LSU Escapes With Bittersweet Victory Over Tattered Tar Heels

ATLANTA -- LSU couldn't afford to overlook wounded North Carolina, regardless of the Tar Heels' situation with the NCAA and an accommodating university tutor. After a two-year funk that has left fans and school officials uncomfortable, the Tigers need to tend to business.

Call it Risky Business.

No. 21 LSU held on by a hair to beat No. 18 UNC 30-24 here Saturday night in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

A Georgia Dome crowd of 68,919 and a national television audience watched the undermanned Tar Heels rally from a 20-point halftime deficit and drive to the LSU six-yard line, missing on a pair of passes in the end zone in the closing seconds.

Believe it.

It was far more difficult than the Tigers, or anyone else for that matter, anticipated. The Tar Heels, specifically their defense, were neutered by eligibility and academic issues. Thirteen players, some of whom are coveted by NFL brass and over-anxious agents, remained in Chapel Hill, N.C.

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Just three years removed from a national championship, LSU is determined to prove it's still a powerhouse in the SEC and beyond. Yet, it would have been nearly beyond belief if the Tigers had tightened at the collar and lost to the Tar Heels.

"We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish but we could be a lot better," LSU defensive tackle Lazarius Levingston said as he exhaled..

Full Week 1 Coverage

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• North Dakota State Upsets Kansas
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• Joker Wins Debut for Kentucky
• Notre Dame Wins, Still Work in Progress
"We are not happy with this. It's kind of hard to celebrate the victory because we kind of let ourselves down."

The Tar Heels, even those MIA, had to be encouraged by their early and late efforts. UNC played with spirit and spunk, combining adrenaline with game planning. The Tar Heels appeared to be controlling the game's tempo and giving their fans hope.

Then reality set in. Quickly.

Trailing 10-7 at the 8:24 mark in the second quarter, the Tigers scored three touchdowns on plays of 50 yards or more and took less than 30 seconds total. LSU was equal opportunity; scoring on a run, pass and an electric 87-yard punt return by Patrick Peterson.

"I was running around like a mad man, but it was fun," said Peterson, who set an LSU record for combined return yards with 257 -- 157punt, 100 kickoff.

Mix in a safety, and UNC was done.

Or should have been done.

A late push, highlighted by a 97-yard touchdown pass that represented the longest pass play and longest play from scrimmage in UNC history, added welcomed, if not unexpected, drama.

Plenty of players stepped up for the Tar Heels, but no one more than senior quarterback T.J. Yates. He completed 28 of 46 passes for 412 yards with three touchdown passes. Eight different players had receptions.

And let's not forget UNC's name-tag defense that recorded four sacks, limited LSU to 11 first downs and forced an improbable fumble with 1:08 remaining that nearly led to an even more improbable victory.

"I was proud of our fans sticking with us and believing in us," said UNC receiver Jherainie Boyd, whose 221 receiving yards, highlighted by the 97-yard pass from Yates, were a Kickoff Game record. "I feel like we are a team that fights hard through a lot of adversity."

LSU knows adversity, too.

This game wasn't a big fat secret by any stretch. LSU head coach Les Miles had to win it, pretty or Ugly Betty. Next Saturday at Vanderbilt, too. Three consecutive home games follow, yet there's no need to look too far down the gun barrel.

It's not healthy.

The Tigers are a work in progress as well. They made their share of mistakes, lacked continuity and rhythm and, worse yet, let a beaten UNC back in the game. LSU suffered five turnovers -- four fumbles -- and were out-gained 436 to 313 in total offense. UNC fans cheered in defeat; LSU fans exhaled in victory.

"They had nothing to lose," LSU receiver Russell Shepard countered. "We had the pressure on us. For the most part, we were more scared of that team rather than if they all played."

LSU appeared headed for the expected easy win after scoring 23 straight points over the final 8:06 of the first half. There's no denying their athleticism, speed and big-play ability.

"We had the opportunity to win the game in very convincing style and our football team wasn't good enough to do that."
-- LSU head coach Les Miles Peterson went vapor trail on UNC. He recorded a remarkable and mostly untouched 244 return yards in the first half, punctuated by his punt return down the sideline and to the house.

Even quarterback Jordan Jefferson, shish kabobed by fans last year for his hesitancy in the pocket, made better decisions and took chances that ignite big plays. It may have come against a revamped UNC secondary that was without its four starters, but it's a start.

"I thought I played well enough," Jefferson said of his 15 of 21 passing performance for 151 yards. "I was nervous (at the end) but I trust my defense. It would have been very tough (to lose). We should have executed more in the second half and left that game with at least 45 points."

The victory should help soothe exposed nerves surrounding Miles, or maybe not?

Maybe not.

"We had the opportunity to win the game in very convincing style and our football team wasn't good enough to do that," Miles lamented.

Miles might be 51-15 in five seasons at LSU, with a BCS national championship (2007), an SEC championship, two SEC West Division titles and four bowl victories to his credit, but memories are short in the SEC. Alabama and Florida have claimed dominant roles in the conference.

Between Miles' clock misjudgments and Jefferson's inconsistency in the pocket last season, many believed the Tigers underachieved despite winning nine games.

No wonder Miles embraced the Kickoff Game, even before UNC was engulfed in controversy. It provided needed motivation and focus during the off-season.

Despite all the advantages, the Tigers avoided what would have been a devastating blow to the program.

"Anytime you play football ... if you looked at any big-time program in the country that played today or yesterday, that was the outcome," Shepard said.

"I am looking at Florida, looking at all these other schools, it's hard to get consistent play on your first game. It's something we have to look at film and evaluate."