Top 15 Clemson football plays of 2015

by Rebecca Holland - Contributor - Wed Dec 30 13:29:43 GMT-04:00 2015

Before the big game we take a look back at top 15 plays from Clemson's undefeated 2015 football season so far.

15. Kelly Bryant rushed 65 yards for his first college touchdown against Miami.

A lot of Tigers got on the field during Clemson’s shutout against Miami, but Kelly Bryant’s playing time was especially memorable. The true freshman quarterback scored his first collegiate touchdown by rushing 65 yards. Four plays later, Bryant would put the exclamation point on the big win with his second career touchdown, bringing the score up to 58-0.

14. Deshaun Watson launched a 55-yard scoring pass to Deon Cain, which led to a 14-3 lead going into halftime against the Gamecocks.

After a scoreless first quarter, this play gave the Tigers some momentum leading into the half. Deon Cain, a true freshman, ended up with 96 receiving yards by the end of the game.

13. Wayne Gallman rushed 66 yards for a touchdown in the opening minute against Georgia Tech.

Deshaun Watson handed off the ball to Wayne Gallman for third-and-short during the Tigers’ first drive, but Gallman went much further. With help from blockers Charone Peake and Jordan Leggett, Gallman got Clemson on the board first with a 66-yard touchdown run.

12. Cordrea Tankersley intercepted UNC quarterback Marquise Williams during UNC’s first drive of the second half.

After driving down to the Tigers’ 16-yard-line to begin the second half, Cordrea Tankersley stepped in and intercepted Marquise Williams’ intended receiver. The play was Tankersly’s fifth interception of the year, and allowed the offense to take over the ball and score during their first drive of the half.

11. Ammon Lakip forced a fumble after kicking-off of the 3rd quarter against Notre Dame.

Kicker Ammon Lakip made a perfect hit that jarred the ball loose from Irish returner C.J. Sanders to begin the third quarter, which was recovered by Clemson’s C.J Fuller. In the following drive, Deshaun Watson would score a 21-yard rushing touchdown to capitalize on Notre Dame’s mistake.

10. Carlos Watkins snatched his first pick-six against Appalachian State during 41-10 win.

During the 41-10 blowout, one of the most exciting plays took place in the second quarter when Carlos Watkins picked off Taylor Lamb and rumbled 15 yards for his first career interception. Ben Boulware followed-up with another interception that set the Tigers up for an offensive touchdown.

9. Kevin Dodd sacked the Louisville QB in the final moments of the game, causing the clock to run and forcing the Cards to attempt a hail mary.

Kevin Dodd was able to get off his block and drag down quarterback Kevin Bolin with 25 seconds remaining in the game, forcing to Cardinals to try a deep ball that was intercepted by Jadar Johnson. The Tigers earned a 20-17 Thursday night road win.

8. Deshaun Watson dove for a rushing touchdown with less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half against South Carolina.

On second down and short in the red zone, Deshaun Watson took things into his own hands and dove for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead against the Gamecocks.

7. The offensive line froze during a trick play during the 1st quarter against Miami, resulting in a touchdown.

After the ball was snapped to Deshaun Watson in the opening drive Clemson’s offensive line stayed put, confusing Miami players. The result was a 34-yard touchdown pass from Watson to Jordan Leggett.

6. Another deep scoring pass: Deshaun Watson’s 40-yard rocket to Charone Peake to take the lead at the half against N.C. State.

The Wolfpack gave the Tigers a scare during this Halloween road game, but in the end Clemson prevailed. Deshaun Watson put the team in the lead 26-20 mere seconds before halftime with a deep ball to Charone Peake – only one of Watson’s five touchdowns of at least 35 yards. The entire drive only took 17 seconds.

5. Deshaun Watson completed a pass on third and long in the fourth quarter against the Gamecocks that would set up the game sealing touchdown.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, Deshaun Watson found Trevion Thompson downfield for a 24-yard pickup. That play set up Watson’s third rushing touchdown of the game to put the Tigers on top 34-25.

4. Hunter Renfrow recovered an onside kick to end the UNC comeback at the ACC Championship Game.

After an off sides call as the Tarheels attempted one onside kick (which was mishandled by Clemson), UNC was forced to re-kick with less than two minutes left in the game. The second kick was again mishandled by Clemson’s special teams, but Renfrow ended up with the on the ball, so the Tigers were able to run out the clock and claim the ACC title.

3. Shaq Lawson and Ben Boulware held Florida State’s Dalvin Cook on 4th-and-1 with 6 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.

Even though the Tigers were up by a field goal, tensions still ran high in the final minutes of this high-stakes game. Dalvin Cook was the obvious choice to rush the ball for the Seminole offense when it took the field for fourth-and-one play. Ben Boulware and Shaq Lawson never lost sight of the star running back, and stuffed him at the line.

2. Wayne Gallman rushed 25-yards for a touchdown following the defense’s fourth down stop against FSU.

Prior to this game the Clemson faithful had trouble forgetting the 2013 contest against Florida State. When Clemson’s offense got the ball back following a turnover on downs, Dwane Gallman rushed 25 yards to put the Tigers ahead by 10 points with less than three minutes left in the game.

1. Clemson’s defense, led by Ben Boulware and Carlos Watkins, held Notre Dame in a two-point conversion effort that would have sent the Tigers’ fourth game into overtime.

Though the Tigers looked dominant in the first half of this game, the Fighting Irish came within a few points in the final quarter. The driving rain wasn’t what kept Notre Dame from a win – it was Clemson’s stout defense. Ben Boulware and Carlos Watkins swarmed Notre Dame quarterback Deshone Kizer and kept him out of the end zone.