Re: 169 - Clemson's 2023 Defense Holds Gamechickens to 169 Yards in 16-7 Victory - Clemson Football Forum

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169 - Clemson's 2023 Defense Holds Gamechickens to 169 Yards in 16-7 Victory

Mar 15, 2024, 12:03 AM

As usual, many Gamechicken fans came into the game this year being mouthy and obnoxious. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if they really believe the nonsense some of them spew. If they do, then they must suffer a lot of surprising outcomes. This game was no different.

According to Sports Illustrated:

“Clemson's defense, elite all season gave up just 169 yards and scored as many points as they allowed.
…
This defense shouldn't be forgotten. Guys like Ruke Orhorhoro, Tyler Davis, and Xavier Thomas came back for one more season of college football and were the backbone of an elite unit. At the same time, a plethora of young guys, led by Khalil Barnes, were the added spice the defense needed when older guys went down. South Carolina never had a pulse in this game because of the suffocating play of this defense, something every team they've played this year has experienced.”

https://www.si.com/college/clemson/football/rapid-reaction-clemson-downs-south-carolina-finish-the-regular-season

Well said, SI! Well said!

To put 169 yards of offense into perspective, there were 133 FBS football teams in 2023. According to Sports-Reference.com, all 133 teams averaged significantly more than 169 yards per game (including Iowa and their woeful offense).

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2023-team-offense.html

Specifically, the Chickens averaged 363.1 yards of offense per game. By holding them 169 yards, Clemson held the Chickens well below their average – and below even half their average. Chicken RB Mario Anderson was correct when he said Clemson’s defense was not like the SEC defenses South Carolina faced. South Carolina had at least some success against those SEC defenses.

Regarding the game, ClemsonTigers.com added the following:

“Clemson’s defense scored a touchdown and held rival South Carolina (5-7) to 169 total yards of offense en route to a 16-7 victory in the Palmetto Bowl presented by SC State Lottery at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night. Clemson (8-4) won its 73rd game in the series and 54th in Columbia all-time. The 169 yards of offense were the fewest allowed by a Clemson defense in the series since 1989, when the Gamecocks totaled 155 yards.

Freshman Khailil Barnes returned a fumble for a touchdown and an interception in the first 44 seconds of the game to set the tone for the Tigers, who have won four straight games overall and eight of the last nine in the series.

After surrendering its only touchdown of the game with 6:39 to play in the first quarter, Clemson’s defense forced South Carolina to punt on eight straight drives and allowed just 66 yards on South Carolina’s final nine drives of the game.
…
Clemson’s defense held South Carolina to 57 yards rushing, totaled six tackles for a loss, five three-and-outs, and only allowed South Carolina to convert on one of 11 third down attempts.

On the second snap of the game, Barnes recovered a lateral that bounced off a receiver’s hands and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown just 25 seconds into the game, Clemson’s fastest score against South Carolina since C.J. Spiller ran back the opening kickoff in 2009. On South Carolina’s next offensive play, Barnes made a diving interception on a deep pass by Spencer Rattler on Clemson’s 36-yard line. Barnes became the first Clemson player to record a takeaway on consecutive plays from scrimmage by an opponent since Brian Dawkins against Duke in 1995.”

https://clemsontigers.com/defense-propels-clemson-to-16-7-win-over-south-carolina-in-columbia/

So many great videos from which to choose for game highlights! Here a couple of good ones among several options:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydm_apz6H90

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38981981

And while we Tiger fans were celebrating after the game, apparently not everyone was happy:
(Thanks, Shadow of Death Valley)
https://twitter.com/ShadowOfDV/status/1732946662501351535?s=20

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Virginia State Route 169 is a 7.41 mile state highway that starts on the east end at I-64/US 60 in Hampton and continues to the northwest end at US 258 in Hampton after taking a sort of backwards C-shaped loop through the city.

It's Furman Friday. Furman is a private liberal arts university in Greenville, SC. It was founded in 1826 as Furman Academy, named after Baptist minister Richard Furman, as the oldest private college in the state. It started in Edgefield, moved to Statesburg in 1829, closed in 1834, reopened near Winnsboro in 1837, and moved to downtown Greenville in 1851. The campus then started to move to its present location in the 1930s and combined with Greenville Women's College. Furman has about 2500 students on a 750 acre campus. The athletic teams, the Paladins, compete in NCAA Division I FCS level in the Southern Conference. Notable alumni include Nobel Prize winner Charles Townes, Herman Lay of Lay's potato chips, Richard Riley, Mark Sanford, Amy Grant, Sam Wyche, Brad Faxon, Beth Daniel...

Hill Watch...169 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...169 days!!!

Re: Hill Watch...169 days!!!

169 - Clemson's 2023 Defense Holds Gamechickens to 169 Yards in 16-7 Victory