Virginia Review
If Clemson goes on to have a great end of the season this year I think we may look back to a four-series sequence late in the first half and early in the second half as a key catalyst.
Clemson was up by only seven points after struggling four consecutive drives. The Tigers had just gone for it on fourth down and did not convert. Virginia took the ball over near midfield and it looked like the Cavs had a good chance at tying the game at 14. Clemson had struggled at times in the previous three games and this one could have been another struggle.
However, freshman safety
Jayron Kearse
Jayron Kearse
Fr. Safety
#20 6-4, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile
intercepted a UVA pass. Then the Tigers took advantage of the good field position, and they scored on a seven play, 33-yard drive that ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass to
Roderick McDowell
Roderick McDowell
Gr. Running Back
#25 5-9, 195
Sumter, SC
View Full Profile
.
The Tigers moved the score to 28-7 with a five play, 50-yard drive that ended on a 25-yard run by McDowell.
Clemson could have gone on to a good win, but the next two drives turned this one onto a great win and possibly gave this team momentum into November.
The Tigers took the ball over at their own 14-yard line up 28-7 with only 55 seconds remaining. Instead of running out the clock, the staff decided to stay aggressive. Boyd hit
Mike Williams
Mike Williams
Fr. Wide Receiver
#7 6-5, 205
Vance, SC
View Full Profile
for an 11-yard gain on the first play of the drive. That was followed with a seven yard pass to
Germone Hopper
Germone Hopper
RS Fr. Wide Receiver
#5 6-0, 170
Charlotte, NC
View Full Profile
. Boyd hit Watkins for a 10-yard gain and another first down. Boyd scrambled for one yard and called a timeout. Williams then grabbed another pass for 19 yards followed by Bryant's 12-yard catch.
Adam Humphries
Adam Humphries
Jr. Wide Receiver
#13 5-11, 190
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile
then caught a 25-yard pass that set up a
Tajh Boyd
Tajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile
one-yard touchdown run.
The eight-play, 86-yard drive lasted only 42 seconds and put the Tigers up 35-7 at the half. It also provided confidence.
The final drive in the sequence ended with a 96-yard masterpiece from Boyd to Watkins that moved the advantage to 42-7 and sent many Cav fans home. It was the second longest play from scrimmage and the second longest pass play in Clemson history. The only one longer is a 97 yard pass from Mark Fellers to Craig Brantley against Virginia at Clemson in 1974.
The four-drive sequence ended Boyd and Watkins' night, but it may have started something even bigger.
Clemson moved to 8-1 with the 59-10 win, the same score of the Virginia-Oregon game in September. It was the largest margin of victory for the Tigers in an ACC road game since a 55-0 win at Virginia in 1984. It was the second time this year Clemson won by 49 points; the other was a 56-7 win over Wake Forest at Clemson. It tied for the fourth largest victory margin anywhere for the Tigers in an ACC game.
Boyd completed his first nine passes of the game for 135 yards and a touchdown. He finished 24-29 for 377 yards and three touchdowns. He had passing efficiency of 219, his third over 200 this year and third best this year.
Boyd became the ACC’s career leader in touchdown responsibility when he threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to
Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile
during Clemson’s first possession and the fifth play of the game. He now has 116 yards in his career, 93 passing and 23 rushing.
Watkins finished with eight catches for 169 yards on the day and two touchdowns. He was one of 12 Tigers who caught passes for a combined 435 yards through the air.
Clemson’s defense forced 10 three-and-outs, giving the defense 19 over the last two games. Fourteen defenders combined to force 12 tackles for a loss, including
D.J. Reader
D.J. Reader
So. Defensive Tackle
#48 6-2, 335
Greensboro, NC
View Full Profile
who had two.
Kearse had a pick and a caused fumble to lead the defense. The rangy safety continued to make a difference in a secondary that may have played its best game of the season. In fact, this may have been the Tigers' most complete game of the year also.
Maybe this is the catalyst to a great November.
The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
If you would like to add someone to the list please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list.
Those who need our prayers include: Finn Brookover, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll,
Brandon Thompson
Brandon Thompson
Defensive Tackle
#98 6-2, 310
Thomasville, GA
View Full Profile
, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Doug Bailey and family, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Jim Lanier, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker,
Levon Kirkland
Levon Kirkland
Linebacker
# 0, 0
,
View Full Profile
and family, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.
Upgrade Your Account
