AUBURN, Ala. – Cole Tracy kicked a 42-yard field goal on the final play to give No. 12 Louisiana State a 22-21 victory over No. 7 Auburn on Saturday in their Southeastern Conference opener.
Joe Burrow led LSU (3-0) down the field in the final minutes with clutch plays and two pass interference calls against Auburn (2-1). That set up Tracy's field goal that was almost right down the middle and sent LSU players swarming onto the field to celebrate.
"There was no question in my mind that he was going to make this field goal," LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. "It worked out perfect."
It capped a wild fourth quarter in a Tigers-Tigers rivalry that has produced many of them.
Burrow hit Derrick Dillon over the outstretched arms of Auburn linebacker Deshaun Davis for a 71-yard touchdown strike with 8 minutes, 18 seconds left. Burrow's two-point attempt failed, leaving Auburn up 21-19.
The LSU defense held to set up another chance with 5:38 remaining. The result was a 14-play, 52-yard drive and Tracy's kick.
"I knew on Monday that it was going to come down to this," he said. "Once we got past Southeastern [Louisiana], you know that when you're playing at Auburn, it's going to be a close game."
A pass interference call against Jeremiah Dinson on third-and-11 kept the drive alive. Then Burrow hit Stephen Sullivan for 9 yards on fourth-and-7 to keep the offense on the field.
