The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Man, what a game. It was too close for comfort for many Clemson fans. Coming back from an 18 point deficit, the tigers never panicked, although there were several times we all wondered “what in the heckle is going on here!!!!”
The Trevor Lawrence announcement took everyone by surprise. The biggest question coming out of this was “Is DJ Uiagalelei ready to start?” Through the first 6 games of the year, DJ was 10-17 for 86 yards in the 5 games he got in. Hint: yesterday’s Good.
Uiagalelei completed 30-41 passes for 342 yards and two TD passes. He also rushed for a 30 yard touchdown run on a 4th and 1. Coach Tony Elliott started out calling quick hitting plays and getting DJ comfortable. He started going downfield a little more in the second half as the tigers were down 28-13 at the half. Amari Rodgers continued his productive ways, bringing in 7 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Cornell Powell had the type of game that shows why he didn’t transfer in the spring, hauling in 11 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. When the announcement came out, the staff went directly to Travis Etienne and said “Trav, step it up. You’re the leader, lead.” Lead he did. 20 rushes for 84 yards and a TD and adding 5 catches for 140 yards and another TD.
The defense was the tail of two halves. The defense gave up 21 points and 225 yards in the first half, with 144 of those coming on the first two drives of the game. The fumble return for a TD was not on the defense. BC used a fake FG “draw the tigers offsides” moment to get their 3rd offensive touchdown in the 2nd quarter. Little did they know that the 50 yard field goal by BJ Potter would provide the motivation needed to dominate the 2nd half. The 2nd half was all Clemson. The defense woke up and allowed the BC offense 54 yards on 30 plays. We can only imagine the “pep talk” at halftime.
The bad and ugly basically came early in the game. Take your pick in the 1st half. The first two easy touchdown drives, the tigers provided minimal resistance on BC’s first two touchdown drives. You could tell that the defense is still missing Tyler Davis and James Skalski, and had to make adjustments for Mike Jones Jr. being out as well. It took them half but they came together. STILL, literally thousands of Clemson fans were busy screaming at the TV, pacing the cage, and probably driving everyone out of the living room. This is a half that people wish they could forget. Who can forget being down on the 3 yard line and having BC return it 97 yards for a touchdown. How many stared at the TV and said “?”
The officials have to get a comment in this. There were several “questionable” calls, especially the two roughing the passer calls on two Clemson interceptions. Did everyone else throw something at the tv when they called “chop block” on Cade Stewart and Will Putnam? Looked bogus to me. Pass interference on Sheridan Jones when the pass was clearly uncatchable? Officials don’t normally win or lose games by themselves, but they do affect certain moments of the game.
In any case, this was another Clemson win that wasn’t pretty but it sure had its’ moments. There was a lot of good, some bad and some ugly. The Tigers take on #4 ranked Notre Dame next weekend in a tough road game, without Trevor Lawrence. Let’s all hope for more of the “good stuff”.
3-3 50 yards and a TD pass
5-5 24 yards Punt
The4-6 47 yards, fumble returned for TD 4-6 59 yards FG
16-20 180 yards 14-21 162 yards
10 plays, 149 yards two touchdowns 15 plays, 75 yards touchdown.
1 play, 1 yard Halftime
3 plays 5 yards
Fumble for 97 yards and a touchdown 26 plays 225 yards
5 possessions in the first half ================================
30 plays, 54 yards in the entire 2nd half. ================================
275 total yards for BC, 225 in the 1st half, 50 in the 2nd half. Clemson 448 total yards, 342 passing, 106 rushing ================================
DJ 30-41 passing, with 342 passing, two touchdowns, with at least two or three spikes to stop the clock, 6 runs for 25 yards and a touchdown run.
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Etienne, broke ACC record for rushing. 7 receptions, 140 yards. 20 for 84 rushing, 2 touchdowns
Powell 11 receptions 105 yards
Rodgers 7 for 66, 1 touchdown.
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Potter kicks 50 yard field goal to bring the tigers to 28-13 right before the half. Etienne returned the 2nd half kickoff 40 yards. On 4th and 1 from the BC 30, DJ runs it in to make 28-20.
Outscores BC 24-0 after BC got out to a 28-10 lead. —————————————————————–
