The #5 Clemson Tigers traveled up to Chestnut Hill and basically slogged their way to a 31-3 win over the Boston College Eagles. The Tigers improved to 6-0 and 4-0 in the conference.
It wasn’t the best offensive game that the Tigers have put together this season, but it was opportunistic as well as efficient when it needed to be. QB DJ Uiagalelei completed 18 of 31 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, only his 2nd of the season. The three TD passes gives him 13 on the year. DJ was also the team’s leading rusher, carrying the ball 12 times for 69 yards, including a 40 yard run late in the 4th quarter that led to the Tigers final touchdown.
Will Shipley managed to get his 8th touchdown of the year, rushing 10 times for 33 yards. Phil Mafah had 36 yards on 7 carries as Boston College kept the Tigers run game in check most the night.
WRs Beaux Collins, Joseph Ngata, and Robbie Spector were on the receiving end of Uiagalelei TD passes. The leading receiver, however, was Antonio Williams with five receptions for 29 yards.
You can’t mentioned GOOD without mentioning the Clemson defense. They held the BC rushing attack to the same amount of yards as the Wolfpack last week, 34 yards on 30 rushes. This total was helped out by numerous sacks by the relentless Clemson defense. For the fourth time in the last five games, the Tigers defense had to defend 40+ passes. Jurkovec complete 19 of 40 passes for 188 yards. Last week against Louisville, he had completed 18 of 21 passes for over 300 yards.
The secondary was without three full time players due to injury. CB Sheridan Jones, and safeties Tyler Venables and RJ Mickens was unavailable to play. Jones missed his 3rd straight game.
The last two games, the Tigers were flagged 19 times for 215 yards, with numerous pass interference calls. DC Wes Goodwin basically said enough is enough with the freebee first downs. Clemson was flagged twice for 10 yards on the night. A great effort on their part.
Xavier Thomas made his presence known, recording two big time sacks in six snaps. He came back just in time to ready himself for next week against Florida State, who lost their 2nd straight game to NC State.
All told, the defense held Boston College to 13 first downs, and 254 total yards. They converted 5-18 3rd down conversions and the Clemson defense came to play.
Hard to find a lot of BAD moments in this game. BC came out emotionally charged due to it being the Red Bandana game. It was almost like the Tigers slept through the first half. With 45 seconds left in the first half, Will Shipley strutted into the end zone for the first Tiger touchdown of the game. BC did pass for 135 yards in the first half, mostly from Jurkovec finding open receivers while he was running for his life. Zay Flowers led the Eagles in receiving with 8 caches for 75 yards. It was a given he was going to get his.
Nothing can change the momentum in a game more than a turnover deep in your own territory. The Tigers had TWO muffed punts but avoided disaster as Will Taylor was able to recover both of his muffs. No one probably feels worse than Taylor himself, but it was clear that Antonio Williams might be the best answer at punt returner.
Just like trying to find something bad, the UGLY moment in the game probably came late in the 4th quarter with the Tigers leading, 24-3 and with the ball. Dabo decided that his Tigers “didn’t feel like we played very well. We wanted to finish with a little rhythm going into the next
week.hadn’t played very well.” The Tigers kept DJ in the game, ran a little tempo, and scored another TD late. This did not please BC Head Coach Jeff Hafley. The cameras showed him looking across the field and looking at Dabo as if to say “WTF”. It is not up to the winning team to stop themselves from scoring, it’s up to the defense to do their job. Hafley was not happy.
The Tigers have now won 12 straight against this BC team, and extended their winning streak to 12 games, longest in college football right now. Clemson travels to Florida State next week to take on a wounded, disappointed Seminole team that will be looking to upset the Tigers. No doubt, “upset alert” will once again be brought up.
