Powers over 2007's final play

He knew it was coming.

How could it not? It was perhaps the biggest play of the season for both LSU and Auburn.

So when Auburn junior cornerback Jerraud Powers sat down with the media this week, it was inevitable.

How much do you think about that final play from last year’s game?

“Not much,” Powers said. “It never left me, but it wasn’t anything I was sitting back and waiting for it to come back up, because football, plays happen. I think about a lot of plays that I’ve done here and what I could have done different.

“For this game to come back up, I knew that question was going to be brought up a lot from last year’s game. I haven’t been sitting, worrying about it, thinking about that play. I haven’t put it on my wall and said ‘I can’t wait to go against these guys again,’ because I knew this chance was going to come.”

He’s right. Saturday’s game is only a day way. But so is the past.

Of course, you remember the play. With Auburn clinging to a 24-23 lead late in the fourth quarter, LSU’s offense was faced with a decision. As the clock wound down under 10 seconds, the Bengal Tigers could have tried a 39-yard field goal. Or, they could go for the jugular. It really wasn’t much of a choice for LSU head coach Les Miles. Go for it.

Senior quarterback Matt Flynn dropped back, lofted a perfect 22-yard pass in the back of the Auburn end zone that found the perfectly covered hands of Demetrius Byrd with one second to play.

Ballgame.

What a finish. What a play. What a memory. For everyone involved.

Even for the defender who if he had any better coverage, would have been inside Byrd’s jersey.

“It was one of those plays, if we ran the same play, same coverage, eight out of 10 times he drops that ball, probably,” Powers said. “He just made the play and came down with it. It was a great play by him. I was in position to make the play, my hand was on the ball, I just couldn’t get it out. It was a good throw by Matt Flynn, a good play call by Les Miles.”

LSU went on to win the SEC Championship and the national title.

“I’ve said many times that if we did it 10 times, we wouldn’t change the defense or how we covered it,” Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said. “I’ve heard their receiver say that he didn’t even see it coming and the ball just stuck in his hands. It was very unusual, but the difference in that game was that throw when the quarterback threw the ball right on the money.

“It was a gutsy play and they went on to win a national championship. And I’d say that was a big turning point for them.”

But that doesn’t mean it was all bad for Auburn.

AU finished the rest of the regular season 3-1, then went on to the Chick-fil-A Bowl and beat Clemson.

Now, the teams are back together again. And it’d be an understatement to say this rivalry plays a role in the outcome of the conference standings. Six out of the last eight winners of the Auburn-LSU game have gone on to represent the SEC West in Atlanta at the SEC Championship.

This year is expected to be no different.

Powers, who leads the nation’s third-ranked scoring defense, can’t wait. And even though he said he left last year’s game-ending play in the past where it belongs, the junior isn’t above making up for it.

“I look back on it, definitely,” said Powers, who leads the Tigers with 18 tackles. “Just to realize I could have probably helped my team a little bit better from my play from last year. But it’s just motivation, just to think that last year we were a second away from winning the game and to come back this year knowing we’re in the same-type situation, but the difference is, we’re playing at home rather than at LSU.

“It’s going to be another tough, hard-fought game. I’m ready for Saturday.”

Where the past — and pass — is history.

mszvetitz@oanow.com | 737-2513