By Will Vandervort.
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — Every Tuesday and Wednesday, Clemson’s field goal block team really goes hard at trying to block kicks. Though nine times out of 10, guys like Josh Watson and DeShawn Williams will not even come close to getting their hands on the ball, the idea of knowing what they are supposed to do in that situation will come to use at some point.
It came to use in front of 81,000 at Death Valley on Saturday.
With the Tigers up nine points with 6:19 left in the game, Georgia Tech kicker David Scully lined up for what looked like a cheap-shot 37-yard field goal attempt. But Watson had other plans as he bull rushed the two blockers and got his hands up just enough to deflect Scully’s kick. The blocked field goal all but assured the Tigers the win in their 47-31 victory.
“Coach (Dan) Brooks always harps on that play,” Watson said. “We go really hard on it on Tuesday and Wednesday. He says you never know when you are going to get one so you have to come 100 percent. If you look at a lot of teams, they will relax on that play and will not go as hard.
“We knew he was kicking low liners and we knew we could get our hands on them at the beginning of the game. It is just bull rush through and Grady (Jarrett) helped me out and we had two guys on one of the guards and I just put my hands up and blocked it.”
Long time coming. Saturday’s win, coupled with the Tigers win to start the year over Auburn, marked the first time Clemson has beat both Auburn and Georgia Tech in the same year since 1906.
Clemson had played the two in the same season 20 previous times prior to this year. Of course these three teams are connected because of the great John Heisman, for whom the Heisman Trophy is named for, was the head coach at all three.
Record day for Boyd. With Tajh Boyd’s 58-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins in the second quarter, Boyd became Clemson’s all-time career leader in touchdown passes with 50 career touchdown passes.
He finished the game with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. That gives Boyd 51 career touchdown passes and makes him responsible for 59 touchdowns. He is now tied for second with Charlie Whitehurst in touchdown responsibility in Clemson history. The record is 68 by Woody Dantlzer.
Boyd also passed for a career-high 397 yards. That ranks second in school history in passing yards behind Charlie Whitehurst’s 420 passing yards against Duke in 2002.
Boyd’s 397 passing yards and 63 rushing yards for a total of 460 yards of total offense. That is the second most yards by an individual player in school history. The record is 517 yards of total offense by Woodrow Dantzler in 2001 against NC State.
Safety help. In the fourth quarter, Spencer Shuey tackled Orwin Smith in the end zone for a safety. It was just the sixth safety by Clemson at Death Valley in the last 25 years. The most famous safety by Clemson in Death Valley took place in 1987 as the Tigers recorded a fourth quarter safety against Georgia in a 21-20 victory. Today many of those 1987 Tigers were in town for the 25-year reunion of that 10-2 Clemson team.
A lot of offense. Clemson and Georgia Tech combined for 1,084 yards of total offense. That is second most in Clemson history for total offense by both teams. The record is 1,107 in 1981 when Clemson totaled 756 yards of offense and Wake Forest went for 351 yards. The Tigers had 601 of those yards, the eighth best mark in school history.
Undefeated. Clemson is now 9-0 when they total at least 600 yards of total offense. The Tigers are also now 61-0-1 when they total at least 500 yards and are 60-0-1 when they total at least 200 yards passing and 200 yards rushing.
Orange over White. Clemson is now 17-0 under head coach Dabo Swinney when the Tigers wear Orange Jerseys over White pants.
A lot of points. Clemson scored 47 points against Georgia Tech in today’s game. That is the most points scored by Clemson at home against Georgia Tech in school history. The previous high was 41 points in 1983.