LSU MAKES BAMA WORK FOR WIN.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Channelview’s Jalen Hurts broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown run to break a scoreless tie early in the fourth quarter, and No. 1 Alabama’s defense stifled running back Leonard Fournette and LSU in a 10-0 victory over the 13thranked Tigers on Saturday night.

The Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 SEC) won for the sixth straight time over LSU (53, 3-2) and remained alone in first place in the SEC West — a game ahead of Auburn.

Hurts, a freshman who has exceeded expectations by establishing himself as one of the most dynamic, explosive players in college football, was the game’s leading rusher with 114 yards on 20 carries.

He also completed 10 of 19 pass attempts for 107 yards.

LSU had its share of big plays — but all on defense, forcing Hurts into an early interception and late fumble.

But LSU’s offense could not capitalize against menacing defensive end Jonathan Allen and the rest of Alabama’s suffocating defense.

The Tigers finished with just 125 total yards. Fournette, whose 2015 Heisman Trophy hopes faded when he was held to 31 yards on 19 carries in Tuscaloosa last year, had 35 yards on 17 carries.

One game after touchdown runs of 78, 76 and 59 yards against Mississippi, Fournette’s longest effort against the Crimson Tide was 9 yards.

LSU’s Danny Etling completed 11 of 24 passes for 92 yards and also was intercepted once in the fourth quarter, leading to a late Alabama field goal.

Alabama had five sacks, one more than LSU’s offense had allowed in any other game this season.

Allen, linebackers Rashaan Evans and Ryan Anderson, and end Dalvin Tomlinson each sacked Etling while Rueben Foster and Tim Williams combined on a sack.

Both teams entered the game with highly respected, playmaking defenses, and those units dictated the play most of the game, which was scoreless through three quarters.

LSU intercepted Hurts’ pass on the game’s opening possession, but it could not move the ball and settled for a field-goal attempt, which was deflected by Alabama’s Ronnie Harrison.

Alabama did not drive into field-goal range until approximately six minutes remained in the second quarter, but Adam Griffith’s kick hooked wide left.