For three quarters Saturday night, LSU had Texas right where they wanted them. The Tigers led 21-10 late in the third quarter, the Texas offense couldn’t find a rhythm, and 102,321 fans were ready to celebrate the potential end of the Longhorns’ playoff hopes.
Then Texas scored the last 12 points, kept LSU off the board for the entire fourth quarter, and won it with three seconds left. Here’s who earned helmet stickers in Baton Rouge.
Jelani McDonald, DB
Three interceptions in Death Valley. McDonald became the first Longhorn with three picks in a game since Aaron Humphrey in 1997, and only Bill Bradley’s four in 1968 sits above him in the program record book.
His timing was as good as his hands. One of the picks came in the end zone right before halftime, keeping LSU from stretching a 14-10 lead. He also had a pass breakup and tied for the team lead with 11 tackles. Every time Sam Leavitt tested the back end, McDonald was there.
Arch Manning, QB
It wasn’t a clean night. Manning threw three interceptions and took four sacks, and for most of the game LSU’s defense won the battle. None of that mattered once Texas got the ball at its own 42, down 21-16 with 2:19 to play.
On that last drive Manning went 6-of-8 for 51 yards and ran for 10 more. He converted three third downs, two of them with his legs, and then put the winner on Raleek Brown along the left sideline with three seconds left. He finished with 209 total yards, a rushing touchdown on the opening drive, and the passing touchdown that won the game.
For a New Orleans kid who grew up going to games in that stadium, it doesn’t get much better.
Rasheem Biles, LB
Biles was all over the field. He tied McDonald with 11 tackles and added two tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hits. His pressure on Leavitt helped set up one of the interceptions. The Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist looked the part.
Gianni Spetic, K
When the offense stalled, Spetic kept Texas close. He made all three of his field goals, from 42, 41 and 50 yards, with the last two coming in the final 17 minutes to cut the gap to 21-16. In a one-point game, those kicks were the difference. He also put four of his six kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks.
Raleek Brown, RB
Brown didn’t have much room to run, finishing with 35 yards on 15 carries, but he caught four passes, and the last one will be on highlight reels for years. He made the 4-yard catch along the left sideline and got into the end zone with three seconds on the clock.
Justin Cryer
Cryer had seven tackles, two of them for loss, plus an 11-yard sack. He was one of the main reasons LSU couldn’t get anything going late.
Ryan Wingo, WR
Wingo was Manning’s most reliable target all night. He led Texas with six catches for 68 yards and kept moving the chains when the offense needed it.
The Texas Defense
LSU gained 366 yards, but the Tigers got nothing out of their last four possessions. Texas forced four straight punts in the fourth quarter, finished with three takeaways and three sacks, and held LSU to a season-low 21 points. Colin Simmons had eight tackles, Bo Mascoe added six tackles and a sack, and the unit gave Manning the chance he needed.
Honorable Mentions
- Jermaine Bishop Jr. had three catches for 41 yards, including a 32-yarder that was Texas’ longest play of the night.
- Emmett Mosley V caught four passes for 37 yards.
- Mac Chiumento averaged 40.7 yards on three punts and pinned two inside the 20.
- The red zone offense went 4-for-4 on trips inside the LSU 20.
Texas (8-2, 5-2 SEC) returns home to close the regular-season home slate against Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2:30 p.m.
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