ATLANTA — Reports of the death of LSU’s defense — and the departure of head coach Les Miles — have been greatly exaggerated. LSU cornerback Jonathan Zenon ran an interception back for a touchdown with under 10 minutes to play before linebacker Darry Beckwith picked off another inside the LSU 10 to cap the Tigers’ 10th SEC Football Championship in school history. The Tigers downed the Tennessee Volunteers, 21-14.

The two plays put the LSU defense back on the map where they started the season — among the nation’s elite — and put the Tigers into the BCS championship game.

On third-and-5 from the Tennessee 14, LSU cornerback Jonathan Zenon stepped in front of wide receiver Quintin Hancock and picked off Vols quarterback Erik Ainge at the Tennessee 18. He ran untouched into the endzone for a touchdown, LSU’s first defensive score of the season.

Leading 19-14, LSU went for the two-point conversion, this time using Hester as a decoy in the short-yardage situation and opting to allow quarterback Ryan Perrilloux to take it himself into the endzone.

LSU held off the Vols with Beckwith’s interception at the Tennessee 7-yard line with 2:42 to play to win.

Meanwhile, Perrilloux, the LSU sophomore quarterback, earned championship game MVP honors by calling the finest game of his short career.

Starting for just the second time in place of Matt Flynn, Perriolloux was 20-of-30 passing for 243 yards and a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.

He also rushed nine times for 14 yards and scored the two-point conversion that gave LSU the final margin after Zenon’s interception.

The Tigers converted 10-of-20 third downs while holding Tennessee to 4-of-13.

LSU running back Jacob Hester, who went over 1,000 yards on the season (1,017), was again the force that powered the Tigers’ rushing attack. He ran 23 times for 120 yards to keep the Vols’ linebackers and safeties from coming after Perrilloux.

LSU’s defense was stellar, especially considering its health. It’s front four lost Charles Alexander early in the season to injury also played without Marlon Favorite and Tremaine Johnson today.

All-American Glenn Dorsey missed more than half the game, yet LSU held running back Arian Foster to 57 yards on 21 rushes. Tennessee totalled 94 yards on 26 carries.

The Tigers finished the game with a 464-343 advantage in total offense, running 14 more plays than Tennessee and controlling the clock for more than 36 minutes.

LSU’s defensive also pressured Ainge more than most have all season. Though not recording a sack, they held Ainge to 20-of-40 passing for 249 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns.