From here the Tigers took complete control of the game. Rabb scored on a quarterback keep, and later rushing touchdowns by Robinson and Cannon made the score 27–0 at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw LSU take advantage of Tulane's lack of roster depth with multiple long plays. The first was a 55-yard pass from Matherne to Purvis for a touchdown. Later, Robinson returned a punt 47 yards to the goal line, where Cannon ran it in. The final score of the game was a 45-yard touchdown run by Cannon. Overall, LSU's offense accounted for 485 yards, with 304 of them coming on the ground. Conversely, Tulane had 81 total yards and were intercepted four times and lost three fumbles. "Times-Picayune" sportswriter Bill Keefe described the game as such: "Tulane's only mistake was running tame while LSU was running wild." With a 10–0 regular season record, LSU was crowned national champion by the Associated Press and the Coaches' Poll (UPI), as well as by 37 other selectors. However, the title was not unanimous; the Iowa Hawkeyes were declared champions by the Football Writers Association of America. LSU capped off its undefeated season with a 7–0 victory over the Clemson Tigers in the Sugar Bowl. The game's only score was a touchdown in the third quarter, when Cannon completed a nine-yard pass to Mangham in the end zone. "The legendary 1958 team compiled LSU's first perfect season since 1908 and became the first squad in school history to win the national title. Looking to build on a previous season record of 5-5, Coach Paul Dietzel's innovative three-platoon system -- the White Team, the Go Team, and the Chinese Bandits -- revolutionized college football. The 1958 Tigers blew through SEC opponents, finishing the league slate with a perfect 6-0 record to win the SEC title. Among the wins was a Homecoming showdown against Florida in front of the first sellout crowd in Tiger Stadium history. LSU capped off the season with a Sugar Bowl win over Clemson, propelling the Tigers to a flawless 11-0 record."