Tue Jan 8 07:20:54 2008

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LSU capitalizes on Buckeye mistakes

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New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Bo Pelini's last game as LSU's defensive coordinator began in horrific fashion, but thanks to Ohio State's costly penalties and turnovers, the Tigers were able to set some precedents on the way to their third national championship.

Being down 10-0 less than six minutes into the Bowl Championship Series title game, the Tigers scored 31 unanswered points, on the way to a 38-24 victory over the Buckeyes Monday night.

The talk after the game wasn't just about the surge by the Tigers, but if they actually deserved to play in the game at the Superdome. The Tigers (12-2) are the first team to win two BCS titles, but the first to do it with at least a pair of losses.

"Certainly there will be some argument as to who's the best team," LSU coach Les Miles said. "But I think the national champion's been crowned tonight. And it was certainly a great game and two quality opponents, two quality teams. And we're fortunate, fortunate to be the national champions."

LSU earned its right to play for the national championship. After all, both of its losses came in triple-overtime, to Arkansas and Kentucky.

"We got voted in here," linebacker Ali Highsmith said. "The voters felt like we needed to be here, so regardless of what anybody else felt, it really didn't matter because if we didn't deserve to be here, we wouldn't have been here."

Pelini, who will take over as the head coach at Nebraska next season, guided a defensive unit that was ranked third in the nation during the season, giving up an average of 283.8 yards per contest. Although the Buckeyes narrowly outgained (353-326) the Tigers, it was the turnovers and penalties that cost Jim Tressel's team in the end.

The Buckeyes were hurt by seven penalties totaling 83 yards, including five personal fouls. Todd Boeckman threw for a pair of touchdowns, but was picked off twice for the Buckeyes (11-2), who went from a fantastic start to fizzling for a second straight year in the title game.

Last year, Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but Ohio State was routed by the Florida Gators, 41-14. This time, OSU blitzed ahead 10-0 after a 65-yard TD run by Chris "Beanie" Wells and a field goal by Ryan Pretorius.

LSU then woke up and a blocked field goal from defensive MVP Ricky Jean- Francois turned the tide. The game was tied at 10 when Pretorius' 38-yard try was swatted away in the second quarter.

On the ensuing drive. Matt Flynn passed to Brandon LaFell for a 10-yard touchdown, one of Flynn's career-high four TD throws.

"The big one was the blocked field goal, the turnovers and the personal fouls," Ohio State wide receiver Brian Hartline said. "The interceptions were big, but the personal fouls were probably the biggest factor. I think that's a lot of emotion."

An interception by Chevis Jackson led to another score, and then two personal foul calls, on consecutive plays were instrumental in LSU building a 21-point lead.

"They were doing a lot of talking early on in the game," LSU running back Jacob Hester said. "Even when you would go to their sidelines, the guys who were not even playing were doing a lot of talking. We stayed composed and did not talk back."

It was the Pelini-disciplined D that proved to be the difference at the end. LSU wasn't penalized at all in the first half and had just four the entire game. Also, LSU limited the Buckeyes to 119 yards in the second half.

"It feels good to silence everyone," LSU star defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey added. "We went from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Everybody wants to criticize us and talk about how our defense isn't good enough, but it felt good to come out and play well. We want to represent the SEC well. I feel it's a strong conference and we come out and play good games every week."