USA Today Article: Who saw Clemson's defense coming?

Sep 1, 2013, 12:44 AM

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/08/31/clemson-holds-off-georgia-in-season-opening-thriller/2752443/

CLEMSON, S.C. — Everyone expected a shootout from Georgia-Clemson, and they got it. Points were supposed to come fast and furious, so no one was a bit surprised when Todd Gurley broke loose for 75 yards. Or, 12 seconds later, when Sammy Watkins took a short catch 77 yards. Or when Tajh Boyd accounted for five touchdowns.

Or that the final score – Clemson 38, Georgia 35 – was the highest combined point total in the history of the series.

But who saw Clemson's defense coming? That was the real revelation Saturday night for 83,830 at Memorial Stadium and countless more watching on their flat screens.

The victory for Clemson – in the first meeting between the border rivals in 10 years – sets up a shot at an October showdown with Florida State that could have more than ACC title stakes. With Boyd and Watkins, and the dangerous running of senior running back Roderick McDowell, the offense hasn't been in doubt. If the defense is a factor, as well? Look out.

It doesn't get easier for Georgia, which next hosts No. 7 South Carolina – which has a pretty decent defense, too.
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Clemson Tigers running back Roderick McDowell is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs safety Tray Matthews.(Photo: Joshua S. Kelly, USA TODAY Sports)

Georgia piled up yards, and all those points. But Clemson's effort was the new definition for good defense, at least this side of Alabama: Make a few stops. Take the ball away a time or two. And hang on.

Death Valley rocked in the first quarter when Watkins grabbed Tajh Boyd's pass, knocked over a Georgia defender, then outraced the rest of the Bulldogs to the end zone – answering Gurley's fantastic bolt to the opposite end zone.

But the place roared when the Tigers defense sacked Aaron Murray, forced a fumble him and set up the tying touchdown, and when moments later, when after another stop, Watkins muffed a punt – but on the next play, defensive end Corey Crawford dropped into coverage and picked off Murray.

And the most important sequence came late in the third quarter, when Georgia rolled to a first down at the 5 – and got nothing. Three runs managed 3 yards. A high snap foiled a field-goal attempt, which would have tied it at 31. The place was delirious.

Oh, Georgia contributed, making plenty of mistakes including penalties at the worst possible times. It's also hard to fathom, on that interception in the second quarter, how Murray didn't see the 6-5, 270-pound Crawford.

But then, who saw any of this coming?

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USA Today Article: Who saw Clemson's defense coming?

Love reading stuff like this after a win***

That goal line stand was so clutch***

Re: That goal line stand was so clutch***

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