Ah yes, where were we. The Orange Bowl itself. In a game featuring two packed offenses, the West Virginia Mountaineers have emerged as the team with both the superior offense and defense, for the time being at least. Three turnovers have made the difference, with one a 99-yard fumble return by Darwin Cook, another a Pat Miller pick that set up Tavon Austin touchdown No. 3, and the last a forced fumble by Bruce Irvin that keyed a Shawn Alston score.
2012 Orange Bowl Halftime Score: West Virginia Squeezing Out Every Last Point
SI.com: Live Orange Bowl box score and Orange Bowl FAQ.
This game has set the all-time Orange Bowl record for first quarter scoring and for first half scoring. The Orange Bowl has been around since 1935. Only four Orange Bowl teams have ever scored more than 42 points through 60 minutes, let alone 30.
But, as we saw in the Alamo Bowl, this kind of game is never really over. Clemson’s going to have to pick it up on offense -- we don’t get to say THAT very often -- but it’s going to need its defense to start getting some stops. In seven offensive drives, WVU has scored five touchdowns.
The yardage total is 670, which, yes, is on pace to shatter another Orange Bowl record.
For more on the 2012 Orange Bowl, visit Clemson blog Shakin’ the Southland and West Virginia blog The Smoking Musket.
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