The “Middle Eight”: A Closer Look
By: Grayson Mann
The Clemson Tigers are 7-0. You can look in many directions where this success comes from in areas like improved offensive line play, DJ playing on fire, the defense stepping up when needed, and more. An area that won’t show up on the stat sheet but is talked about every week is the term “the middle eight.” For those unaware, it is the last four minutes of the second and the first four minutes of the third quarter, essentially making it the exact middle point of each game. How each team does in that area can make or break a team. By going through each game, looking at pre-and post-middle eight scores, we can determine how the Tigers have fared through each game thus far and how that middle eight has impacted the game.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Pre-Middle Eight: 7-0
Post-Middle Eight: 14-10
This middle eight does not precisely tell us a lot about the Tigers, opening up in Atlanta what feels like ages ago to start the season. The Tigers started slow offensively in this matchup, but DJ was able to find Beaux Collins for what would be the start of a consistent repour between the two to put Clemson up fourteen. Tech, however, would rally and put up ten to finish up the middle eight in this game and give Clemson a momentary scare that gave the Tigers enough urgency to put them away 41-10.
Furman Paladins
Pre-Middle Eight: 21-3
Post-Middle Eight: 35-9
This game was the first of Clemson’s FCS/Group of five matchups, and it started with the Furman Paladins. Clemson led 21-3 heading into the middle eight and saw some fight from Furman, with quarterback Tyler Huff leading his squad down the field for a touchdown. Clemson responded with a two-minute drive of their own, and this is the game where you can start to see a pattern with middle-eight success. The Tigers would score to end the first half and start the third with a Barrett Carter interception, resulting in another scoring drive. You can see the pieces come together as both sides of the ball would begin to recognize when to step up when they need to and put together a complete middle eight period.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Pre-Middle Eight: 13-6
Post-Middle Eight: 20-6
This game against LA Tech was under the bright lights of primetime, and Clemson got the Bulldogs’ best shot in week three. The first half would end with both sides unable to pull away with a 13-6 lead for Clemson. For this week, the defense would be the side of the ball that stole the show, with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Malcolm Greene both coming up with interceptions that allowed Will Shipley to have a short field, and he would take full advantage, scoring a thirty-two-yard touchdown that would put Clemson up 20-6. Clemson would need that push as they would win 48-20.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Pre-Middle Eight: 17-14
Post-Middle Eight: 21-20
Clemson traveled to Winston-Salem for what could be the game of the year if not for the classic we witnessed in Tennessee this Saturday. Clemson would head into the half with a B.T. Potter field goal putting up the Tigers by six. Wake forest would start the third quarter on fire as Hartman continued to put together what would be an all-time performance finding Donavon Greene for a twenty-eight-yard score. This is the only middle eight period where Clemson would find themselves trailing. Despite this, Clemson would rally and escape Wake with a 51-45 win.
NC State Wolfpack
Pre-Middle Eight: 6-3
Post-Middle Eight: 20-10
From this game onward, Clemson would find their groove within the middle eight and found it in the most significant game of the season with top ten ranked NC State coming to town. NC State and Clemson would start this game with both unable to score in meaningful ways offensively. Still, NC State would deliver their first and only big strike of the night, taking advantage of an RJ Mickens pass interference call that set up the Wolfpack on the two-yard line. NC State quarterback Devin Leary would find Ced Seabrough for a two-yard touchdown. Clemson would immediately respond with a drive of their own that showed off DJ’s improvements as a quarterback, scanning the field to what Dabo told us was his fifth read to find Shipley on the sideline for a 26-yard gain. DJ would take care of business with a two-yard score ending the first half. Clemson would then come out and dominate with a Barrett Carter sack that gave Clemson the ball, and they would capitalize with a 57-yard scoring drive. Clemson would not look back and take down the Wolfpack 30-20.
Boston College Eagles
Pre-Middle Eight: 3-3
Post Middle Eight: 17-3
Coming off of back-to-back emotional, hard-fought games, many were worried that Clemson heading up to a struggling Boston College team was a recipe for a monumental upset. Through the first two quarters, Clemson’s offense was struggling to get things rolling with an early Uiagalelei interception that allowed the Eagles to tie the game. Once again, the Tigers would make the most of the middle eight and score to end the first half courtesy of a Will Shipley. Clemson would take that momentum from the two-minute drill and replicate their success in the third quarter. The defense would hold the Eagles to a three-and-out and drive down the field in two minutes, where DJ would find Joseph Ngata for a 38-yard touchdown; the first TD Ngata has come down with this season. Once again, the middle eight would be all the momentum the Tigers would need, and they would pull away with a 31-3 victory.
Florida State Seminoles
Pre-Middle Eight: 14-14
Post-Middle Eight: 31-14
Despite the late scare from the Seminoles, The Tigers would have their most impressive middle eight this season. Clemson would drive down the field and allow their surefire kicker B.T. Potter, to give the Tigers a three-point lead, but the points would not stop there. Myles Murphy would wreak havoc on the Seminole offensive line and force a fumble that gave the Tigers excellent field position with plenty of time late in the second quarter. It would only take the Tigers 28 seconds as DJ and Shipley both had strong runs to give Clemson a ten-point lead heading into the half. The third quarter’s opening was electric, with a Shipley kickoff return that almost went for six, and Brandon Streeter dug into his bag of tricks for a one-play drive that resulted in a Davis Allen touchdown. Clemson would have just enough real estate from their middle eight to hold off an FSU rally and escape Tallahassee with a 34-28 victory.
So, what can we take away from this? During the middle eight through Clemson’s seven games this season, Clemson averages eleven points while defensively limiting offenses to just 4.14 points. The Tigers have been very efficient in these periods, which is a large part of why the Tigers remain within the undefeated group in college football. Keeping efficient in the middle eight will be crucial to Clemson down the stretch if they wish to get back into the College Football Playoff.
Clemson now looks toward the challenge of facing the Syracuse Orange, ranked in the top fifteen, headed to Death Valley this Saturday.
