CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Taylor Hearn posted the longest run by a Clemson offensive lineman since 1966.
Taylor Hearn posted the longest run by a Clemson offensive lineman since 1966.

Clemson-BC postgame notes


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Hearn’s 12-Yard carry

Clemson starting offensive guard Taylor Hearn had a 12-yard run in the second period on Clemson’s 13-play 94-yard touchdown drive that gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead. It was the only touchdown of the first three quarters for the Tigers. Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant was hit hard and fumbled the ball. Hearn recovered and ran 12 yards for a first down at the Clemson 40.

Hearn’s 12-yard run was the longest by a Clemson offensive lineman since 1966 when All-American Clemson guard Harry Olszewski had a 12-yard run for a touchdown against South Carolina in the final game of the season. The Tigers won that game 35-10 to clinch the ACC championship.

“It was a designed run for Kelly Bryant and he got hit hard and the ball popped up," Hearn said. "I saw the ball in the air and it just came right to me. I looked upfield and saw a lot of green grass so I just took off to try and get as many yards as I could. It was just a blur because as an offensive lineman you don’t think about running with the ball.

“I actually thought about whether I should try to juke the defender, but I just decided to go straight ahead and get what I could. I didn’t want to fumble.

“It was not the first time I carried the ball in a football game. I was the kicker in high school and one time the center snapped it over the head of the holder and it went right too me. I caught it and ran for a couple of yards, but that was it.”

The Fourth Quarter

Clemson outscored Boston College 27-0 in the fourth period. It was the most points scored in the fourth quarter by the Tigers since October 31, 2009 when the Tigers scored 28 points in the fourth period in a 49-3 Clemson win.

It was the most points scored by the Tigers in the fourth period of a conference game since 1988 when the Tigers scored 28 in the fourth period at Maryland in a 49-25 win that clinched the ACC championship.

It was just the sixth time Clemson scored 27 points or more in the fourth period in Clemson history.

Clemson’s fourth period offense featured 11 first downs, 21 rushes for 164 yards and 4-6 passing for 49 yards. Clemson ran 27 plays for 213 yards in the fourth period.

CLEMSON TEAM NOTES

*Clemson won its seventh consecutive game versus Boston College, dating back to a 2010 loss in Boston, Mass. The seven-game win streak is Clemson’s second-longest active win streak against an ACC team, as the Tigers have won eight in a row over Wake Forest.

*Clemson won its ninth game in a row dating, back to last year’s loss to Pittsburgh.

*Clemson won its 35th of its last 37 games, dating back to the 11th game of the 2014 season.

*Clemson won its 19th of its last 20 ACC games and its 19th straight against ACC Atlantic Division teams.

*Clemson improved to 48-1 against unranked teams since 2011. The only loss was to Pittsburgh last year by one point.

*Clemson won its 12th in a row in September and its 25th in a row prior to November.

*Clemson improved to 4-0 in 2017. It is the third straight year and the fifth time in the last seven years that *Clemson has started at least 4-0. The Tigers started 8-0 in 2011, 6-0 in 2013, 14-0 in 2015 and 9-0 in 2016.

CLEMSON INDIVIDUAL

*Dabo Swinney improved to 55-7 in Memorial Stadium, an .887 winning percentage. That includes 25 of the last 26 games and a 42-3 record over the last seven years.

*Dabo Swinney improved to 42-1 in games in which the Tigers amassed at least 200 rushing yards.

*Kelly Bryant won his fourth straight game as Clemson’s starting quarterback. He is the first Clemson quarterback to win his first four starts since Tajh Boyd won his first eight in 2011. Chris Morocco (1989) and Cullen Harper (2007) are the only other Clemson quarterbacks to win their first four starts in the last 30 years.

*Kelly Bryant set multiple bests in rushing, garnering a career-high in carries (22), rushing yards (106) and yards per carry (4.8).

*Trayvon Mullen collected his first career interception.

*A.J. Terrell collected his first career interception.

*Tanner Muse compiled a career-high nine tackles.

*Tre Lamar compiled a career-high eight tackles.

*Milan Richard accrued a career-high three receptions.

*Travis Etienne improved his team-high rushing average to 12.7 yards per carry in a performance that saw him establish new career bests in carries (nine), rushing yards (113) and rushing touchdowns (two).

*Travis Etienne is the first true freshman to score at least four rushing touchdowns for Clemson since Deshaun Watson scored five in 2014.

*Travis Etienne earned the O'Roarke-McFadden award.

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