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BOX SCORE
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn tailback Rudi Johnson had another big
day on the ground against LSU, but it was passing and a huge return
that won the game for the No. 24 Tigers.
|  | | Auburn wider receiver Ronney Daniels was part of his club's potent passing attack Saturday in a victory against LSU. |
Ben Leard threw two touchdown passes and Tim Carter ran back a
kickoff 100 yards for a score as Auburn beat LSU 34-17 on Saturday
night.
"It got to a point where they didn't know who was going to get
the football," Leard said.
The game was the first SEC win at home for the Tigers (3-0, 2-0
SEC) since 1997. They did it before a record crowd of 85,612 at a
rollicking Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Coach Tommy Tuberville said coaches didn't make a big deal about
the losing streak in practice, but it was still on the players'
minds. "I know they're happy to get it off them," he said.
The loss was a step back for LSU (2-1, 0-1), which had outscored
non-conference opponents 86-13 in its first two games and was
looking for a sign it can once again compete in the SEC. LSU has
won only three league games in two years.
After struggling for years to find a consistent rushing threat,
Auburn has relied this year on the bulldog-tough running of
Johnson, who gained 339 yards and scored five touchdowns in two
games.
Johnson gained 139 yards on 36 carries, making him the first
Auburn back to run for more than 100 yards in three straight games
since Stephen Davis did it in 1994. Johnson scored on a 2-yard run
with three seconds remaining.
Leard's arm and Carter's speed made the difference against LSU,
however.
Standing deep in the pocket with little pressure, Leard threaded
the defense for touchdown passes of 20 yards to Robert Johnson and
19 yards to Clifton Robinson. Leard went 21-of-30 for 225 yards
with no interceptions.
It was Carter's return that knocked the wind out of LSU for
good.
After LSU pulled within three at 20-17 on a 45-yard pass from
Josh Booty to Josh Reed, Carter took the kickoff at the goal line
and cut right. He raced the length of the field and was still
pulling away when he crossed the goal line.
"I thought that was the deciding blow," Tuberville said.
"He's been getting closer for two years, and he finally broke
one."
Booty, under heavy pressure most of the game, got LSU on the
board first with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Reed. Booty, who led
the SEC in passing efficiency headed into the game, completed only
13 of 29 attempts for 214 yards with an interception.
LSU coach Nick Saban said his offense couldn't stop the Auburn
defensive pressure. "That was our biggest mistake," he said.
John Corbello had a 22-yard field goal for LSU, but he missed on
a 51-yarder.
Auburn's Damon Duval added field goals of 42 and 32 yards.
On his 45-yard touchdown, LSU's Reed beat Travaris Robinson, a
sophomore in at cornerback after senior Larry Casher suffered a
neck injury while making a tackle one play earlier.
Casher was strapped to a back board and taken off the field in
an ambulance as a precaution. School officials said Casher had a
concussion, but X-rays did not show any fractures. The injury
delayed the nationally televised game about 10 minutes.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
LSU Clubhouse
Auburn Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Auburn's Tim Carter returns the kickoff for a touchdown.
avi: 1471 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
LSU's Josh Reed scores on a 75-yard pass from Josh Booty.
avi: 1140 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Auburn's Robert Johnson scores on a wide open 20 yard touchdown pass.
avi: 806 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Auburn's Clifton Robinson catches a 19 yard touchdown pass from Ben Leonard.
avi: 555 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
LSU's Josh Booty hits Josh Reed on a 45-yard touchdown pass.
avi: 949 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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