November 17, 2012; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Odell Beckham (3) carries the ball on a return for a touchdown during the second half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Ole Miss 41-35. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-US PRESSWIRE

In the 101st meeting on the gridiron between LSU and Ole Miss, it was yet another back-and-forth contest played between the two western division rivals. A type of game that seems like is played almost every time Ole Miss visits Red Stick.

LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger had his third-straight game of over 250 yards passing, finishing with 282 yards through the air on the day. However, unlike the previous two games, Mettenberger was not protective of the football, turning it over twice on interceptions. In a 21-20 contest at the time Mettenberger forced a throw in the end zone that was picked off by Ole Miss defender Senquez Golson. A mistake that Mettenberger and the LSU offense will need to work on in upcoming weeks in knowing game -situation and management.

Throughout the game, Mettenberger was hit hard and even had to leave the game for one play as he was shaken up by a blind-siding hit from an Ole Miss defender. Mettenberger showed his toughness and maturation as a big-time quarterback by being able to shake off both the turnovers and the tough hits he was taking all game, and was able to lead his offense down the field for the game-winning drive in the final minutes of Saturday’s contest.

Ole Miss was able to expose a weakness in the secondary as they were able to rack up over 300 yards passing on the day including touchdown passes of 56 and 30 yards to wide receiver Donte Moncrieff from quarterback Bo Wallace. LSU gave its most total yardage of the season, 463 yards, and was kept off-balance throughout the contest by Ole Miss’ read-option based offense. Wallace, along with his two touchdown passes, was able to scamper 58 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, giving the visiting Rebels a 7-0 lead to start the game.

However, the LSU defense was able to make some big plays in the game by forcing four turnovers to keep the contest in reach for LSU to pull of some late game magic.

The game-changing play for the Tigers occurred in the fourth quarter when Odell Beckham Jr. returned a punt from his own 11-yard line, began going left, cut up-field and made a couple Ole Miss defenders miss, then dashed to the outside and up the sideline before being escorted into the end zone by a number of fellow Tigers.

The 89-yard punt return is the same amount of yardage, down the same sideline, and eventually into the same end zone as the famous Billy Cannon return on Halloween night in 1959. Of course Cannon’s return had a little more on the line that night as both teams were competing for a potential national title-

LSU wraps-up its regular season schedule with a trip to Fayetteville the Friday after Thanksgiving to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. With a win, LSU could potentially set itself up to be invited to be a participant in one of the illustrious BCS bowl games in January.

November 10, 2012; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Spencer Ware (11) catches a touchdown over Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Matthew Wells (22)during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Mettenberger passed for 273 yards Saturday night, completing 19 of 30 pass attempts. But, most importantly for Mettenberger, he made good decisions with the football and didn’t turn the ball over.

Jarvis Landry led the way for the receiving corps again this week as he set career highs in receptions with 9, and in yards with 109. Over the last two weeks, Landry and Mettenberger have begun to develop a rapport together which has seen Landry haul in 17 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns in that period of time.

Mississippi State took the first lead in the game when backup quarterback and Louisiana native Dak Prescott, finished off a 10-play, 74-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcus Green.

However, LSU was able to answer back on the ensuing possession when Drew Alleman drilled a 28-yard field goal, the first of his three made field goals on the night. Alleman struggled the week before against Alabama missing two field goals in that contest. Alleman also connected on field goal attempts of 26 and 41-yards in the game.

After the second of Alleman’s three field goal makes, Mississippi State running back Derrick Milton fumbled his only carry of the game giving LSU the ball at the Mississippi State 21-yard line. LSU was able to capitalize on the costly turnover three plays later when Mettenberger found Landry for a 19-yard touchdown pass.

After a Mississippi State field goal and kickoff, LSU took the ball over at their own 29-yard line with 48 seconds left in the first half. The assumption was that Les Miles and the coaching staff would just take a couple of knee’s and let the clock run out in the half, content with a 13-10 lead at the break. However, with the new confidence in the passing game, Miles decided to let Zach Mettenberger work his own two-minute drill. Mettenberger would lead the Tigers down the field in four plays. Completing passes of 15 and 36 yards and finishing it off with a beautiful 20-yard pass to running back Spencer Ware who made a diving grab in the end zone.

Mettenberger led a two-minute drive the same way that Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron had led the game -winning drive the week before. Mettenberger was poised, accurate and deliberate on his throws. A sure sign of his maturation and progression throughout the season as he continues to improve as a first-year starting quarterback.

As Mettenberger continues to progress so does this LSU team and becomes a formidable opponent down the stretch of the season and into the bowl games.

LSU plays host to Ole Miss on Senior day next Saturday at 2:30. Their final home game of the season.

November 3, 2012; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) passes the ball during the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU, 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-US PRESSWIRE

Alabama was given a second chance with the opportunity to get the ball back and they would not disappoint in doing so. Quarterback AJ McCarron would lead Alabama on one of its most memorable drives in the history of the storied Alabama program. The Crimson Tide would travel 72 yards in 43 seconds to take a 21-17 lead and avoid getting upset on the road and kept their national title aspirations alive in the process.

There were many questionable decisions that could be asked regarding to Coach Miles’ decisions in this game; however, you cannot question his team’s performance and effort.

Coming into Saturday night’s contest LSU was not given a chance of winning by any major sports pundit in the country. And for a majority of the contest, LSU was able to outplay its SEC West rival.

LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger set a career high in passing yards with 298 yards and most importantly didn’t turn the ball over. Mettenberger finally played up to the capabilities that everyone had of him coming into the season.

With Mettenberger’s ability to make plays down the field, he was able to take the pressure off the rushing attack. True-freshman Jeremy Hill and the LSU ground game were able to pound out good yardage against what was the nation’s best rush defense coming into Saturday’s contest. LSU racked up 139 yards on the ground which helped keep drives alive and the ball away from Alabama. Leading LSU to control the football for over 39 minutes in the game but they were unable to finish drives.

LSU was unable to put points on the board four times Saturday night when they were able to drive the ball inside the Alabama 40-yardline.

LSU failed to convert a fourth down attempt in the fourth quarter when running back Spencer Ware took a snap under center and tried to rush for the necessary yardage to gain the first down. Alleman failed to connect on field goal attempts of 54 and 45 yards in the game. And LSU decided to gamble on a 47-yard field goal attempt when holder Brad Wing tried a quick pass to Alleman in an attempt to trick the Alabama defense which was unsuccessful.

These failed opportunities and a number of questionable calls throughout the game leave LSU supporters wondering, “what if”, Sunday morning.