Two reasons why LSU defeated Alabama

The importance of every play in a football game was proven in the Louisiana State University (LSU)-Alabama game.  This game also showed the importance of special teams.  This grind-it-out, tough, defensive game was not the most entertaining game of all time, but it definitely lived up to all the hype.

One of the most impactful plays in this game took place on the opening kickoff.  It was your typical kickoff with a normal return.  Maze, Alabama kick returner, returned the kick 26 yards and jogged over to the sideline with a slight limp.

This slight, barely noticeable limp played a huge role in the game.  Marquis Maze reinjured his ankle later in the game and it really handicapped him in the fourth quarter. ,

Alabama had a chance of scoring in the fourth quarter when they tried a trick play with Maze as the quarterback.  He faked the end around, and then Maze threw the ball towards a wide open tight end.  

The ball was underthrown and picked off at the one yard line by Eric Reid.  If Maze's ankle had been 100 percent, would the pass have been on target?  That is pure speculation, but it makes you think.

After LSU's next series, they had to punt the ball out of their own end zone.  Brad Wing, LSU punter, waited for the snap to punt the ball while Maze waited to return.  

Wing received the snap and booted a low, line-drive, powerful punt.  Maze began to run to receive the punt but had to stop because of his hurt ankle.  The ball then rolled all the way past the Alabama 20 yard line for a 73 yard punt.

This was crucial because it was the fourth quarter and had Maze caught the punt, Alabama would have probably had the ball near midfield with a better chance to win the game in regulation.  Because of Maze's ankle that was initially injured on the first play of the game, Alabama potentially suffered in two key plays late in the game.

This, of course, is still pure speculation, but when you look at the facts, LSU won the game with special teams.  Both teams had two turnovers, nearly the same time of possession and close to the same amount of yards.  The difference in the game was the special teams of LSU.

The first aspect LSU excelled in over Alabama was field goal kicking.  LSU made all three of the field goals, and Alabama made a combined two of six.  LSU made 100 percent of their field goals while Alabama only made 33 percent of theirs.

The other aspect LSU excelled at was their punting.  Wing kicked a key 73 yard punt (3rd longest in LSU history) in the fourth quarter and punted four inside the 20 yard line.  Two of those punts were downed inside the 5 yard line.

This game showed two equally talented teams that gave it all they had.  The only reasons I feel LSU ended up on top was because of their excellent special teams and the hurt ankle of Maze.