"It got to a point where they didn't know who was going to get the football," Leard said.
The game was the first SEC win at home for the Tigers (3-0, 2-0 SEC) since 1997. They did it before a record crowd of 85,612 at a rollicking Jordan-Hare Stadium. Coach Tommy Tuberville said coaches didn't make a big deal about the losing streak in practice, but it was still on the players' minds.
"I know they're happy to get it off them," Tuberville said.
The loss was a step back for LSU (2-1, 0-1), which had outscored non-conference opponents 86-13 in its first two games and was looking for a sign it can once again compete in the SEC. LSU has won only three league games in two years.
After struggling for years to find a consistent rushing threat, Auburn has relied this year on the bulldog-tough running of Johnson, who gained 339 yards and scored five touchdowns in two games.
Johnson gained 139 yards on 36 carries, making him the first Auburn back to run for more than 100 yards in three straight games since Stephen Davis did it in 1994. Johnson scored on a 2-yard run with three seconds remaining.
Leard's arm and Carter's speed made the difference against LSU, however. Standing deep in the pocket with little pressure, Leard threaded the defense for touchdown passes of 20 yards to Robert Johnson and 19 yards to Clifton Robinson. Leard went 21-of-30 for 225 yards with no interceptions.
It was Carter's return that knocked the wind out of LSU for good. After LSU pulled within three at 20-17 on a 45-yard pass from Josh Booty to Josh Reed, Carter took the kickoff at the goal line and cut right. He raced the length of the field and was still pulling away when e crossed the goal line.
"I thought that was the deciding blow," Tuberville said. "He's been getting closer for two years, and he finally broke one."
Booty, under heavy pressure most of the game, got LSU on the board first with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Reed. Booty, who led the SEC in passing efficiency heading into the game, completed only 13-of-29 attempts for 214 yards with an interception.
LSU coach Nick Saban said his offense couldn't stop the Auburn defensive pressure. Said Saban, "That was our biggest mistake."
John Corbello had a 22-yard field goal for LSU, but he missed on a 51-yarder. Auburn's Damon Duval added field goals of 42 and 32 yards.
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH FINAL
--- --- --- --- -----
LSU 10 0 7 0 17
Auburn 0 13 14 7 34
First Quarter
LSU-Reed 75 pass from Booty (Corbello kick), 5:35
LSU-FG Corbello 22, 1:14
Second Quarter
Aub-FG Duval 42, 13:08
Aub-Johnson 20 pass from Leard (Duval kick), 3:18
Aub-FG Duval 32, :32
Third Quarter
Aub-Robinson 19 pass from Leard (Duval kick), 10:03
LSU-Reed 45 pass from Booty (Corbello kick), 6:45
Aub-Carter 100 kickoff return (Duval kick), 6:27
Fourth Quarter
Aub-Johnson 2 run (Duval kick), 0:03
LSU Aub
--- ---
First downs 12 22
Rushes-yards 26-83 48-196
Passing 214 225
Comp-Att-Int 13-30-1 21-30-0
Return Yards 34 150
Punts-Avg. 6-36.7 4-39
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-Yards 4-34 5-45
Time of Possession 26:09 33:51
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-LSU, L. Toefield 15-49, Davis 7-30, Davey 1-3, J. Booty
3-1. Auburn, Johnson 36-139, Carter 3-37, Moore 3-9, C. Robinson
1-8.
PASSING-LSU, J. Booty 13-29-1-214, Davey 0-1-0-0. Auburn, Leard
21-30-0-225.
RECEIVING-LSU, Reed 8-167, Robinson 2-21, Royal 1-10, Myers 1-8.
Auburn, Daniels 6-62, C.Robinson 3-46, Worthy 3-39, Willis 3-26.
A-85,612.