The Tigers often rely on big plays to score, but didn’t get a ton against SC.
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Quarterback Deshaun Watson rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 279 yards and another score as Clemson held off rival SC 28-10 Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.No. 1-ranked Clemson extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 15 games with its first victory at SC since 2007.
“He definitely made a statement, and it motivated the rest of us”, Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett said of Watson’s play. “We were just worrying about this game, achieve one of our goals and be state champs and that’s what we did”.
Overall, this was not an inspiring performance by this unit, especially considering the competition, but it didn’t cost the Tigers the game – for another week. The victor will nearly assuredly be selected for the College Football Playoff.
That touchdown and one more defensive stop sealed a 37-32 victory, enough to send Clemson onto the ACC Championship Game against North Carolina at a ideal 12-0. Perine had touchdown runs of 68 and 25 yards, and Mixon added a 66-yard scoring run in the half.
Presently the Clemson Tigers sport a record of 8-0, and have declared a corresponding line up of 5-3 against the spread. “It’s what he was born to do. But I still don’t think anyone else would have done it”.
Lipscomb (3-5) kept it close until the Gamecocks went on a 13-3 run with just over ten minutes remaining to stretch the lead to 76-60.
How does a team lose to an FCS team one week and then play the No. 1 team in FBS into the fourth quarter the next? They are allowing 26.6 points, and 422 yards per game and most likely will not be able to stop the Tigers’ onslaught led by running back Wayne Gallman, who has acquired over 1,000 yards through 11 games on the ground.
“After we beat them previous year, it was just good to see the Clemson fans happy and excited”. Watson is the only quarterback in America with three games of at least 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing this season.
Shawn Elliott finished 1-5 as South Carolina’s interim coach after being promoted following the loss to LSU. Show up ready, execute, and play with heart. “They did everything in their power”, Elliott said.
112 Previous games between SC and Clemson, with the Tigers holding a 66-42-4 lead in the series.
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USC managed to take advantage of an Artavis Scott fumble early in the fourth quarter. Or that SC closed within three in the second half after trailing 14-0 and 28-10. Pharoh Cooper got wide open for a 57-yard TD when Clemson read the play wrong and Goodson ran the wrong way, which opened up the middle of the field for a slant pass. It’s hard to believe that can happen against the only true playmaker the Gamecocks have.
