Tigers crush Coastal Carolina, 49-3 |
CLEMSON – Once the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds, Homecoming turned out to be perfect for the Clemson Tigers.
The Tigers used a 28-point third quarter and seven different players scored touchdowns as Clemson (5-3) defeated Coastal Carolina (5-3) 49-3 in a Homecoming game at Death Valley Saturday afternoon. The win sets up a key matchup in Death Valley next Saturday as the Tigers welcome Florida St. The Seminoles defeated N.C. State 45-42 on Saturday and will look to become a factor in the ACC if they can knock off the Tigers. “It was a good win today,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “We were a little sloppy in the first half. We had a penalty and there was that interception, so overall we did not execute as well on offense in the first half. I thought we came alive in the second half. We did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage, and our defense made it tough for their offense, which is what is supposed to happen.” Clemson Heisman candidate C.J. was a non-factor in the game, garnering just three rushes for 11 yards before being pulled early in the first half, and Spiller said it was better to take the safe route and keep him healthy for the Seminoles in a week. “It’s always good to give those backup guys some plays,” Spiller said. “They work hard at practice, and that was our main focus – trying to get those guys in the game and get them some reps. I just wanted to make sure that nothing freaky happened so I can be ready for Florida St. next week.” Andre Ellington rushed for 88 yards, while Jamie Harper added 76 yards as Clemson rushed for 252 yards. “Whether or not C.J. takes a break, I always have the mindset that I have to make the best of my opportunities,” Harper said. “Andre and I were rotating in and out and just trying to make plays. If C.J. goes out, then I might have to be the starter, so I always go in with the mindset I am going to have to play a big role.” The Tigers and Chants muddled through most of a drenched first quarter, the initial Tiger drive nullified by an interception, but the Tigers jumped on the board on the their second possession when quarterback Kyle Parker hit Jacoby Ford in the end zone from 36 yards out for a 7-0 Clemson lead. A scary moment for Clemson fans happened midway through the first quarter when defensive end Da’Quan Bowers had to be carried off the field with an apparent knee injury. Bowers had an MRI, however, and was dragging his crutches after the game with what he described as a strain of his PCL. He said he will be back at practice by Wednesday and ready to go for Florida St. The Tigers used a little Halloween trickery to notch their second score. Parker threw a lateral to Ford out in the flat, and as the defense responded to the threat of Ford running, Xavier Dye streaked down the sideline, and Ford hit him in stride for a 23-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Clemson lead early in the second quarter. The Chants’ ensuing possession ended on a Crezdon Butler interception and 47-yard return, setting Clemson up at the Coastal 16-yard line. Two plays later, Spiller walked into the end zone from six yards away, and the Tigers were up 21-0 with their third touchdown in just six minutes of game action. Tiger fans got a glimpse of the future on Clemson’s opening possession of the second half when redshirt freshman running back Andre Ellington broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run. Ellington broke two tackles close to the line of scrimmage, and then made two nifty moves before breaking into the open for the touchdown. Willy Korn came in at quarterback on Clemson’s second possession of the half, and his nifty 16-yard run set up an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Brown. Korn threw to Brown in the middle of the field, and Brown broke several tackles before getting a great block from Marquan Jones at the five-yard line and bouncing into the end zone. Zach McDowall, the usual starting quarterback for Coastal who sprained an ankle last week, made his first appearance of the game on the ensuing possession, and his first pass was intercepted by Rashard Hall and returned 49 yards to the Chant three-yard line. Two plays later, Korn dove in behind his offensive line for the one-yard touchdown run, and Clemson led 42-0 with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers capped their 28-point third quarter when Jamie Harper scored from three yards out with just over 30 seconds remaining, and Clemson led 49-0 at the end of three quarters. The Chants added a field goal with 4:02 remaining to round out the scoring. Hall, who had the big interception, said he was proud of the effort of the defense. “I think we did a really good job, because most of their yards came on the last drive when they scored,” Hall said. “I commend them on pushing it down the field late. Overall on defense, I think we were a little bit sloppy, but we had a good effort.” Coastal head coach David Bennett said his team was out-gunned from the beginning. “In a game like that you are so out-manned, and you look up at the clock and every time they don’t get a score on the scoreboard you have a little hope,” Bennett said. “Do you have a chance to beat Clemson? I don’t know. It would be more of a miracle than Appalachian St. beating Michigan.” Swinney said he was pleased with the overall effort, and especially enjoyed seeing some of the younger players step up. “It was a good day as far as running the ball,” Swinney said. “Ellington and Harper both had some great runs today. Jaron Brown reminds me of a Derrick Hamilton. He is still growing as a player. But what you saw out there today, we see in practice all the time.” Swinney said that he was glad to get the Coastal game in the rear view mirror, and his team would start preparing for the Seminoles. “Florida St. is one of the nation’s best programs,” Swinney said. “They have great players and a great staff that will be ready for the game next week. Our players know them well, and we lost to them last year, so this game next week will be big for both programs. We just need to go back to work, and hopefully we will play our best game next week.” NOTES: *Clemson’s Jacoby Ford threw a touchdown pass and caught a touchdown pass in today’s game against Coastal Carolina. He became the first Clemson player to do that in the same game since 1950 when Ray Mathews did it against Presbyterian. Mathews completed 5-11 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, caught a 20-yard scoring pass and had 14 rushes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. *Swinney has promised all of the defensive players that if they score a touchdown on defense, they will get a play on offense the next week, and Andre McDaniel, who had an interception return for a touchdown last week against Miami, got his shot in the first quarter. The play was coming his way as he went into the end zone, but Parker had fallen down on the play. Swinney that the reason Hall didn’t return his interception for a touchdown was because he didn’t want an offensive play, then drew laughs when he said that if DT Brandon Thompson scored, he would give him a play at fullback or pulling guard.
Date: Oct 31, 2009 Site: Clemson, SC Stadium: Memorial Stadium
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