Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is a strong Heisman Trophy contender for a reason: the sophomore has thrown for 2,944 yards (267.6 ypg) and 26 touchdowns while completing 70.1 percent of his passes this season.
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The Tigers finish 12-0 on the year and will head to the ACC Championship game in Charlotte next week.
Since moving from offensive line coach to the man in charge, Elliott has done everything in his power to both change the Gamecocks fortunes and prove he has what it takes to become the Gamecocks full time coach.
“I would hope we had our brief coming-to-Jesus (moment) we all need occasionally”, Venables said.
The ultimate prize comes in January if the Tigers get into the national championship contest.
Especially if Watson keeps performing at this level.
Clemson retained the top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings this week after breezing to a 33-13 win over Wake Forest. Do those three things and we will see the first undefeated regular season for Clemson since 1981.
It started something off, because Clemson quickly got on the board again to push it to 14-0. Senior defender Kyle Fisher, a Wren High product who was the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, has missed the Tigers’ last four games and is questionable for Sunday’s game.
The state title belongs to Clemson for a second straight year, and thanks to the heroics of quarterback Deshaun Watson, the national title is still within reach, too. The Tiger defense forced a quick three-and-out and Watson followed with a 55-yard strike to Cain to extend the lead to 14-0.
Watson led the offense to scoring drives on its first two possessions of the second half as Clemson claimed a 28-10 lead. “It’s what he was born to do”.
“I told Shawn after the game, I think that’s a real credit to him and his staff that those guys competed like that”, Swinney said.
COOPER’S FINALE: South Carolina’s 1,000-yard receiver Pharoh Cooper is playing his last game, saying he intends to give up his final season with the Gamecocks for the NFL. But if it was looking for style points to impress the CFP committee, this was not the way to do it. That led to a Shon Carson touchdown run to bring the game within three after a two-point conversion by Lorenzo Nunez.
Scott Hood, Gamecock Central beat writer, @ScottHood63 If USC is still in the game in the second half (remember, USC has never led at halftime this season), its confidence level should grow and perhaps Clemson will succumb to the pressure. “With that said, we scored 92 on a day we weren’t very good”. “They did everything in their power”.
“It just kind of makes you chuckle when we found out about the Citadel”, Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett said. Gallman coughed up the ball after a hit by Skai Moore, then Watson mishandled an exchange with Gallman that Dante Sawyer pounced on.
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On defense, the Gamecocks have significant holes to fill.
