Instant Halftime Analysis: Clemson 45, Ball St. 10

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Sat Sep 08 14:13:29 GMT-04:00 2012

CLEMSON – Instant Halftime Analysis: Clemson 45, Ball St. 10

What went right: Clemson’s passing attack was on point for most of the half, and it started on the first drive of the game. Boyd threw one pass into triple coverage – and it resulted in a first down for the Tigers.

Boyd was out midway through the second quarter, and he finished 19-for-23 for 229 yards and three touchdowns.

Three different receivers caught at least three passes in the first quarter for Clemson, and Nuk Hopkins continued his good work in the season’s first two games. Hopkins finished the half with six catches for 105 yards and a school-record tying three touchdowns.

Following Clemson’s third touchdown, Ball St. was called for a personal foul and Clemson took the extra point off the board and went for two, getting the conversion on a plunge by Andre EllingtonAndre Ellington
RS Sr. Running Back
#23 5-10, 195
Moncks Corner, SC
View Full Profile .

Linebacker Stephone AnthonyStephone Anthony
So. Linebacker
#12 6-3, 235
Polkton, NC
View Full Profile intercepted the first pass of his career in the second quarter, setting up the Tigers with a short field at the Ball St. 39-yard line. Darius RobinsonDarius Robinson
Jr. Cornerback
#21 5-10, 175
College Park, GA
View Full Profile also intercepted a pass.

The Tigers recovered an onside kick in the second quarter, setting Clemson’s fourth touchdown.

What went wrong: Starting left guard David BeasleyDavid Beasley
RS So. Offensive Guard
#68 6-4, 315
Columbus, GA
View Full Profile left late in the first quarter with an undisclosed injury. He did not play the rest of the half.

Clemson’s defense continues to give up big plays, giving up a 54-yard TD run to Horactio Banks. Banks burst through the middle and found very little resistance from the defense.

Clemson’s defensive backs played deep on the Ball St. receivers, allowing for easy completions on curl routes.

The Tigers missed the extra point after the first touchdown.

Turning Point of the Half:Ball St. won the kickoff and deferred to the second half. Clemson took the first drive and scored a touchdown and never looked back.

Stat of the Half: Spencer BentonSpencer Benton
RS Sr. Punter / Kicker
#13 6-1, 195
Myrtle Beach, SC
View Full Profile kicked a 61-yard field goal on the last play of the first half, putting Clemson up 45-10. The 61 yards sets a Clemson record, breaking the previous high of 57 yards by Obed Ariri. The 45 points in the half was also the most points in a half for Clemson since the Tigers scored 49 against Wake Forest in 1981. Clemson also had 382 yards of total offense, 191 in each quarter.