The 5-1 LSU Tigers entered the game against 5-1 Alabama battered after their bruising 34-21 victory over Ole Miss the week before. The Tigers, with only seven seniors of the ros­ter, would be without C Chuck Schroll, G Russ Foti, and FB Zollie Toth. The good news was that FB Red Knight would be in the lineup.

Meanwhile Bama Coach Frank Thomas "moaned all the way across Dixie" that his Tide was in its worst physical condition of the season. The core of his team was the "War Babies" who were freshmen on the 1944 squad that played Duke in the Sugar Bowl and trampled Southern California 34-14 in the 1946 Rose Bowl.

With first place in the Southeastern Conference possibly on the line, the game was billed as "the biggest game Baton Rouge has ever seen."

The LSU players came up with the slogan "Beat Bama for Bernie" after fans booed LSU coach Bernie Moore during the Ole Miss game for taking out a "hot" second team in favor of his first string. LSU had not defeated Alabama since 1909.

The game was hard to figure since the teams had no common opponents at that point in the season.

A crowd of 46,000 jam-packed Tiger Stadium for the 2 o'clock kickoff.

LSU took the opening kickoff and made one first down before punting to the Bama 34. On second down, Gilmer boomed a quick-kick 71y into the LSU end zone.

The Tigers' possession ended on an interception by Gilmer, who was an excellent defensive back in addition to being a fine runner and top-notch passer. Finding success on the ground, the Tide drove to a first down on the LSU nine. The Tigers dug in and held Bill Cadenhead to four at right tackle, Gilmer to no gain up the middle and then a yard loss. On fourth down, Harry's pass into the end zone misfired, and LSU took over.

Following a common strategy of that era, Ripper Collins immediately punted "out of dan­ger" to the LSU 45. On fourth down, Gilmer punted to Dan Sandifer on the LSU four, and he returned to the eight. That set up the first score of the day.

On first down, Collins fumbled a lateral from Tittle, and Bama's Ted Cook recovered on the two. Gilmer gained nothing at right guard on a play when Collins was injured and had to be helped off the field. Hal Self then scored on a quarterback sneak. Hugh Morrow booted the extra point. Alabama 7 LSU 0

You couldn't blame Tiger fans for thinking, "Here we go again."

Moore substituted his entire second team with the exception of QB Y. A. Tittle. HB Al Her­oman returned the kickoff to the 24 as the quarter ended.

When Alabama got the ball back, they marched to the LSU 48 before Johnny August's pass intended for James Cain bounced off the receiver's hands to Tittle who grabbed it at his 35 and raced 65y down the sideline for a touchdown. Holly Heard's PAT try sailed wide to keep the score Alabama 7 LSU 6.

Neither team threatened until another big play put the Tigers in the lead in the last minute of the first half.

With time running out, Gilmer flooded the air with passes. to give Bama a first down on the Tiger 37. Harry's next three passes were broken up. On fourth down, he tried to hit Caden­head, but E Jim Loflin intercepted on the east sideline. As he was being tackled on the LSU 18, he lateraled to Sandifer, who sprinted up the sideline to the end zone behind the blocking of almost the entire Tiger team as the half ended. Heard's try for point was blocked. Halftime score: LSU 12 Alabama 7

Alabama ran only one play after receiving the second half kickoff before Gilmer punted to HB Ray Coates who was tackled on the LSU 39.

After Sandifer gained four up the middle Tittle threw to E Dilton Richmond for 25y to the Bama 33. After an incompletion, Collins smashed off right tackle and sped 32y for a touch­down. This time Heard's kick was good. LSU 19 Alabama 7

The Tide made one first down before punting. That set up another long touchdown play for the Tigers. Tittle passed to Sandifer on the east side of the field, and he cut back clear across the field at the Bama 25 into the end zone. LSU 25 Alabama 7

Once again, the Crimson Tide could not move against the determined Tiger defense. Ano­ther three-and-out gave LSU the ball on its 48. Tittle and company had another long gain up their sleeve. On second-and-eight, Y. A. passed to E Mel Lyle for 38y to the Bama 22. Coates broke over right tackle for nine before Heroman gained seven at right guard to make it first-and-goal at the seven.

Running behind senior LG Herd Miller, Coates got a yard, and Bill Schroll gained three. Then Coates smashed through the same hole to pay dirt. Heard's kick was blocked. Who would have believed it? LSU 31 Alabama 7

If anyone thought the proud visitors would throw in the towel, they were badly mistaken.

The LSU defense continued to dominate, forcing an Alabama punt on the first play of the final period. But Jim Cason fumbled when tackled, and James Corbitt recovered for Bama on the LSU 29.

Mixing runs and passes, the Tide scored in eight plays. The last two were a screen pass to Morrow for 10y to the two, and Fred Grant's plunge into the end zone. Morrow kicked the PAT. LSU 31 Alabama 14

Another LSU turnover led to seven more points for the Tide. On the first play after the kickoff, Heroman raced beautifully around left end for 33y to the Bama 47. But the next two plays lost a total of 5y. So Cason tried a pass to Lyle that Gilmer snagged on the 35 and returned 5y.

On third down, Harry passed to Morrow for 23y and a first down on the LSU 42. Gilmer then faked a pass and skirted right end for 14y to move the chains again. Undeterred by two incompletions, the pride of Birmingham's Woodlawn High School, threw a flat pass to Grant who gained 19 before Cason threw him out of bounds on the 11. Gilmer gained three, then six, before Self pushed over left guard for the touchdown. LSU 31 Alabama 21

On the first play from scrimmage on LSU's next possession, freshman QB Charley Pevey fumbled, and Dick Filippini recovered for Bama on the LSU 24. But on first down, Gilmer tried to escape a strong pass rush and was thrown for a 20y loss by G Fred "Skinny" Hall. Two plays later, Harry punted into the end zone.

Staying on the ground, the Tigers got two first downs to run out the clock.

FINAL SCORE: LSU 31 ALABAMA 21

Tthe Tigers carried Coach Moore off the field after the victory.