Clemson has finally broken their losing streak in the Battle for the Palmetto State. After five straight losses to South Carolina, the Tigers emerged victorious at home Saturday afternoon, securing their first win against the Gamecocks since 2008. Clemson won, 35-17, thanks to four total touchdowns from freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson.
South Carolina vs. Clemson final score: 3 things we learned from the Tigers’ 35-17 win
The Tigers break a five-game skid against the Gamecocks.
It was South Carolina who got on the board first, using the versatile talents of sophomore wide receiver Pharoh Cooper. Lined up in the wildcat, Cooper ran untouched through the middle for the 20-yard score.
Clemson responded with 21 straight points from their talented group of freshmen. Artavis Scott received the fly sweep from Watson and raced 53 yards for the score. Wayne Gallman followed that up with a 5-yard run, and Watson extended the lead with a 1-yard scoring run.
The fly sweep continued to hurt South Carolina in the second half. Scott came in motion and caught the short pass from Watson deep in Clemson territory, running 70 yards down the field and tip-toeing into the end zone.
via ESPN
South Carolina brought the game back within two scores on a late Dylan Thompson touchdown toss to Damiere Byrd, but Clemson pulled away with another Watson touchdown.
Three things we learned
1. Clemson rules South Carolina. For now. The Gamecocks and Steve Spurrier had bragging rights over the Tigers and Dabo Swinney for a half-decade, but this Clemson team was just too much to handle. The Tigers had ruled collegiate football in the state in 2014 coming into this game as well, with a much stronger season than the Gamecocks' disappointing .500 record. A long-awaited win over your arch-rivals? Just icing on the cake.
2. Clemson's offense could be alright without Chad Morris. The Tigers' offensive coordinator is rumored to be leaving for the head coaching job at SMU, but Clemson's recent history of offensive success doesn't have to leave with him. Of their 307 first half yards, 289 came from freshmen or sophomores. The Tigers have a surplus of young offensive talent, led by the true freshman Watson.
It's not just Watson, however. Freshman skill players Wayne Gallman and Artavis Scott repeatedly beat South Carolina around the edge on running plays and fly sweeps. Gallman ran for 191 yards on 27 carries, while Scott set a school freshman record with 185 receiving yards on seven receptions.
Morris isn't Clemson's only superstar coordinator, either. Brent Venables has done a terrific job turning the Tigers' defense around, and it showed Saturday. Clemson dominated South Carolina in the trenches during the whole game, repeatedly putting pressure on Dylan Thompson and sacking him four times. One of the Tigers' three second-quarter touchdowns came after Vic Beasley forced a fumble, and Clemson was a presence in the backfield all game long.
3. Steve Spurrier has work to do at South Carolina ... if he wants to. There have been rumors the Head Ball Coach might consider hanging it up after this year (there have also been rumors he might take the Florida job, so take rumors with the appropriate grains of salt).
Saturday probably didn’t help Spurrier’s desire to return, ending this season at 6-6 -- his worst with the Gamecocks since 2007, the last time they missed a bowl game. It was undeniably a disappointing season for South Carolina, who entered the year ranked No. 9 in the country, and a win over Georgia is really the only thing they can hang their hat on this season.
See More:
