A&M-LSU a wild ride
Mond finds Rogers on conversion to end marathon thriller
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M fired its coach a year ago in part to try and make A&M vs. LSU a true rivalry. One season and seven overtimes into the Jimbo Fisher era, that time has arrived following an all-time classic at Kyle Field.
A&M defeated LSU 74-72 in seven overtimes, tying the NCAA record for longest game by overtimes in history. The game itself lasted nearly five hours, with loads of drama in each extra frame.
The contest was finally decided on a two-point conversion, as quarterback Kellen Mond hooked up with Kendrick Rogers over the middle from 5 yards out. The twopoint conversion was the result of a 17-yard touchdown pass from Mond to Quartney Davis.
The last play was set up by a pass-interference call on LSU’s Greedy Williams, who held the 6-5 Rogers on the two-point conversion attempt. The Aggies followed with a false start, however, on offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland that put them at the LSU 5yard line, giving Mond what proved to be a little more space to work with in finding Rogers.
On LSU’s final possession prior to the Aggies’ winning score, Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow, worn out but unfazed, rushed 10 yards for the touchdown. LSU’s two-point conversion attempt was no good, which wound up being the difference.
The last four overtimes were set up by some third-overtime theatrics. LSU worked quickly in that frame, as Burrow connected with Dee Anderson for a 25-yard touchdown pass on the Tigers’ first play. Burrow then found Justin Jefferson on the two-point conversion, putting the Aggies against the proverbial wall on their home field.
A&M quickly countered with an incredible touchdown catch by Rogers, who hauled in the ball as he was falling on his back in the end zone. Mond then found Rogers again for the two-point conversion, as the game entered its fourth hour.
In the first overtime, the Aggies squandered a chance to score from the 1-yard line, and instead settled on a short field goal that Seth Small squeezed just inside the uprights to tie the extra frame at 34-34, after LSU had settled for a field goal on its opening series of overtime.
The Aggies forced the overtime on the final play of regulation, when Davis made a spectacular, leaping catch of a 19-yard pass from Kellen Mond into the end zone. Small then calmly booted the extra point through the uprights, and the rivalry was on.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron even received a Gatorade bath from a couple of his players after the Tigers appeared to put away the game in regulation with an interception, that was then overturned when replay showed Mond’s knee was down following a fumble that he recovered prior to throwing the ball.
A&M (8-4, 5-3 SEC) finishes with a winning record in league play for the first time sinc 2012, when it was 6-2. LSU is 9-3 and 5-3. The Aggies also claim a second place finish in the SEC West for the first time in history.
A&M has tried making this a rivalry — hence the two sides meeting on Thanksgiving weekend — and a little spice was added at halftime and with the Aggie Band winding down a rousing showing in its final performance at Kyle Field this year.
The public address announcer bellowed, “Will the LSU player get off the field” — it was more of a firm statement than a question — as a Tigers special teams player was trying to get a little work on the north end of the grass. The crowd roared in response and the player sauntered off the field as the Aggie Band marched his way.
LSU had tried luring Fisher from Florida State during the 2015 and ’16 seasons to no avail, and plenty of Tigers fans would still love to see their former offensive coordinator under Nick Saban back in Baton Rouge, La. Last January Fisher, who had replaced the fired Kevin Sumlin, tried hiring defensive coordinator Dave Aranda from LSU with no luck, although A&M managed to get Aranda a big bump in pay to $2.5 million annually.
Fisher then turned to Mike Elko at Notre Dame, and the Aggies defense has been mightily improved from recent years, including being second nationally against the run in allowing 83 yards per game entering the weekend. The Aggies and Tigers now take a much-deserved break and wait for their respective bowl announcements in about a week.