovered two fumbles, while cornerback Chris Hawkins added a one-handed interception early in the second quarter.
LSU won the coin toss and deferred its choice until the second half. Auburn elected to receive the ball to start the game.
Burns ran the "Wildcat" formation -- a receiver in shotgun behind center -- as Auburn picked up a first down in its own territory. The Tigers looked to have another easy first down when Tate ran for nine yards to the Auburn 48. However, three plays resulted in an incomplete pass, a run for no gain and a false start penalty.
Auburn's punt was fair caught by Chad Jones at the LSU 17.
The LSU offense found its stride in the first quarter, as the Tigers scored twice and a third drive ended with a missed field goal.
On third-and-6, a 20-yard pass from Jefferson to Williams out of the backfield gave LSU its first three-straight first downs, the last coming on a pass interference penalty on Toliver deep inside the Auburn 10-yard line.
Another Auburn personal foul on third-and-13 -- a blow on LaFell as a defenseless receiver -- gave LSU new life at the Auburn 19. After an offsides penalty on Auburn, Jefferson tossed a perfect fade route to Toliver for a 14-yard touchdown in the right corner of the south endzone.
With 8:21 left in the quarter, LSU led 7-0.
The LSU defense forced a three-and-out, giving its offense possession at the LSU 22-yard line after a 47-yard punt by Clinton Durst.
Another personal foul on Auburn -- this time illegal use of the hands -- helped LSU move to its 41 after one play. Consecutive passes to Toliver netted 19 yards and put LSU at the Auburn 40, where the drive slowed. Though a delay of game on Auburn gave LSU fourth-and-1 at the 36, Josh Jasper attempted a 49-yard field goal which sliced just wide of the right post.
On the ensuing possession, LSU linebacker Harry Coleman stripped the ball from Todd's hand and safety Danny McCray recovered at the Auburn 16.
On third-and-9 from the 15, Jefferson dropped in the pocket and couldn't find an open receiver. The speedy quarterback took off running to his left and touched the ball down just inside the goal line for his first rushing score of the year.
LSU led 14-0 with 1:10 to play in the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Auburn entered LSU territory for the first time. However, on the next play, Todd's pass intended for tight end Jay Wisner was picked off by LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins. The spectacular left-handed grab by Hawkins was returned 7 yards to the LSU 41.
LaFell caught passes of 12 and 19 yards to the Auburn 23, and Jefferson then added an 11-yard run to the 12. After picking up a first down at the Auburn 1, Jefferson attempted to bootleg around the right end. As he tried to stretch the ball toward the goal, it was knocked away by Auburn safety Zac Etheridge and recovered in the endzone by Auburn linebacker Craig Stevens.
Just as the LSU Tigers looked to be in trouble offensively, its special teams came up with a big play.
With 1:42 to play in the half, Derek Helton punted from LSU's 24. Auburn's Philip Pierre-Louis signaled for a fair catch but the ball bounced off his foot as a ran forward to make the catch. The muffed punt was recovered again by McCray and LSU took over at the Auburn 36.
After Jefferson scrambled for first down to the 23, he connected on only 1-of-3 passes and LSU was forced to attempt a 32-yard field goal. Jasper's attempt was successful, and LSU extended its lead to 17-0 with 9 seconds left in the half.
LSU's defensive unit gave up only 42 yards in the first half, as LSU led 17-0.
To open the second half, Auburn attempted to avoid kicking off to Trindon Holliday by pooching to an upback. The plan backfired when LSU defensive end Chase Clement fielded the kick and ran 19 yards to the Auburn 45.
With a short field, Jefferson found Holliday matched up with a linebacker and connected with the receiver for 26 yards to the Auburn 17. On the next play, Jefferson lobbed a fade to the left corner of the endzone and LaFell came down with it for a 17-yard touchdown.
LSU led 24-0 with 13:41 left in the third quarter.
Auburn answered with a field goal after a nine-play, 53-yard drive that started at the Auburn 40 as Jasper kicked off out of bounds. The 24-yard field goal by Wes Byrum cut the LSU lead to 24-3 with 9:21 left in the third quarter.
Two drives later, LSU fans got a taste of what's to come from Shepard, as the shifty all-purpose back lined up to Jefferson's right and took the handoff LSU 31. Shepard started left and cut back right, picking up a perfect block from backup left guard Will Blackwell who just entered the game. Shepard then outran the Auburn defense for the longest play of the 2009 season, 69 yards.
The play was also the longest since Nov. 10, 2007, when running back Jacob Hester ran 87 yards against Louisiana Tech.
LSU led 31-3 with 1:09 left in the third quarter.
With three seconds to play, Auburn backup quarterback Neil Caudle finished an eight-play, 59-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen.