Lov-3

By Dave Bernhard For Sun-Times Media November 5, 2011 11:08PM

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson (9) is tackled behind the line of scrimmage by Alabama defensive lineman Quinton Dial (90) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Updated: November 6, 2011 2:40AM

ATLANTA — The unbelievable has become the expected for the University of St. Francis this season.

On Saturday in front of 11,565 fans in the Georgia Dome, the Fighting Saints came back from a 10-point deficit in the final 1:24 to defeat Georgia State 30-27 in overtime.

Freshman Sean Murray drilled a 30-yard field goal in OT to end the game and give USF the win over the NCAA Division I Panthers. It was the first victory in USF history against an FCS team.

The Fighting Saints (8-2, No. 16 NAIA), who trailed 27-17 with 5:05 to play, cut the margin to 27-24 with 1:24 left on a 2 yard touchdown pass from E.J. White to Luke Gunderson.  A perfectly executed onside kick by Murray followed and gave USF possession on its own 42 yard line.

White completed four passes on the game-tying drive, the final one going for 16 yards to Elliott Allen to the 14 yard line.  Allen was tackled just in time for St. Francis to call a timeout with only :01 left.

Murray then stepped up and knocked home a 31 yard field goal inside the left upright to send the game to overtime.

Choosing to play defense first in the overtime period, St. Francis forced Georgia State (2-7) into a 47-yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright.

Four USF plays took the ball from the 25 yard line down to the 13.

Murray’s game-winning FG came from nearly the same spot that forced overtime and set off a St. Francis celebration on the Georgia Dome turf.

“This was a great experience to play in this stadium in this environment,” Uremovich said. “For most of our kids it was a once in a lifetime chance.

“For our guys to come out and perform like they did today is remarkable.”

Georgia State, coached by former NFL great and legendary college football coach, Bill Curry, was outgained 475-355 by the Saints.  For USF, Anthony Hubert rushed for 160 yards, Desmond Page caught 8 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown of 58 yards, while White passed for 217 yards and rushed for another 67.

No. 2 Marian 27, No. 1 St. Xavier 9

INDIANAPOLIS — Turning the ball over three times (two interceptions, one fumble), the top ranked St. Xavier fell to Marian University (Ind.), 27-9, in Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League action. With the win, the Knights (10-0 overall/5-0 MSFA) claim the MSFA Mideast League crown and likely become the NAIA’s top ranked team when the next top 25 poll is released Monday afternoon.

St. Xavier (9-1, 4-1) returns to its home field on Saturday for “Senior Day” and the 2011 regular season finale.

Northwestern 28, No. 9 Nebraska 25

LINCOLN, Neb. — Starting quarterback Dan Persa was on the sideline in the second half because of a bum shoulder, and Northwestern’s maligned defense was doing all it could to hold off Nebraska.

Surely, most fans wearing scarlet and cream at Memorial Stadium were thinking it was just a matter of time before the ninth-ranked Cornhuskers took control of this game.

The Wildcats wouldn’t let it happen, hanging on to upset Nebraska 28-25 for their first win over a top-10 opponent in two years.

“A great program win for us,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “To come on the road and put together our most complete game of the year. … Not perfect. Not a work of art. There are some things we can correct.”

The loss to the 17-point underdog Wildcats (4-5, 2-4) dropped Nebraska (7-2, 3-2) into a second-place tie with Iowa and Michigan in the Big Ten’s Legends Division.

No. 1 LSU 9, No. 2 Alabama 6

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 LSU gained the inside track to the BCS title game, beating No. 2 Alabama 9-6 on Drew Alleman’s 25-yard field goal in overtime after a fierce defensive struggle in which neither team reached the end zone.

The Crimson Tide missed four field goals, including Cade Foster’s 52-yard attempt after Alabama got the ball first in the extra period. LSU appeared to win the game on Michael Ford’s run around left end after taking a pitch, but he stepped out of bounds at the 7.

After two plays gained nothing, LSU (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) sent on Alleman to attempt his third field goal of the game on third down. Alabama (8-1, 5-1) tried to freeze him by calling timeout, but he calmly knocked it through to set off a wild celebration by the visiting team.

The crowd of more than 100,000 at Bryant-Denny Stadium — most of them dressed in crimson — sat in stunned silence as LSU celebrated its victory in only the 23rd regular-season matchup between the top two teams in The Associated Press rankings.

LSU still must win its last three regular-season games — No. 8 Arkansas is the toughest test — and then would have to get through the SEC championship game. But the Tigers are the clear favorite after winning another huge game away from home, emerging with the victory in a matchup between the two teams generally considered the best in the land.

Alabama will long be moaning about how this one got away. Foster missed two first-quarter field goals, and Jeremy Shelley had one blocked before Shelley finally made one from 34 yards. Alleman kicked a 19-yarder on the final play of the first half, leaving the teams tied at 3 even though the Crimson Tide clearly had the upper hand.

Interceptions set up both field goals in the second half. Foster made one from 46 yards after Jarrett Lee threw his second pick of the game, then Alleman connected from 30 yards after Alabama’s AJ McCarron made an ill-timed throw.

Notre Dame 24, Wake Forest 17

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Tommy Rees threw two touchdown passes and Notre Dame shut out Wake Forest in the second half of its victory.

Rees was 14 of 23 for 166 yards with scoring passes of 38 yards to Tyler Eifert and 16 yards to Michael Floyd. Jonas Gray added a 1-yard touchdown run for the Irish (6-3).