By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — Though Clemson was without starting right tackle Gifford Timothy, and later lost starting left guard David Beasley to a knee injury, it did not lose ground along the offensive line.
In fact, one can say the 12th-ranked Tigers improved upon their performance against Auburn a week ago. Though there wasn’t a 200-yard rusher and more than 300 yards churned up on the ground, Clemson did not allow a sack, which helped quarterbacks Tajh Boyd, Cole Stoudt and Morgan Roberts combine for 372 yards on 33 of 44 passes.
“We protected very well,” Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris said. “They were bringing a lot of different fronts and a lot of different pressure on us, and I thought we did a good job picking all of that up and executing.
“I thought Shaq Anthony stepped up (at right tackle). It was a challenge for him all week. He had won the job earlier in camp and then lost it so to see him perform the way he did, I’m real proud of him.”
Morris was also proud of Kalon Davis at left guard after coming in for Beasley, who left after the second possession of the game and did not return.
“You just see all of them getting better,” Morris said. “You see Dalton Freeman, Brandon Thomas and Tyler Shatley getting better. They are really growing up. I’m excited about that. We still have a long way to go. We are not ordering rings and handing out trophies just yet.
“I thought Kalon needed to play. He was another one that won the job early in camp and lost it. To be able to see him come in and perform, that was good. He got some quality reps today.”
Home sweet home. Clemson has now won eight straight games at home. The Tigers were 7-0 at home last season.
Pass happy. Clemson had two 100-yard passers in today’s game, as Tajh Boyd threw for 229 and Cole Stoudt threw for 123 yards. It is the first time since the 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl against South Florida and just the seventh time in school history that Clemson has had two 100-yard passers in the same game. In that 2010 contest, Kyle Parker threw for 134 yards and Boyd threw for 112 yards.
Getting off the field. Clemson held Ball State to 3-for-14 (.214) on third-down conversions. The Tigers held Auburn to 4-for-13 (.308) on third-down conversions last week, so opposing teams are 7-for-27 (.259) against the Clemson defense this season.
Touchdown machine. With his three touchdown receptions, DeAndre Hopkins tied a school record for receiving touchdowns and joins Rod Gardner, Dreher Gaskin and Tony Horne as the only other players to accomplish the feat. Gardner was the last to do so when he scored three against North Carolina in 2000. Hopkins, though, was able to able to accomplish the feat in just one half of football. It was also the first time Hopkins scored multiple touchdowns in a game.
Hopkins also now has three consecutive games of at least 100+ receiving yards, which ties a Clemson record. Rod Gardner had three in 2000, Tony Horne had three in 1997, and Charlie Waters had three in 1969.
Third place. Boyd finished today’s game 19-for-23 for 229 yards passing and three touchdowns. He now has 41 career touchdown passes, which ties him with Woodrow Dantzler for third place on the career passing touchdowns list.
Injuries. David Beasley’s knee injury is not believed to be serious, but his status for next week against Furman is unknown at this time. Linebacker Tony Steward did not play in the second half on defense due to a pulled hamstring. Running back D.J. Howard and Jonathan Willard have bruised shoulders. Clemson played 80 players against Ball State.