Clemson took a 13-10 lead into halftime after Huegel booted a 32-yard field goal on the Tigers’ next possession.
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He suffered a right ankle injury in the second half of Clemson’s 30-24 win over Troy.
NO. 2 CLEMSON 30, TROY 24: Deshaun Watson threw three touchdown passes and Clemson avoided a host of mistakes – including an embarrassing early celebration punt-return gaffe by Ray-Ray McCloud that cost the Tigers a touchdown – to hold off pesky Troy. Also, Ray-Ray McCloud inexplicably dropped the ball on the ½-yard line after he beat the Troy defense on a punt return. McCloud provided the spark the Tigers were looking for at the end of the third quarter leading to the Tigers’ touchdown drive to start the fourth quarter, accounting for 43 yards receiving on the Tigers’ 66-yard scoring drive.
Troy was given the ball and a touchback, officially stamping the play as one the most ridiculous brain farts since DeSean Jackson’s titanic bungle. “He’s going to go above and beyond you ask of him always”, Swinney said on April 4.
Wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud had seven receptions for a career-high 86 yards, while Artavis Scott had seven catches for 71 yards.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson issued an apology Monday.
The Tigers (2-0) scored 17 fourth-quarter points to build on a 13-10 lead. Watson hit beefy defensive lineman Christian Wilkins for a 1-yard score in Clemson’s jumbo goal line package, then connected with Deon Cain on a 23-yard pass for a 27-10 lead.
Troy’s last touchdown came with 44 seconds to play.
It might not be time for Clemson to press the panic button yet, but it’s getting close. “We had 414 yards of offense and I don’t know that we could play worse”. “A lot of people expect us to put up a bunch of points and be lights-out, but it’s not always going to be like that”.
Troy head coach Neal Brown, left, speaks with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney before an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, in Clemson, S.C. “There wasn’t too much screaming or yelling (Saturday.) It’s just guys having a reality check, and looking in the mirror, because hey, we’re way better than this”.
Troy will try to bottle up its performance and see if it can carry it for a good part of the season. “Just got to find myself, and be the Deshaun Watson I always will be”. Clemson’s offense averaged more than 500 yards and 40 points on the way to an Atlantic Coast Conference title.
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LAST MEETING: Clemson’s run to the top of the college football world started in earnest in 2011 in a season opener with Troy. A 1,000-yard rusher last season, Watson’s run for 76 yards through two games and has not yet broken the big one that made Clemson’s attack so effective a year ago.
