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Two key injuries and one somewhat controversial booth review might have cost LSU its upset bid at Alabama.

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who was shaken up in the first half but returned and played until going out with an ankle injury in the third quarter, and running back Charles Scott were missing in action in the fourth quarter. That's when the Tide scored 14 unanswered points on its way to beating the Tigers 24-15.

Also crucial was an official ruling that cost cornerback Patrick Peterson an apparent interception in the fourth quarter with the Tigers down by just six points. The officials on the field ruled that Peterson's foot came down out-of-bounds, and the replay officials did not find enough evidence to overrule the call, although LSU players pointed to a cleat mark that may have shown him in bounds.

"One of the guys that travels with us, he said the TV guy said it was in," Peterson said in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "When I caught the ball, I tried to get two feet in, and I believe I got two feet in. The footmarks were left on the field, not even on the white, but on the green."

Coach Les Miles said he thought it looked like an interception, but said, "It's up to the officials. It's their call." He also noted that the Tigers still would have had to go nearly 70 yards for a touchdown had they gotten possession, and without Jefferson they had been struggling on offense.

Whatever the case, the Tide took advantage by kicking a field goal for a nine-point lead.

The frantic fourth quarter ended a back-and-fourth struggle that saw LSU assume leads of 7-3 at the half and 15-10 at the end of the third quarter.

But without Jefferson and Scott, the Tigers couldn't get out of their own territory in the fourth quarter.

The loss eliminated LSU from the SEC Western Division race with a 4-2 conference record to Bama's 6-0 mark. But at 7-2 overall, the Tigers remain in contention for a spot in the Chick-fil-A or Cotton Bowl and can finish with 10 wins for the fourth time in Miles' five seasons.

They have a non-conference home game coming up against Louisiana Tech, then finish the regular season at Ole Miss and at home against Arkansas.

--DT Drake Nevis sacked Alabama's Greg McElroy for a safety in the third quarter. It was the first safety for LSU since Nov. 25, 2005, when Early Doucet tackled the punter in the end zone against Arkansas.

--WR Brandon LaFell caught a pass for the 37th consecutive game. He had four receptions against Bama. They were good for only 28 yards, however.

--TE Richard Dickson, who at one time seemed a cinch to set a school receiving record for tight ends, did not play at Alabama because of a knee injury. He has only one reception over his last three games and remains five short of the record of 87 catches held by Mitch Andrews.

GAME BALL GOES TO: LB Kelvin Sheppard -- Sheppard kept the Tigers in front 7-3 at halftime with his first career interception. The turnover came with the Tide facing first down at LSU's 23-yard line, and it gave the Tigers the ball at their 6-yard line with just 29 seconds left before the break. Sheppard also had eight tackles.

KEEP AN EYE ON: TE Deangelo Peterson -- Peterson, a sophomore who took over for injured veteran Richard Dickson, scored his first career touchdown on a 12-yard reception in the second quarter, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead. It was only his fourth career reception.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This day had a lot of promise. I thought there would be a way to win. I think this is a team that's understandably unhappy." -- Coach Les Miles, in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, on his players' reaction to the loss at Alabama.

LOOKING GOOD: QB Jordan Jefferson was 10 of 17 passing for 114 yards and a touchdown before going out in the third quarter with an injury. He did not throw an interception and was sacked only once. RB Charles Scott had 84 yards on just 13 rushes before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury. WR Terrance Toliver had a 41-yard catch among his four receptions.

--Senior LB Jacob Cutrera tied his career high with 11 tackles, and junior CB Jai Eugene had a career-high six tackles. P Derek Helton averaged 47 yards on six punts, and pooch punter Josh Jasper backed up the Tide inside its 20-yard line on both of his attempts.

STILL NEEDS WORK: Despite the work of RB Charles Scott, the Tigers wound up with only 95 net yards on the ground. On the other side, they surrendered 176 to the Tide, giving up 144 to Mark Ingram, who was nearly unstoppable in the second half.

--The Tigers got to the Tide for only one sack (DT Drake Nevis), but it was good for a safety. The Tigers had only one other tackle for a loss.

--Backup QB Jarrett Lee was only 4-of-10 passing and was intercepted on LSU's final play.

ROSTER REPORT:

--QB Jordan Jefferson (ankle) left the game in the third quarter and did not return. He is expected to be available for the next game.

--RB Charles Scott (collarbone) was injured late in the third quarter on a 34-yard run to Bama's 15-yard line. The Tigers scored three plays later to take a 15-10 lead. Scott could be out for the rest of the season.

--CB Patrick Peterson (cramps) left the game twice. He wasn't on the field for Julio Jones' 73-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the fourth quarter after earlier making a key third-down stop that forced the Tide to settle for a field goal to pull within 15-13.

--C T-Bob Hebert, DE Lazarius Levingston, DT Al Woods, and LT Ciron Black all left the field with various injuries, and their status will be determined as the week goes on.

--TE Richard Dickson (knee) sat out the game.

Previous Report: 11/03/2009