LSU Stuns Texas A&M in Ed Orgeron’s Final Game as Head Coach, 27-24

LSU Tigers #14 Max Johnson (QB) threw three touchdowns against the Texas A&M defense. Photo by Kevin Magee/T.G.Sportstv1.

BATON ROUGE, LA - In his final game as head coach at LSU, Coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers (6-6) rallied late to beat No.14 ranked Texas A&M Aggies (8-4) in Death Valley, 27-24.

LSU quarterback Max Johnson connected with junior receiver Jaray Jenkins for a 28-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining, defeating the Aggies, and becoming bowl eligible.

Johnson had a big game completing 22 of 38 passes for 306 yards and three touchdown passes, including the game-winner. His favorite target of the evening was Jenkins, with eight receptions, for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

The Aggies sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada completed 20 of 35 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns.

LSU got on the board first after their 13-play, 44-yard drive stalled, which resulted in a 50-yard field goal by Cade York.

After a series of punts, both LSU and A&M, the Tigers would score the first touchdown of the game on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Jenkins, making the score 10-0.

Texas A&M Aggies #13 Moose Muhammad III (WR) 13-yard touchdown catch against LSU defense. Photo by Kevin Magee/T.G.Sportstv1.

After punting on their first three drives, the Aggies drove 73 yards in 3:46, capping off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Calzada to Moose Muhammad III cutting the lead to 10-7.

After forcing a three-and-out with 0:51 remaining in the second quarter, Johnson threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Trey Palmer to extend their lead at halftime, 17-7.

Texas A&M kicker Seth Small shrunk LSU's lead to 17-10 by making a 33-yard field goal. York would kick a 47-yard field goal to give the Tigers a ten-points lead, 20-10.

Texas A&M Aggies #5 Jalen Preston (WR) 15-yard touchdown catch. Photo by Kevin Magee/T.G.Sportstv1.

With 3:07 remaining in the third quarter, Texas A&M began their comeback by driving 75 yards in 7 plays completing their drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Calzada to Jalen Preston making the score 20-17.

Texas A&M's defense would force the LSU offense to punt on two consecutive drives. Calzada would fine Preston again with a 32-yard touchdown pass, giving the Tigers their first lead of the game 24-20, with 7:33 left in the game.

The Tigers would find themselves with the ball with 1:57 remaining in the fourth quarter on their 15-yard line. LSU converted a fourth and six to keep their drive alive and needed to go eighty-nine yards for the winning touchdown.

LSU Tigers #10 Jaray Jenkins (WR) 28-yard game-winning touchdown against the Texas A&M Aggies defense. Photo by Kevin Magee/T.G.Sportstv1.

After a string of completions by Johnson, he would find Jaray Jenkins down the right sideline for a 28-yard game-winning touchdown to defeat the Aggies, 27-24.

"We just kept preaching to our football team to keep on fighting, keep fighting, and something good is going to happen," said Orgeron, who coached his final game as the leader of the LSU Tigers.

Orgeron said he and the LSU administration mutually agreed he would not coach a bowl game. Offensive line coach Brad Davis would take over as interim coach.

LSU and Texas A&M both wait for their bid to play in a bowl game.