Lee helps LSU rally past Auburn

Another LSU-Auburn thriller goes to the Tigers from Louisiana.

Jarrett Lee and Brandon LaFell connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:03 left to lift No. 6 LSU to another dramatic comeback win over No. 10 Auburn, 26-21 Saturday in an SEC West showdown in Auburn, Ala., that once again produced a fantastic finish and wild momentum swings.

The only major difference in this one was the road team came out on top. The last eight games in the series had gone to the home team. LSU also snapped Auburn’s streak of six consecutive victories at Jordan-Hare Stadium against Top 10 teams.

Lee took over for an injured Andrew Hatch in the third quarter and produced a series of big plays to make up for a lousy start for LSU (3-0, 1-0 SEC). Lee missed his first five throws, with an interception returned for a touchdown.

Auburn (3-1, 1-1) moved to LSU’s 47 on the final drive, with help from Rahim Alem’s roughing-the-passer penalty. Alem atoned with a sack of Chris Todd to recoup the 15-yard loss.

Todd’s desperation fourth-and-25 pass to Rod Smith came up short of the first down.

Lee, who had been platooning with Hatch, was 4 for 4 on the winning drive for 43 yards.

It was the first major test for the defending national champions, who opened with wins over Appalachian State and North Texas.

(4) Florida 30, Tennessee 6: At Knoxville, Tenn., Tim Tebow threw two TD passes and the Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) romped past the Volunteers (1-2, 0-1).

(5) Missouri 42, Buffalo 21: At Columbia, Mo., Chase Daniel passed for a career-high 439 yards and set a Big 12 record with 20 consecutive completions, helping the Tigers (4-0) overcome a rash of errors to beat the Bulls (2-2).

(7) Texas 52, Rice 10: At Austin, Texas, Colt McCoy passed for 329 yards and four TDs as the Longhorns (3-0) crushed the Owls (2-2). McCoy, a junior, became Texas’ all-time leader in TD passes with 62. Major Applewhite held the previous mark with 60.

(9) Alabama 49, Arkansas 14: At Fayetteville, Ark., Javier Arenas and Justin Woodall scored on long interception returns and the Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 SEC) routed the Razorbacks (2-1, 0-1).

(11) Texas Tech 56, Massachusetts 14: At Lubbock, Texas, Graham Harrell threw for 322 yards and four TDs and Shannon Woods ran for three scores to lead the Red Raiders (4-0) past the Minutemen (2-2).

(12) South Florida 17, Florida International 9: At Miami, Mike Ford ran for two short TDs and the Bulls (4-0) spoiled the Golden Panthers’ (0-3) debut in their new on-campus stadium.

(13) Ohio State 28, Troy 10: At Columbus, Ohio, freshman Terrelle Pryor tossed four TD passes to lead the Buckeyes (3-1) over the Trojans (2-1).

(14) Brigham Young 44, Wyoming 0: At Provo, Utah, Max Hall threw three TD passes and the Cougars (4-0, 1-0 MWC) extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 14 with a rout of the Cowboys (2-2, 0-2). BYU notched back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 23 years.

North Carolina State 30, (15) East Carolina 24 (OT): Andre Brown’s 10-yard TD run in overtime lifted the Wolfpack (2-2) to an upset win over the Pirates (3-1). Russell Wilson threw three TD passes – including a game-tying 5-yarder to George Bryan with 1:12 left in regulation – for the Wolfpack.

(16) Penn State 45, Temple 3: At State College, Pa., Daryll Clark tossed two TD passes and ran for 11 yards for another score and Stephfon Green rushed for 132 yards, including a 69-yard TD, as the Nittany Lions (4-0) walloped the Owls (1-3).

(18) Wake Forest 12, (24) Florida State 3: At Tallahassee, Fla., Sam Swank kicked four field goals in seven attempts and the Demon Deacons (3-0, 1-0 ACC) forced seven turnovers – two fumbles, five interceptions – in running their winning streak over the Seminoles (2-1, 0-1) to three games.

(19) Kansas 38, Sam Houston State 14: At Lawrence, Kan., Todd Reesing threw for 356 yards and two TDs and ran for another score to lead the Jayhawks (3-1) over the Bearkats (1-1).

(20) Utah 30, Air Force 23: At Air Force Academy, Colo., running back Darrell Mack scored three second-half TDs, including a 9-yard run up the middle with 58 seconds remaining, to help the Utes (4-0, 2-0 MWC) rally for a win over the Falcons (3-1, 1-1). Utah held Air Force to 53 yards rushing. The Falcons entered the game with the nation’s second-best rushing offense, averaging 358 yards per game.

(23) Clemson 54, South Carolina State 0: At Clemson, S.C., James Davis ran for three scores and the Tigers (3-1) pounded the Bulldogs (2-2). Clemson is 22-0 against Championship Subdivision foes.