The #1 Clemson Tigers put the finishing touches on an undefeated regular season by outlasting their bitter in-state rival South Carolina Gamecocks by a final score of 37-32. South Carolina's season ends at 3-9 with the loss, while Clemson is 12-0 and will face North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game next weekend. Here's everything you need to know from Clemson's win:
Notes:
The win is Clemson's second straight in the series, and was head coach Dabo Swinney's first win in Williams-Brice Stadium. He's now 3-5 against the Gamecocks in his career.
Clemson QB Deshaun Watson set a few career highs on the ground against the Gamecocks, rushing for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Watson also passed for 279 yards and another touchdown.
South Carolina's defense came to play for the first time since the season opener as they gave the Gamecocks several chances to take a sizable lead by forcing two first half turnovers in Clemson terrority. However, the offense let them down by gaining a total of three yards on the two ensuing possessions.
Quotes:
"We weren't worried about the national championship. We were just worrying about this game, achieve one of our goals and be state champs and that's what we did. The national championship will take care of itself." - Watson.
"He's just a great leader and he's very comfortable on that stage. It's what he was born to do. There's nothing else I can tell you." - Swinney on Watson's performance.
"Our team fought to the very end. Players believed, they came out, they fought. They did everything in their power." - SC head coach Shawn Elliott his team's effort.
Observations:
Clemson needs to be more careful with the football. The Tigers turned the ball over three more times in this one, giving them 26 on the year - more than two per game. They've been able to overcome those miscues to this point in the season, but it may come back to hurt them in the playoff if they don't get it corrected.
South Carolina should not retain Shawn Elliott as their permanent head coach. He won his first game since taking over on an interim basis following Steve Spurrier's retirement, but the Gamecocks closed their season with five straight losses - including one to FCS opponent Citadel. They looked terrible on both sides of the ball and showed no improvement under Elliott.
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