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TUSCALOOSA, Nov 08, 2009 (Dothan Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Alabama survived a 60-minute gut check Saturday.

But 13 seconds is what Crimson Tide fans will remember.

Julio Jones streaked 73 yards for a touchdown, erasing a fourth-quarter deficit and sending the third-ranked Crimson Tide past LSU 24-15 on Saturday afternoon.

The nationally televised game clinched the SEC Western Division championship for Alabama (9-0, 6-0). That earned Nick Saban's team a rematch with top-ranked Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5 in Atlanta.

Just as noteworthy, the victory was Alabama's first over LSU in Bryant-Denny Stadium since 1999.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of our guys and the relentless competitive attitude that we played with," Saban said.

Alabama Heisman Trophy candidate Mark Ingram rushed 22 times for 144 yards, including eight times for 85 yards in the third quarter.

The Crimson Tide appeared to wear down an LSU defense in the second half, finishing with 452 yards of offense, 176 on the ground.

"The offensive line did a great job today," Ingram said. "I'm so proud of them. They get better and better every week."

But Alabama didn't rely on Ingram to carry them. The offense, which had become more conservative in the past three games and struggled to produce points in the red zone, opened the game with seven straight passes.

"That's how we want to play offense here," Saban said. "... Even when you don't hit them -- and we hit a few -- it affects how they play on the next play."

Greg McElroy completed 19-of-34 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Marquis Maze caught six passes for 88 yards. Darius Hanks caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from McElroy.

"We had a great game plan coming into today," Ingram said. "We wanted to spread the ball out and get it into everybody's hands. It was great to see different guys making big plays today."

And -- at last -- there was Jones. The talented sophomore caught four passes for 102 yards -- the fourth 100-yard game of his career and his first since the Florida game last season.

With Alabama trailing 15-13 and taking possession on its 27 after an LSU punt with 10:37 remaining, Jones turned the game in one play.

He took a quick screen pass in the left flat from McElroy and saw LSU defenders overrunning the play. Cornerback Brandon Taylor was closest to him, but Jones split Taylor and another defender just a few strides up the left sidelines and was gone.

It was the longest reception of his career and ignited the 92,012, charged the Alabama sideline and gave Alabama a 19-15 lead with 10:24 left.

"We practiced it all week. I scored at practice, so it wasn't nothing different," Jones said about the quick screen. "Those guys (LSU), they're real aggressive. They run to the ball. ... A situation like that, I feel I should step up and make the play."

The touchdown made up for a couple plays Jones would rather forget.

In the third quarter, he dropped an easy pass from McElroy with the Tide backed up at its own 2-yard line. On the next play, McElroy was called for intentional grounding under pressure from Drake Nevis in the end zone. It was a safety and cut Alabama's 10-7 lead to one point.

LSU then added a touchdown on its ensuing possession to go ahead 15-10.

Alabama next drove to a third-and-goal from the LSU 2, and the Tide substituted its short-yardage people, including Terrence Cody. One receiver didn't leave the field -- Jones. The Tide was penalized for breaking the huddle with 12 men, and Alabama eventually settled for a field goal that made it 15-13 LSU with 12:35 left in the game.

Saban angrily threw his headset after the penalty and had a quick word with Jones on the sideline.

But he didn't hang his head.

"Games have their ups and downs. It depends how you deal with it," Jones said. "I just forgot that play and got ready for the next play."

In fact, his next play was the 73-yard touchdown.

Ingram's second-effort run for the two-point conversion put Alabama up 21-15.

Jones wasn't done. Alabama survived a replay review on a drive to a clinching field goal. A forced pass by McElroy for Jones was caught by LSU's Patrick Peterson, but replay officials affirmed the ruling that Peterson was out of bounds.

That set up third-and-8 for the Tide at the LSU 40. McElroy hit Jones with a crossing pattern that went for 10 yards, moved the Tide into field goal range and, more importantly, kept the clock moving.

Tiffin's 40-yard field goal four plays later put Alabama ahead by two scores with 3:04 left in the game.

The defense didn't need that much cushion, but Alabama fans enjoyed it. Backup quarterback Jarrett Lee was a target at that point. Lee entered the game midway through the third quarter after Nico Johnson's 15-yard sack knocked out starter Jordan Jefferson, who was penalized for grounding on the play.

Lee was 4-of-10 passing for 44 yards. Jefferson was 10-for-17 for 114 and a touchdown.

Lee was intercepted by Robby Green at the LSU 45 with 2:04 left, and Alabama ran out the clock.

Second quarter

9:12 LSU 7, Alabama 0: Deangelo Peterson 12-yard pass from Jordan Jefferson (Josh Jasper PAT). Drive: 13 plays, 91 yards, 6:11. Key play: Jefferson pass to Peterson for 28 yards.

5:52 LSU 7, Alabama 3: Leigh Tiffin 28-yard field goal. Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 3:20. Key play: Javier Arenas ignited the crowd with a 40-yard kickoff return to the 49.

Third quarter

11:40 Alabama 10, LSU 7: Darius Hanks 21-yard pass from Greg McElroy (Tiffin PAT). Drive: 8 plays, 81 yards, 3:20. Key play: Mark Ingram introduced himself to the LSU defense, catching a pass for 12 yards and rushing four times on the march.

5:55 Alabama 10, LSU 9: McElroy penalized for intentional grounding in the grasp of Drake Nevis in the end zone -- safety.

3:19 LSU 15, Alabama 10: Stevan Ridley 8-yard run (2-point pass failed). Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 2:36. Key play: One play after Charles Scott converted on third-and-4 with a second-effort run off right tackle, he burst through right guard and ran 34 yards to the Alabama 15.

Fourth quarter

12:35 LSU 15, Alabama 13: Tiffin 20-yard field goal. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 5:44. Key play: The Tide's best drive of the game to that point was highlighted by Ingram's 23-yard run off left tackle. He cut it back to the right and moved the ball to the LSU 30.

10:24 Alabama 21, LSU 15: Julio Jones 73-yard pass from Greg McElroy. (Mark Ingram 2-point run). Drive: 1 play, 73 yards, 0:13. Key play: Jones took a quick screen in the left flat, split the cornerbacks and ran untouched to the end zone.

3:04 Alabama 24, LSU 15: Tiffin 40-yard field goal. Drive: 11 plays, 31 yards, 6:14. Key play: There were two. The first one was a replay review upholding an incomplete pass that LSU contended was an interception. On the next play, McElroy completed a 10-yard pass to Jones on third-and-8, allowing the Tide to run more clock and get into field-goal range.

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Ken Rogers

Copyright (C) 2009, Dothan Eagle, Ala.

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