INSIDE CLEMSON’S SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 at Auburn: W, 19-13
Deshaun Watson, who played at Gainesville High, began his Heisman Trophy runner-up season with 248 yards passing as the Tigers knocked off Auburn. Watson’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow in the fourth quarter gave Clemson a 19-6 lead and was Watson’s 50th career touchdown pass.
Sept. 10 vs. Troy: W, 30-24
Clemson linebackers Jalen Williams, Kendall Joseph and Dorian O’Daniel each intercepted passes in the third quarter, and Deshaun Watson was 27-of-53 passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Ray-Ray McCloud and Artavis Scott each caught seven passes. Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
Sept. 17 vs. South Carolina State: W, 59-0
The Tigers scored 31 points in the first quarter and finished with 555 yards of offense. The first-quarter points are the most in the first quarter in school history. Grayson High grad Nick Schuessler threw his first career touchdown pass, a 45-yard strike in the first quarter. Deshaun Watson was 12-of-15 passing for 152 yards and three touchdowns in his short day.
Sept. 22 at Georgia Tech: W, 26-7
In a Thursday night game at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the Tigers allowed 22 yards of offense in the first half (on 21 plays) in building a 23-0 halftime lead. Tech’s Dedrick Mills gained 14 of the 22 yards on the final play of the first half. Clemson held Tech to 124 yards overall. Conversely, Deshaun Watson passed for 304 yards in the game, completing 32 of 48 attempts.
Oct. 1 vs. Louisville: W, 42-36
In what essentially was the game that decided the ACC championship, Clemson held off a late Louisville rally. Tigers cornerback Marcus Edmond tackled Louisville receiver James Quick at the 3-yard line, one yard shy of a first down on a fourth-down play with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Deshaun Watson was 20-of-31 passing for 306 yards and five touchdowns. Heisman Trophy-winning Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson rushed for 162 yards on 31 carries and was 27-of-44 passing for 295 yards and a touchdown, but he was sacked five times.
Oct. 7 at Boston College: W, 56-10
In a Friday night game, Clemson gained 508 yards of offense, averaging 8.3 yards per play, and held Boston College to 251. The Tigers scored 35 points in the second half, including a 42-yard interception return by Mark Fields.
Oct. 15 vs. North Carolina State: W, 24-17 (OT)
A wild finish marked this homecoming victory for the Tigers. N.C. State kicker Kyle Bambard missed a 33-yard field-goal attempt as time expired in regulation. Clemson got the ball first in overtime and scored on a 10-yard pass from Deshaun Watson to Artavis Scott. On N.C. State’s first play, Clemson cornerback Marcus Edmond intercepted a pass in the end zone to secure the victory.
Oct. 29 at Florida State: W, 37-34
On a Saturday night in Tallahassee, Clemson trailed 28-20 entering the fourth quarter but rallied for its second win at Doak Campbell Stadium since FSU joined the ACC in 1992. The other Clemson victory there occurred in 2006. Deshaun Watson passed for 134 yards in the fourth quarter, 378 in the game.
Nov. 5 vs. Syracuse: W, 54-0
Quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Nick Schuessler each passed for two touchdowns, with one of Watson’s going to Deon Cain for 65 yards. Tanner Muse returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown, and Clemson outgained Syracuse 565 yards to 277.
Nov. 12 vs. Pittsburgh: L, 43-42
Despite an ACC-record 580 yards passing by Deshaun Watson (52 completions out of 70 attempts), the Tigers saw their hopes for an unbeaten season collapse when Chris Blewitt kicked a 48-yard field goal with six seconds left in the fourth quarter. Wayne Gallman of Loganville High was stopped short on a fourth-and-1 play at the Pitt 35 with 58 seconds to play that could have sealed a victory for Clemson.
Nov. 19 at Wake Forest: W, 35-13
Wayne Gallman rushed for 161 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns as the Tigers clinched the ACC Atlantic Division title and a berth in the ACC Championship game against Virginia Tech. Deshaun Watson rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another.
Nov. 26 vs. South Carolina: W, 56-7
Deshaun Watson accomplished something that no Clemson player had accomplished: six touchdown passes against South Carolina. Watson was 27-of-33 passing for 347 yards. Mike Williams caught three of the touchdown passes.
Dec. 3 vs. Virginia Tech (ACC Championship game, Orlando): W, 42-35
The teams combined for 856 yards, 470 by the Tigers and 386 by the Hokies. Deshaun Watson accounted for five touchdowns. He was 23-for-34 passing for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and he led the Tigers in rushing with 85 yards (on 17 carries) and scored two touchdowns.
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