Clemson Destroys Syracuse in ACC Matchup
The Clemson Tigers are preparing for their next challenge – a trip up to the JMC Dome in Syracuse, NY, to take on the 4-0 Syracuse Orange. After two crushing losses against Duke and Florida State, the Tigers are looking to regain their footing and get back into the win column.
First Quarter Thoughts:
Clemson opens up the game on defense. Syracuse gets a first down early on a third-down QB sneak. Garrett Shrader would slip out of a few arm tackles and Justin Mascoll comes in with a MASSIVE HIT and knocks the ball loose. Clemson picks up the ball and will take over on their own 45.
Cade takes a deep shot on 3rd down and tries to hit Adam Randall (who had 2 steps on the defender). The ball was a little underthrown but it would draw a pass interference to keep the drive alive. TROY STELLATO!!! Cade Klubnik scrambles to his left and hits Stellato in the endzone to give the Tigers an early lead 7-0. The offense came out strong, throwing and running the ball on the early drive. Going to look to build on that momentum going forward in the first.
The defense has been lights out so far today through two drives. TJ Parker picks up two sacks to get the ball back to the offense.
It was a quick drive for the Tigers and they will punt away to the Orange. On second and 3, Cade takes another deep shot, this time trying to find Beaux Collins and for no obvious reason Beaux Collins just cut the route off and stopped running. Absolutely embarrassing.
The first play of the next Syracuse drive was a pitch play to the running back and it bounced off of his hands. Xavier Thomas picked it up and took it down to the 3 yard line. Will Shipley would punch it in a few plays later to give Clemson a 14-0 lead with 5:53 left in the first quarter.
Clemson’s defense was very shaky with tackling on this drive where the Orange marched down the field to make it 14-7. It looked like the entire defense couldn’t tackle #89. Embarrassing attempts to tackle this drive.
The next Clemson drive we saw a drop by Brannon Spector (no shock there) and now the Tigers will be punting the ball again, still up 14-7 in the second Quarter.
Second Quarter Thoughts:
The Clemson defense looks like they figured out the tackling at least for that drive and Clemson gets the ball back on their own 18-yard line.
The drive is aided by a late hit out of bounds to give Clemson a first down. The next play is a reverse to Tyler Brown for a big gain. Tyler Brown is for sure Mr. Do it all for the Clemson offense.
Clemson goes for it on 4th and 3 and Blake Miller gets blown up and Cade is sacked by basically a free rusher. The score is still 14-7 and Syracuse has the ball at their 12 yard line.
Not much going for the Orange and they try a very long field goal and come up short. Clemson takes over near midfield.
Cade Klubnik finally hits on a deep ball and finds Beaux Collins for a 47-yard touchdown. Tigers build on their lead and make it 21-7.
Clemson gets the ball back with about 1:40 left in the half and drives down the field to give Weitz a 42-yard attempt… Which he misses. Clemson continues to show that we don’t have any options at the kicker position.
Overall, I was pleased with the first half. Not every drive was perfect and clean but overall I liked the energy that we came out with. Tyler Brown and Troy Stellato both had big plays for us, and Beaux obviously had the long TD reception. Cade finished the first half 16-25 for 180 yards, and two touchdowns. We have been moving the ball mainly through the air, as the running game has been almost nonexistent. Clemson really had a chance to dominate the first half of the “middle eight” but of course, a missed field goal left the score at 21-7 at the half. The Tigers really need to come out to start the second half hot and get into the endzone to take a three-touchdown lead.
Third Quarter Thoughts:
Clemson gets the ball to start the half and needs to get some points to build on the lead. Stop me if this sounds familiar, but TYLER BROWN! Cade Klubnik connects on another deep ball to Tyler Brown for a gain of 47 yards. Clemson gets down into the red zone and the engine seized up quickly. Dabo sends out Weitz to attempt a 38-yard field goal, and he drills it. Clemson extends the lead 24-7.
Really not much going from either offense for the rest of the third quarter.
Clemson moved the ball a little bit on their last drive of the third quarter until Briningstool fumbled after catching the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
Fourth Quarter Thoughts:
After the Briningstool fumble, Syracuse goes right down the field to score. Syracuse still trails 24-14.
This next offensive drive for the Tigers is the most important drive of the game to this point.
With that being said… the first play of the drive is a run that loses a yard, and the second play is a sack. Clemson is faced with a 3rd and 12 and the momentum is fully on the Syracuse sideline.
Cade scrambles to his left and finds who else but Tyler Brown. When Antonio gets back into the lineup the offense will continue to grow.
Clemson wasn’t able to get any points on the board, but they were able to flip the field.
Syracuse picks up two first downs… and then Jeremiah Trotter Jr. comes up with the big interception!
The first play with the offense back on the field is a handoff to Phil Mafah which he takes up the middle for 32 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers extended the lead to 31-14 with 6:38 left in the game.
Clemson takes this one over Syracuse 31-14 in a pretty dominant game. Outside of the Briningstool fumble, this game was never really in jeopardy.
Clemson will face Wake Forest next week in Death Valley.
