CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Defense holds on fourth down late, Tigers leave BC with 17-13 victory
Photo by Mark L. Baer / US PRESSWIRE

Defense holds on fourth down late, Tigers leave BC with 17-13 victory


by - Senior Writer -

CHESTNUT HILL, MA – For the second week in a row, Clemson’s defense held on fourth down deep in its own territory and saved an ACC win.

Tyler Murphy’s fourth-down pass with 49 seconds remaining skipped away from the receiver in the end zone, and Clemson’s offense did just enough as the Tigers (5-2, 4-1 ACC) escaped Boston College with a 17-13 victory.

Last week at home against Louisville, Clemson’s defense held on inside its own 10-yard line to preserve the win. Saturday, Boston College had driven to the Clemson 26-yard line but missed on four straight plays as the Tigers held Boston College to just 263 total yards, 120 on the ground.

Boston College (4-3, 1-2) missed an extra point on its second touchdown, and had to go for the touchdown instead of the tying field goal late.

Clemson returns home to face Syracuse next week.

Cole StoudtCole Stoudt
Sr. Quarterback
#18 6-4, 231
Dublin, OH

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was 29-of-45 for 285 yards. His favorite target was Artavis ScottArtavis Scott
Fr. Wide Receiver
#3 5-11, 190
Oldsmar, FL

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who had 10 catches for 72 yards, but Mike WilliamsMike Williams
So. Wide Receiver
#7 6-5, 208
Vance, SC

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had eight catches for 128 yards. Clemson’s offense did just enough to score the 17 points, but wound up with 398 total yards against the nation’s eighth-best defense.

The teams traded punts throughout the first quarter, and it took two Tavaris BarnesTavaris Barnes
RS Sr. Defensive End
#9 6-4, 273
Jacksonville, FL

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sacks of Tyler Murphy to set up Clemson’s first score. Barnes’ sacks forced a Boston College punt, and Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries
Sr. Wide Receiver
#13 5-11, 193
Spartanburg, SC

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returned it 13 yards to midfield.

Four plays later, Wayne GallmanWayne Gallman
RS Fr. Running Back
#9 6-1, 209
Loganville, GA

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bounced out to the left side and scored untouched from 17 yards out for the 7-0 Clemson lead.

Clemson’s ensuing drive ended in a punt, and the Eagles took advantage of the short field and the absence of safety Robert SmithRobert Smith
Sr. Safety
#27 5-11, 211
St. George, SC

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to put up their first points. Murphy hit Sherman Alston from 26 yards out, tying the game at 7-7 with 7:29 left in the first quarter.

Clemson took the lead at the half thanks to a drive that took the last 3:21 off the clock, getting a 23-yard field goal from Ammon LakipAmmon Lakip
RS Jr. Kicker
#36 5-10, 200
Alpharetta, GA

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as time expired for the 10-7 lead.

The Tigers continued to move the ball on offense and shut down Boston College’s offense throughout the third quarter and into the fourth quarter, but dropped passes and a lack of execution kept Clemson out of the end zone and the Eagles were finally able to break through early in the fourth quarter.

Safety T.J. GreenT.J. Green
So. Safety
#15 6-3, 205
Sylacauga, AL

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– subbing for an injured Robert Smith – got lost in coverage and gave up a 48-yard pass play to the Clemson 36-yard line. Six plays later, Murphy hit Josh Bordner on a six-yard throw back across the field for a touchdown. However, the extra point was missed and Clemson trailed 13-10 with 10:59 remaining in the contest.

Green then returned the kickoff short of the 20, and after two shaky throws Clemson faced a 3rd-and-long and Alumni Stadium was shaking as the BC fans began to smell a victory. However, Stoudt stood tall in the pocket and lofted a perfect pass to Mike Williams for a 32-yard gain and new life. C.J. DavidsonC.J. Davidson
RS Jr. Running Back
#32 5-10, 203
Clemson, SC

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followed with a six-yard rush, Williams caught another 12-yarder and Davidson broke free for a 32-yard run that gave the Tigers a 17-13 with 9:35 left on the game clock.

The Tigers forced a Boston College punt, and Clemson had a chance at converting a third down on the ensuing possession but it appeared that Stoudt checked into a keeper that was well short of the marker. Bradley PinionBradley Pinion
Jr. Punter
#92 6-6, 230
Concord, NC

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boomed a 55-yard punt, but Murphy got loose on a 43-yard run that put BS inside the Clemson 40 with just over two minutes to play, setting up the final minute.


Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score

----------------- -- -- -- -- -----

Clemson............. 0 10 0 7 - 17 Record: (5-2,4-1)

Boston College...... 0 7 0 6 - 13 Record: (4-3,1-2)

Scoring Summary:

2nd 11:42 CU - GALLMAN 17 yd run (LAKIP kick), 4-50 1:21, CU 7 - BC 0

07:29 BC - Alston,S 26 yd pass from Murphy,T (Knoll,M kick), 3-63 1:03, CU 7 - BC 7

00:00 CU - LAKIP 23 yd field goal, 12-69 3:21, CU 10 - BC 7

4th 10:59 BC - Bordner,J 6 yd pass from Murphy,T (Knoll,M kick failed), 7-84 2:27, CU 10 - BC 13

09:35 CU - DAVIDSON 32 yd run (LAKIP kick), 6-82 5:11, CU 17 - BC 13

CU BC

FIRST DOWNS................... 22 11

RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 36-113 36-120

PASSING YDS (NET)............. 285 143

Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 45-29-0 20-9-0

TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 81-398 56-263

Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0

Punt Returns-Yards............ 3-10 1-0

Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 3-51 2-68

Interception Returns-Yards.... 0-0 0-0

Punts (Number-Avg)............ 10-41.8 10-50.1

Fumbles-Lost.................. 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards............... 4-30 3-30

Possession Time............... 35:42 24:18

Third-Down Conversions........ 10 of 21 2 of 14

Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 0 1 of 2

Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 2-2 1-1

Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 4-23 1-3

RUSHING: Clemson-GALLMAN 15-39; DAVIDSON 5-39; STOUDT 8-21; CHOICE 4-13;

HOWARD 1-4; TEAM 3-minus 3. Boston College-Murphy,T 13-55; Willis,M 6-30;

Alston,S 5-18; Hilliman,J 12-17.

PASSING: Clemson-STOUDT 29-45-0-285. Boston College-Murphy,T 8-19-0-108;

Bordner,J 1-1-0-35.

RECEIVING: Clemson-SCOTT 10-72; M. WILLIAMS 8-128; LEGGETT 2-25; HOPPER

2-13; GALLMAN 2-1; HUMPHRIES 1-17; DAVIDSON 1-14; McCULLOUGH 1-10; HOWARD 1-3;

COOPER 1-2. Boston College-Callinan,C 3-64; Alston,S 3-23; Crimmins,D 1-48;

Bordner,J 1-6; Outlow,M 1-2.

INTERCEPTIONS: Clemson-None. Boston College-None.

FUMBLES: Clemson-None. Boston College-None.

Stadium: Alumni Stadium Attendance: 42038

Kickoff time: 3:32 End of Game: 6:40 Total elapsed time: 3:08

Officials: Referee: Dennis Hennigan; Umpire: Tom Laverty; Linesman: John Hoffman;

Line judge: Rick Page; Back judge: Barry Hendon; Field judge: Kip Johnson;

Side judge: Watts Key;

Temperature: 69F Wind: SW 13mph Weather: Cloudy

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