Notes from the 2011 SEC Championship Game
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Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu dazzled a national television audience and a sold-out
gathering at "he"Georgia Dome, with a punt return for a touchdown and set up two
more scores with another punt return and a fumble recovery, as No. 1 LSU buried No.
12 Georgia, 42-10,o n Saturday for the SEC title and a berth in the BCS National
Championship Game.
The (13-0) Tigers had trouble against the Bulldogs early and managed only 36 feet in
the first half, but that came back with 32 unanswered points in the second half. It was
the Tigers fourth league title in five seasons and they will play for their fourth national
championship (1958, 2003, 2007) on Jan. 9 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
A lackluster offense behind Jordan Jefferson, who played the entire game, fell behind
10-0 in the fist quarter. However, as they began to shut down the Dawgs' offense and
Aaron Murray, who had catchable passes dropped early, Mathieu's 62-yard
touchdown salvaged a second quarter. After going scoreless in the first half, the
Tigers and special teams opened the flood gates in the third quarter.
"Last night I dreamed I would score three touchdowns," said Mathieu. "I came close to
that. I put pressure on myself then transfer hat pressure to my teammaes to win the
game.
"I felt we needed to chnage the momentum and it was the pefect time for that punt
return. When I make one guy miss, I'm, on my way."
Freshman running back Kenny Hillard, who began his career as a 240-pound fullback,
is becoming one of the Tigers best runners. H ran 15, 4 and 8 yards for touchdowns
and caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jefferson. Hillardis now tied fr the
temlesd is rushng touchdowns wih eight.
After leading 10-7 at he half, Georgia managed only 36 yards in the third quarter as
Murray was interceopted by Mo Claiborne for a 46-yard touchdwon.
In the fourth quarter, LSU put the game on ice with a 48-yard touchdown run by Alfred
Blue, and a 45-yard interception for a touchdown by Claiborne.
Blue became the thrid running back to eclipse 500 yards rushing this sason, as the
sophomre added 94 yards on eight carries. Michael Ford gaind 34 yards on six runs
and starter Spencer Ware added 13 yards on six trips.
Jefferson was 5-of-13 passing for 30 yards with the TD pass to Hilliard. Jarrette Lee
did not play.
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