LSU's Kayshon Boutte breaks SEC receiving yards record with 308 and game-winning TD

BATON ROUGE – Even par.

Defending national champion LSU closed a disappointing season with a heart stopping, 53-48 victory over Ole Miss Saturday to finish with a third of its win total from last season at 5-5.

There will be no bowl as LSU offered that up last week as a self-imposed sanction to the NCAA, which is deciding the Tigers' sentence for NCAA violations.

LSU took its 53-48 lead with 1:34 to play on a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Johnson to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who avoided three tackles and weaved his way to the score.

Boutte caught 14 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns to break the Southeastern Conference receiving yards record for a game, previously held by Arkansas' Cobi Hamilton, who had 303 yards against Rutgers in 2012.  

Ole Miss (4-5) drove into LSU territory, but quarterback Matt Corral fumbled on a tackle by defensive end Ali Gaye. Safety JaCoby Stevens, playing his last game after announcing he would not return last week, recovered at the LSU 27 with 40 seconds to go. The Tigers ran out the clock for the win.

The Tigers’ defense blew a 34-21 lead at the half by allowing touchdown drives of 65 and 77 yards in the third quarter as the Rebels drew within 37-34. A 50-yard field goal by Cade York put the Tigers up 40-34 with 2:16 left in the third quarter.

Ole Miss took its first lead since 7-3 in the first quarter on a 25-yard pass from Corral to wide receiver Braylon Sanders on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 41-40 lead.

After Johnson threw an interception in the end zone, the Rebels extended their lead to 48-40 with 8:43 to play on a 2-yard touchdown run by Corral on fourth and goal.

LSU cut that to 48-46 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Johnson, but his two-point conversion pass to Boutte was batted away.   

Here are four takeaways from the game:

Defense finishes as it began

The Tigers’ defense, which was the main problem all season and entered the game dead last at No. 127 in pass defense among FBS schools, played to its numbers, particularly in the second half after LSU led, 34-21, at the break.

Ole Miss finished with 558 yards, and Corral threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 158 on 17 carries. But he threw five interceptions, and in the end, LSU forced its sixth turnover for the win.

LSU was without starting cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. because of an injury, and cornerback Cordale Flott left the game with an injury in the second quarter. Corral repeatedly went at freshman cornerback Dwight McGlothern with success.

The Rebels entered the game No. 3 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC in total yards a game at 563, and they were No. 2 in the SEC and No. 4 in the nation in passing yards with 356.5 a game. Corral was No. 3 in the SEC and No. 7 in the nation in passing efficiency at 187.3.

Cornerback Jay Ward intercepted Corral and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown and 10-7 lead with 5:26 left in the first quarter. Ward picked off another pass in the third quarter.

Safety Todd Harris intercepted Corral late in the first quarter at the LSU 15 to end a scoring threat. Gaye intercepted Corral at the Ole Miss 40, and LSU scored four plays later as Johnson hit Boutte for a 32-yard touchdown and 24-14 lead with 4:50 to go in the first half.

Linebacker Jabril Cox picked off Corral at the Ole Miss 33 and returned it 14 yards to the 19 with 23 seconds left. That turnover was cashed in for a 34-yard field goal by York and a 34-21 LSU halftime lead.

Quarterback Derby Leader

Johnson continued to make a strong argument to be LSU’s starter next season as he completed 27 of 51 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 14 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns.

It should be an interesting spring practice as Johnson, fellow true freshman TJ Finley, who started five games this season, and returning junior Myles Brennan will compete for the job. Brennan was LSU’s starter for the first three games of the season before suffering an abdomen injury in the loss at Missouri on Oct. 17.

Kayshon Boutte Show

Boutte filled the gap left by Marshall with 14 catches for 308 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner.

It was the most receiving yards by a SEC player against an SEC team since LSU wide receiver Josh Reed caught 19 for 293 yards in a 35-21 win at Alabama in 2001.

Boutte caught six passes for 109 yards in the first half alone with a 32-yard touchdown with 4:50 left in the second quarter for a 24-14 lead and an 18-yard touchdown with 58 seconds to go in the half for a 31-21 lead.

Fresh running backs

A pair of true freshmen tailbacks took over the running duties for the Tigers. Josh Williams gained 55 yards on 12 carries, and Tre Bradford had 53 on nine rushes. Sophomore starter Tyrion Davis-Price missed the game with an injury.

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