Legend [17786]
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On This Date: 1987 (10)Clemson- 22 Virginia Tech- 10
Sep 12, 2022, 8:33 AM
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09/12/1987
Blacksburg, VA
CLEMSON STOPS VIRGINIA TECH BEHIND McFADDEN, DEFENSE
By Donald Huff
September 13, 1987
BLACKSBURG, VA., SEPT. 12 -- Tenth-ranked Clemson, remembering how underdog Virginia Tech invaded Death Valley a year ago and spoiled the Tigers' opener, returned the favor today. Combining a swarming defense with 226 rushing yards and two touchdowns from tailback Wesley McFadden, Clemson wore down the Hokies, 22-10, at Lane Stadium.
Clemson (2-0) netted 331 yards to Virginia Tech's 60 and got field goals by David Treadwell of 27, 39 and 31 yards. Tech's only big moment was a fourth-period 92-yard kickoff return by freshman Jon Jeffries (DeMatha), merely reducing a 22-3 deficit.
Clemson's massive front line of 300-pound Tony Stephens, 295-pound Raymond Chavous and 280-pound Michael Dean Perry and active linebackers bottled up the Tech running game and chased quarterback Erik Chapman all afternoon. Counting sacks, Tech runners netted 23 yards on 38 attempts.
Chapman, also from DeMatha, completed only six of 17 passes for 37 yards and suffered two interceptions. He fumbled once and was sacked seven times.
Virginia Tech couldn't complain about field position, especially in the second half as it took possession at the Clemson 18, 22, 32, 34 and its own 47 to no avail.
"Our defense played extremely well today. I don't think we could have put them in more trying situations than we did," Clemson Coach Danny Ford said. "We taxed them too much. We put Tech in position to get points {one fumble and punter Rusty Seyle falling twice on the wet turf without getting off the kick} but . . . our pass rush was very good."
Clemson took a 9-3 first-half lead on Treadwell's kicking, his last field goal coming with two seconds left.
Clemson's initial second-half drive was kept alive on third-down pass interference at the Hokies 44. McFadden finally got outside on an option play and raced 44 yards along the sideline for the first touchdown. Treadwell missed his first kick after 63 consecutive conversions but the Tigers were up, 15-3.
Virginia Tech had a chance to get back in the game when punter Seyle slipped at the Tigers 18. A penalty advanced the Hokies to the 5, but a running play lost three yards and Perry ran down Chapman, tackling him for a 14-yard loss and stripping the ball. Clemson's Gene Beasley recovered.
After another Tech drive fizzled at the Clemson 46 (Chapman was sacked twice, bringing on fourth and 36), McFadden grabbed quarterback Rodney Williams' pitchout in stride, slowed just long enough for tackle Ty Granger to push aside the last Hokie and was off on an 89-yard run.
"The blocking was there and I hit the hole," McFadden said. "I was close to breaking a couple but it was wet out there and the footing was tough."
"We had some opportunities, just didn't take advantage," said Virginia Tech's new coach, Frank Beamer. "Chapman didn't have one of his better days . . . We wanted to use a short passing game but our plan backfired. It made me wonder if we were doing the right things."
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