That number will now go to 36, as the nation’s number one team-the Clemson Tigers-defeated the No. 10 Tar Heels 45-37 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte behind an incredible effort from their star quarterback, sophomore Deshaun Watson.
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Clemson (1) can not afford to let a chance at the College Football Playoff go by the wayside by overlooking this ACC Championship game against UNC.
“No matter where we get the ball, we have that mindset of get one first down, and if we do that we can score”, said quarterback Deshaun Watson, who finished with 420 yards total offense. The Tar Heels executed a ideal onside kick and recovered the ball but was flagged for offsides. UNC attempted another onside kick, but this time Clemson recovered and ran out the clock. His three-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter stretched the Clemson lead to 28-17.
“I had a chance to look at it, and they missed it”, said Fedora, who in the moments after the call appeared angry and animated while speaking with the officials. “They were wrong. That’s all I’m going to say about it. They were wrong”.
After UNC tried a fake punt of its own that resulted in an incomplete pass, the Tigers took advantage and scored when Watson threw a 35-yard TD pass to Scott into the end zone for a 35-16 lead with 4:58 left in the third.
Clemson is heading to the College Football Playoff undefeated.
North Carolina took the first possession of the second half deep into Clemson territory. Elijah Hood led in rushing with 220 yards and two touchdowns in 21 carries. Stanford will either play in the Rose Bowl as Pac-12 champion or possibly make the four-team playoff if No. 1 Clemson loses the ACC championship.
During the post-game celebration, Deshaun Watson did the Heisman Trophy pose for the Tiger fans.
Most of the championship-game record 74,514 fans on hand were pulling for Clemson, which wrapped up a spot in the title game almost a month ago. That created the first deficit for Clemson in more than 206 minutes of game time.
“We’re not very happy with the way the play was ruled”, said receiver Ryan Switzer, who had two touchdown catches. “All you daggone media people want me to get fired up about a poll six weeks (ago)”.
“My punter, I don’t have an explanation”, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said in a televised interview at halftime.
By every statistical measure, Clemson dominated the first half.
Though the Clemson defense did an excellent job of shutting down North Carolina, which came in averaging 41 points and 495 yards a game, the Tigers did give up a few big plays.
Then came a moment that the Tar Heels and their supporters are likely to remember for a long time to come.
Clemson set championship game records for total offense, first downs (33) and plays (98), which betrayed the Tigers’ domination.
Clemson Tigers rank at 15 for scoring 37.9 points where as North Carolina Tar Heels rank at 19 for allowing 20.8 scores. Teasdall ran the ball for four yards when Clemson needed 15 for the first down.
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However, Watson would put the Tigers back in front with two seconds left in the first half on a 1-yard jump pass to tight end Jordan Leggett.
