When Arkansas kicker AJ Reed lined up to a game-tying 44-yard field goal with 1:24 to play, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said he was hoping for a block or a miss.
LSU cornerback Jay Ward fulfilled his coach’s wish, as he was able to to block Reed’s attempt and seal the 27-24 victory for the Tigers.
“We needed a break and these guys fought hard and we finally got us a break,” Orgeron said. “This is a big win for our football team.”
The blocked kick wasn’t the only big play Ward made to help seal the win. He broke up a pass on third-and-3 the previous play that forced the attempt.
The sophomore was pressed into duty after starting cornerback Eli Ricks was ejected following targeting penalty. His first few plays after stepping in for Ricks didn’t go as well as his last few. Ward gave up a 50-yard completion to receiver Mike Woods and on the following play committed a pass interference penalty that gave the razorback a first and goal on the LSU 10.,
Orgeron said he was proud of the of the way Ward performed after a less than ideal start.
“He hung in there,” Orgeron said. “Jay is a tough young man. You are going to play like you practice. On our field goal block, Jay is always around the corner, e’s always making plays. I’m jus happy for that young man.”
LSU linebacker Jabril Cox said after the game that Ward’s play showed just how hard the team worked the last few weeks.
“He made a big play at the end,” Cox said. “Big time players make big plays ay big moments and you see right there, even though earlier in the game, he had a couple struggles. But he came back and fought and that’s just a testament of us working hard throughout these past few weeks.”
