South Central – Consolation
Toledo 24 at Stanford 50
Leading Passer: Andrew Luck, Stan, 25-41-321-3-1
Leading Rusher: Stepfan Taylor, Stan, 23-73
Leading Receiver: Eric Page, Tol, 9-81
Game MVP: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Ohio State 21 at Nebraska 31
Leading Passer: Taylor Martinez, Neb, 11-14-164-2-0
Leading Rusher: Dan Herron, OSU, 27-167-2
Leading Receiver: Kenny Bell, Neb, 3-73-1
Game MVP: Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska, 11-14-164-2-0 pass, 19-45-1 rush
Colorado State 27 at Ole Miss 34
Leading Passer: Pete Thomas, CSU, 22-34-336-3-2
Leading Rusher: Chris Nwoke, CSU, 25-85
Leading Receiver: TJ Borcky, CSU, 3-103-1
Game MVP: Jeff Scott, RB, Ole Miss, 15-66 rush, 1-78-1 rec
South Florida 37 at Purdue 40
Leading Passer: BJ Daniels, USF, 21-29-251-2-1
Leading Rusher: Ralph Bolden, Pur, 16-153-1
Leading Receiver: Sterling Griffin, USF, 6-86-1
Game MVP: Caleb TerBush, QB, Purdue, 19-28-246-4-1
East Carolina 29 at BYU 42
Leading Passer: Dominique Davis, ECU, 21-47-315-2-2
Leading Rusher: JJ Di Luigi, BYU, 16-77-3
Leading Receiver: McKay Jacobson, BYU, 5-109-1
Game MVP: JJ Di Luigi, RB, BYU, 16-77-3 rush, 1-4 rec
Kent State 9 at Arizona State 33
Leading Passer: Brock Osweiler, ASU, 21-30-263-3-2
Leading Rusher: Cameron Marshall, ASU, 28-110-1
Leading Receiver: Gerell Robinson, ASU, 5-88-2
Game MVP: Gerell Robinson, WR, Arizona State
Texas State 32 at Massachusetts 21
Leading Passer: Kellen Pagel, UMass, 20-35-214-2-1
Leading Rusher: Jonathan Hernandez, UMass, 19-108
Leading Receiver: Isaiah Battle, TSU, 3-81
Game MVP: Shaun Rutherford, QB, Texas State, 15-23-210-2-0 pass, 16-49 rush
South Central Region – Championship
#2 Florida 30 at #1 LSU 33, OT
Leading Passer: John Brantley, UF, 20-34-303-2-0
Leading Rusher: Michael Ford, LSU, 15-154-1
Leading Receiver: Andre Debose, UF, 3-118-1
Game MVP: Jordan Jefferson, LSU, 18-28-240-3-0 pass, 9-32 rush
Game Story:
LSU made a late comeback on second-seed Florida and then won the game in overtime, 33-30.
The Tigers trailed Florida 27-17 in the fourth quarter, but made a come back thanks to a surprising passing day by senior Jordan Jefferson. Jefferson connected with Rueben Randle on a seven-yard pass with 7:51 left to cut the Gators lead to 27-24. Then, with no time left on the clock, Drew Alleman kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime.
In overtime, Florida had the first possession. After getting a first down on their first play, quarterback John Brantley then threw three straight incomplete passes. Caleb Sturgis then kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Gators a 30-27 lead.
LSU then had possession. After a 12-yard Alfred Blue run, two short runs gave LSU third and eight from the 11-yard line. From there, Jefferson found backup wide receiver James Wright for an 11-yard touchdown pass and the 34-30 final.
Jefferson was named the game’s most valuable player due to his outstanding day. He finished 18 of 28 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 32 yards on nine carries.
Florida began the scoring when Caleb Sturgis kicked a 41-yard field goal with 12:09 left in the first quarter. The Tigers answered with a Jefferson to Wright pass for 16 yards. The Gators scored again when leading rusher Chris Rainey ran the ball in from the six-yard line, giving the Gators a 10-7 lead heading into the second quarter.
LSU’s Michael Ford gave the Tigers a big burst in the second quarter when he broke an 81-yard run for a 14-10 LSU lead. It would be the last lead the Tigers would enjoy. With 7:56 left in the second quarter, Brantley connected with Andre Debose for a 21-yard touchdown. Florida scored again with 4:04 left when Brantley found Frankie Hammond for a two-yard pass and a 24-14 halftime lead.
The third quarter was light in scoring. Alleman’s 37-yard field goal cut into the Gators lead to make it 24-17 going into the fourth quarter.
Sturgis began the scoring in the fourth quarter by kicking his second of three field goals and Florida’s 27-17 advantage. Then LSU made its come back.
Besides Jefferson’s big day, LSU had a great day rushing. Ford led the Tigers with 154 yards on 15 carries, including his 81-yard score. Spencer Ware added 91 yards on 26 carries, and Blue had another 26 yards on just 9 carries. The Tigers outrushed Florida 299-192 on the day.
The Gators’ leading rusher was Rainey who had 138 yards on 16 carries. Jeff Demps added another 38 yards on five carries.
Debose was the leading receiver for Florida with three catches for 118 yards. Rainey had 71 yards on five catches. Rainey finished with 209 all-purpose yards for the Gators.
LSU’s leading receiver was Randle with four receptions for 55 yards. Deangelo Peterson finished with four catches for 46 yards, and Odell Beckham added 45 yards on four carries.
South Central Region Player of the Week
He did not throw for a lot of yards, but LSU's
Jordan Jefferson did what needed to be done in the Tigers' 33-30 overtime win over Florida. Jefferson, who threw the game-winning touchdown in overtime, finished 18 of 28 for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 32 yards on nine carries.
South Central Region Wrap Up
This writer is one satisfied individual. LSU and Florida games usually seem to be blow outs in one or another team's favor: see the real 2011 game. I find it much more satisfying that the atrocity that was LSU quarterback play found a way to pull put a game in the end. Although there were some upsets early in this bracket, it was one of only three where the top two seeds met up in the final. LSU enters as the second-highest ranked team in the Elite 8 Tournament, meaning they get to represent the "home" team in whatever games they play, unless they meet up with Alabama in the final.
South Central Region Bracket
