COL FB: LSU 41, Alabama 34

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Chad Jones caused a late fumble and Jacob Hester scored the deciding touchdown Saturday, as the third-ranked LSU Tigers beat Alabama, 41-34.

Quarterback Matt Flynn struggled early but ended up passing for 353 yards and three touchdowns for LSU (8-1, 5-1 SEC). Hester had two rushing touchdowns and Early Doucet caught two touchdown passes.

Alabama's John Parker Wilson went 14-of-40 for 234 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for the 18th-ranked Crimson Tide (6-3, 4-2).

LSU blew an early 14-point lead and trailed by 10 late in the third quarter.

Alabama broke a 27-27 tie midway through the fourth when Javier Arenas scored on a 61-yard punt return to give the Crimson Tide a 34-27 lead. Flynn and Doucet tied it up again with a 32-yard TD pass.

On the next series, Jones was free on a blitz and spun Wilson to the ground. Curtis Taylor recovered at the three, and Hester scored with 1:26 left in the game.