CHAPEL HILL, NC
Clemson escapes out of Chapel Hill with a narrow 21-20 victory over Mack Brown’s Tarheels. The Heel’s came to play and when Clemson was not shooting itself in the foot with penalties on 3rd and short or fumbling in their own territory, the “Guys in Blue” found ways to confuse the Clemson offensive line and were able to pressure Trevor Lawrence for most of the afternoon.
The game from the outset had a weird pace and feel. With the Tigers allowing the Heels to take the opening kick and take the lead on a 40 yard pass from Howell to Dynami Brown. The Tarheels then took the momentum and adrenaline and seized upon it to disrupt the Tigers on several drives.
The big “Stop” that foiled the UNC two point attempt and sealed the win.
Lawrence finished the game 18/30 for 206 yards including a 38 yard strike to Tee Higgins in the 4th for the deciding score. Higgins had a big day as TL16’s “go-to” receiver all day finishing with 6 grabs for 129 and the aforementioned TD for a gaudy 21.5 yard average. Etienne managed to pickup 67 yards on 13 carries and also had two receptions out of the backfield on the day.
But none of this could get the Tigers in “Sync” as false start penalties and rare breakdowns in pass protection recognition caused havoc in a usually steady pocket. The Tigers QB found himself scrambling on numerous occasions as Tarheels linebackers were coming free off the edge time after time. The Tigers just never could string together any sustainable drives and it was a game of chance the more mistakes the Clemson offense continued to make.
Travis Etienne scores the Tigers 1st TD of the day.
Clemson’s defense on the other hand after the initial quick strike that was the UNC opening score, then managed to settle down and corral the Heel’s for most of this day. Sam Howell the freshmen Qb was impressive at times, showing he is playing above his experience level and made play after play for the Heel’s converting big 3rd and 4th downs at certain points of the game. Howell finished 15/27 for 144 yards and 2 TD’s on the day. The Carolina QB was not unable to pull off the two point conversion with 1:14 left as he was stuffed by James Skalski and Xavier Thomas on the sidelines 3 yards short. the Heel’s run game was able to find gaps and leverage the defensive line on several occasions and to the tune of 146 rushing yards. The Tiger’s defense outside of the 8 min 75 yard UNC drive that led to their final score…. was able to keep the Heel’s just off balance enough for the win. With game sealer being the stuff on the two point conversion. Sending the defense off celebrating the win.
Clemson came into this game with the plan to put together its most complete game of the year. Coach Dabo Swinney cited many times over the past week his intention to see his team play its best game yet. Well that game has now been moved down the schedule for FSU if all goes right for the Tigers, for on this day the Tigers opened themselves up to even more national scrutiny with the close win. And internally they must go into the bye week and self analyze themselves and get ready for the meat of the conference schedule and much improved FSU and Wake Forest looming on the horizon. Stay tuned as we will be on campus Monday for media availability and get coaches and players responses after they watch the film. But for now it’s off to the “bye week”…. Stay tuned here to CSN for all the latest and breaking news out of Clemson and the Tigers.
Higgins on the way to the Final Clemson TD
Dabo Swinney Post Game Press Conference:
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