Watson threw maybe his most impressive TD of the season, and there have been a lot of them, on a lovely 55-yard play to Deon Cain, who had the ball dropped into his hands with a cornerback all over him.
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Things got off to a very promising start for the Gamecocks and their defense as they forced, and recovered, a pair of fumbles in the first quarter – but couldn’t take advantage.
It’s been a season to forget at SC, and interim coach Shawn Elliott was anxious to get going. Nitpickers in the Tigers’ first 11-0 season since its 1981 national title team will point to a lackluster 20-17 win at Louisville in September or the defense giving up 41 points at North Carolina State on Halloween and 27 points at Syracuse two weeks later as evidence Clemson can get beaten. His 4-yard run with 3:46 to play in the third quarter drew the Wolfpack within 35-23 before a failed two-point conversion run. This weekend, these two teams will once again meet on entirely different terms whereas SC will be wrapping up their season, Clemson will be eying a shot at the Capital One Orange Bowl. But Watson – the preseason ACC Player of the Year – saved the day for Clemson, guiding the Tigers 60 yards in 10 plays for the decisive score.
Deshaun Watson then took over the game.
So in the hair-splitting that will be the discussions about seeding the lucky four, it just might come up that the Gamecocks scored more points on Clemson than they did on the Bulldogs.
SC could find a way to circle the wagons, rally the troops and pull off the stunner, but they really are considerably worse on all three phases of the game. He had 58 yards, eight carries, no touchdowns.
SC lost Steve Spurrier during the season and is just 3-8 overall. But, if they lose, all the talk of Clemsoning returns, Dabo is humiliated, and Clemson fails to make the playoffs.
Three names remain at the forefront of South Carolina’s search, Houston coach Tom Herman, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and North Carolina coach Larry Fedora, although another candidate could emerge. After rushing for 191 yards in his rivalry debut a year ago, Wayne Gallman went for 102 in his second go-round against the Gamecocks. Tyler Renew busted off a 56-yard run in that one, scoring with just over six minutes left in the game.
Clemson drove down the field to begin the second half and Deshaun Watson capped off the drive with a 30-yard touchdown run.
Late in the fourth, Huegel added a 36-yard field goal for the Tigers. Unfortunately for Gamecock supporters, the Tigers are the team with everything to gain as they come to Columbia as the top-ranked team in the country.
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With the win, Clemson and Swinney ended a three-game losing streak at Brice-Williams Stadium. He ran 21 times for 114 yards and three TDs.
