Tuscaloosa, AL (U-WIRE) -- Alabama needed timely plays, good execution and maybe a little bit of luck to pull an upset Saturday night in Death Valley against then No. 15 Louisiana State University.

Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, though, it gave away an untimely fumble, executed poorly at times and was on the short side of a questionable call by the referees at a critical moment of the game (see sidebar).

Despite a 10-6 Crimson Tide lead at halftime, the Tigers' offense wore down Alabama's defense en route to a 26-10 victory. The game marks just the second time since 1969 that LSU (7-2, 4-2 SEC) has beaten Alabama (6-4, 3-4 SEC) in Baton Rouge.

"We didn't want to just come in here and compete with these guys," Alabama quarterback Spencer Pennington said. "We wanted to come in here and beat these guys."

Run, run, run, run, run, penalty, run, run, run, run.

Thus were the first 10 plays from scrimmage, not including two punts, for Alabama and LSU Saturday night during a game in which both teams tried unsuccessfully to establish the running game.

Down to its third-string quarterback, Alabama faced eight-man fronts from the Tigers, as the LSU coaches dared Alabama to test the air attack even after Pennington had hit redshirt freshman Matt Caddell on a 48-yard pass.

On first-and-10 from the Alabama 47-yard-line, Pennington threw an arching spiral over the top of the LSU defense. The ball was ever so slightly overthrown, leaving Caddell no other choice but to go horizontal. He did and made the best diving catch of the year for the Tide.

"We've been working on that play," Caddell said. "We knew they were going to be [in one-on-one defense] on the outside. I've been ready for the opportunity. We've been working on it so much in practice."

Pennington and Alabama head coach Mike Shula both said they had planned on trying to hit a deep pass early in the game because they knew LSU would be stacking defenders close to the line to stop the run.

"We had another one with [wide receiver] Keith [Brown] where we just overthrew it," Shula said.

The defense played spectacularly in the first half, limiting the Tigers to just 122 total yards and only six points. But, in the third quarter, Alabama's first three offensive drives were just three plays apiece and its fourth drive resulted in a touchdown for the Tigers off a Pennington fumble.

"I saw [Pennington] hanging out there, and I thought he was going to throw it before I got to him," said LSU defensive end Marcus Spears, who caused the fumble. "He still had it hanging, so I just swiped for it and was fortunate to get it on the ground."

LSU's Cameron Vaughn returned it for a touchdown, sparking a 20-0 run for the Tigers to end the game. In Alabama's four losses this season, the Tide has been outscored 50-3 in the second half.

(C) 2004 The Crimson White via U-WIRE