Dabo Swinney wanted to see his team play well in all three phases for 60 minutes Saturday against South Carolina State.
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Clemson didn’t drop a pass in the first half after struggling with drops last week against Troy. Chances came early and often in a 59-0 rout Saturday.
“I’m glad that we’re 3-0”, Swinney said. “I think there will be a lot of confidence in that group (the offense) when we take the field in Atlanta in a few days”.
Three Clemson quarterbacks threw touchdowns, and seven Tigers found the end zone. It’s been a very good week of practice, they had an edge about them all week, because they were frustrated with our execution, especially offensively. “They had an edge about them all week”.
Feaster said he viewed the game as an audition to gain more playing time.
S.C. State didn’t help itself by literally giving Clemson a touchdown. Harris caught the ball and tossed it toward an official instead of taking a knee.
In addition to Johnson, freshmen Diondre Overton and Tavien Feaster and sophomore Trevion Thompson scored their first career touchdowns. “We want to dominate each and every opponent”. Basically, your job at that point is to make sure you don’t embarrass yourself in areas other than the scoreboard. “We have to play to Clemson’s standard and dominate”. Backup Nick Schuessler was 7-for-11 for 118 yards and a score and Kelly Bryant also threw a touchdown. Ray-Ray McCloud’s 75-yard punt return ended when the receiver let go of the ball at the 1 before reaching the end zone. It was caught in the air and returned for a touchdown.
CLEMSON: The Tigers win won’t do much to enhance or detract their spot in the rankings.
Bulldogs quarterback Caleb York completed 8 of 22 passes for 54 yards with an interception.
Clemson led 45-0 at half time against the Bulldogs, with Deshaun Watson passing for three touchdowns to get the Tigers rolling. Bruce Johnson, a former Emerald High standout, had an assisted tackle from his defensive line position for S.C. State. The Tigers finished with 18 more first downs than the Bulldogs (27-9).
Clemson had most of its starters and even some second-string players out of the game by halftime. And that’s being modest saying that about how they got destroyed by the No. 5 Tigers.
Clemson, which will move to 3-0, next gets Georgia Tech on the road.
SYRACUYSE, N.Y. – Rodney Adams scored three touchdowns as USF’s high-powered, quick-strike offense roared back from an early deficit to defeat Syracuse 45-20 on Saturday and remain unbeaten this season.
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Zach Lentz is a Clemson University alumnus who got his start working with the Tigers basketball team from 1999-2004.
