Fresh off their 26-13 victory over Rice in Houston, the Tigers hosted another Southwest Conference foe, Texas A&M. After being a 14-point underdog at Rice, the 1-1 Tigers were a 14-point favorite over the 0-3 Aggies in Gaynell Tinsley's first home game as head coach.

One report on the game the next day said, "Louisiana State University's football team beat Texas A&M 14 to 13 by pure accident tonight. An estimated 39,000 persons saw the Aggies beaten for the fourth time this season."

After the Aggies went three-and-out with the opening kickoff, they got a break when the ball got away from LSU QB Charlie Pevey on a handoff to Joe LeSage, and Bart Haltom recovered for A&M at midfield.

Stocky RB Bobby Goff, who played at A&M in 1944 before going into the military and re­turning in 1948, burst through the line for 11 and then 9y. Then Goff splattered Tigers all over the field as he hit right tackle for a first down on the 27. A&M's other strong runner, Bob Goode, crashed for four and then 11 more for another first down on the 11.

After the Tigers called time out, the LSU forward wall rose up and stopped Goode for no gain. Then Goode tried a left end sweep but was chased out of bounds on the LSU 7 by DE Abner Wimberly. Goff took a pitchout around the right side for a touchdown. No one realized it at the time, but the most crucial play of the evening occurred on the next snap. Herbert Turley, who had kicked six for six extra points in the previous three games, missed the PAT try. Texas A&M 6 LSU 0 with 5:05 left in the first quarter.

Staying on the ground, the Tigers drove to their 47 before bogging down. After punting, they got the ball back quickly when Ed Claunch intercepted a pass and ran to the Aggie 36. Pevey's third down pass to Al Heroman put the ball on the 18. Zollie Toth took a pitchout around left end to the nine. The defense dug in and stuffed the Tigers on the next two plays. But Heroman took a pitchout from Pevey and skirted right end for the final 6y. Benny Grif­fith kicked the all-important extra point to make 7-6 LSU with only 15 seconds left in the opening period.

Midway through the second quarter, an exchange of punts gave LSU good field position at the A&M 36. A crazy play, the "pure accident" mentioned above, gave the Tigers their second touchdown. Ebert Van Buren, younger brother of former LSU star Steve Van Buren, fum­bled, and the ball bounced twice into the hands of Kenny Konz, who scooped up the pigskin on the 28 and ran the rest of the way for a touchdown. Griffith converted to make it 14-6 LSU.

The second half belonged to the Aggies as they held the Tigers scoreless. However, the LSU defense made play after play to preserve the victory.

The Tigers got the first break when Baggett recovered a fumble early in the third quarter on the LSU 26. The Bengals promptly marched to the Aggie 31, giving Tiger fans hope of an easy victory. But the next four plays lost 10y.

The Aggie offense came to life. Goode and Goff took turns running the ball 17 consecutive plays on a relentless march to the end zone. Finally, A&M went for it on fourth down to make a first down on the two. The Tigers stuffed the next three plays before Goode went through left guard for the final six feet. Turley kicked the extra point. LSU 14 Texas A&M 13

The Aggies created another opportunity on the second play of the fourth quarter when De­dric Copeland raced through to block Ripper Collins' punt on the LSU 46. A wild scramble for the ball ensued during which the ball was batted toward the LSU goal until A&M T Jim Flowers recovered on the LSU 15.

But just when it looked like the Aggies would take the lead with at least a field goal, Goff fumbled on the next play while taking the handoff from the quarterback, and LSU G Wren Worley fell on the pigskin at the 17.

The next time the visitors got the ball, HB Bobby Clegg leaped high to get a hand on a pass, bat the ball into the air, and make a diving interception on the LSU 42.

With the Tigers making no headway on the ground and not wishing to chance a pass, the Aggies soon got the ball back. This time it was Griffith who made the key play when Goode took a 19y pass from QB Jim Cashion and seemed to have clear sailing until the Tiger half­back from N. Little Rock AK tackled him.

The next time Cashion took to the air, Baggett snagged the underthrown pass and return­ed it to the A&M 43. Once again, the Aggie line stopped the Tigers. So Collins punted to the 2y line, and the Aggies returned to the eight with a minute to play. The game ended when the Tigers intercepted a desperation long pass.

FINAL SCORE: LSU 14 TEXAS A&M 13