Appalachian State opened Saturday’s game in Death Valley with three possessions near midfield, and on all three possessions they failed to even get a first down.

From the outset, Clemson’s defense came out to prove a point. They can play defense.

After a long kickoff to open the game, the Mountaineers had the ball at their own 43-yard line. But they managed just eight yards and were forced to punt the ball. Following a rare Deshaun Watson interception on the Tigers’ first offensive possession, App State had the ball at its own 46, and lost a yard on three plays before punting it back to Clemson.

Following a Clemson punt, the Mountaineers found themselves again with the football in good field position, this time at the 36-yard line, but the end result was again three plays and a punt.

It was obvious from that point that this day belonged to the Clemson defense in the Tigers’ 41-10 victory in Death Valley.

Carlos Watkins’ 15-yard interception return for a touchdown with 11:42 to play in the second quarter got the Tigers rolling after that as they cruised to a 31-0 halftime lead, and led 38-0 in the third quarter before App State was able to put a dent in the scoreboard. Before Watkins’ interception the offense struggled to figure App State out, but another interception by Ben Boulware set up a 27-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Charone Peake, and then running back Wayne Gallman ran over an App. State defender for a 23-yard score and then Watson found Peake again on a 59-yard touchdown pass.

The Clemson defense held the Mountaineers to 88 yards, including 29 yards rushing. Clemson had six tackles for loss in the first half.

The Tigers harassed App State quarterback Taylor Lamb into three interceptions on 5 of 17 passing. The Mountaineers most impressive drive, when the Tigers were up 3-0 late in the first quarter, ended when Lamb was picked off by safety Jayron Kearse in the end zone for a touchback.

Watkins then intercepted Lamb, while dropping into zone coverage, on the next possession and rumbled for a 15-yard touchdown. Boulware then picked off Lamb on the next possession.

Clemson has scored 28 second-quarter points, the most for the Tigers in a quarter since doing the same to The Citadel in 2013.

Deshaun Watson found Charone Peake hiding behind the App State secondary and then unloaded a 59-yard bomb to give Clemson a 31-0 lead with 1:56 to play in the second quarter. Watson started the play in the pocket, rolled right and then launched the pass from his 37-yard line where it did not hit Peake’s hands until the two-yard line.

It was Peake’s second touchdown catch of the day.

Clemson took a 24-0 lead on a 23-yard Wayne Gallman touchdown with 5:48 to play in the first half. Gallman ran over the App State safety at the goal line and then stood over him as he walked into the end zone for the score. The drive was 9 plays, 64 yards and took 2:48 off the clock.

The Tigers grabbed a 17-0 lead with 10:10 to play in the second quarter as Deshaun Watson found Charone Peake for a 27-yard touchdown pass following Boulware’s interception. It took Clemson three plays to capitalize on the touchdown.

Watson finished his afternoon 19 of 28 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. His passer rating was 183.6.

Gallman rushed for 79 yards to lead the Tigers, while Artavis Scott, who hauled in 41-yard touchdown pass from Watson in the third quarter, had six catches for 73 yards. Peake hauled in four catches for 86 yards and had two touchdowns.

Clemson will face Louisville on Thursday to open up the ACC part of its schedule.

App State’s Taylor Lamb throws a 1-yard touchdown pass to Barrett Burns. That makes the score 38-10 with 10:59 to play in the game.

Greg Huegel missed right from the left hash on a 37-yard field goal attempt. Clemson still leads 38-3.

That is the end of the third quarter. Clemson leads 38-3.

Appalachian State ruins Clemson’s shutout bid with a 31-yard field goal with 1:13 to play on the third quarter. The Tigers now leads 38-3.

How good has it been for Clemson today? This good. App State just went over 100 yards.

Deshaun Watson finds Artavis Scott from 41 yards out as the Tigers take a 38-0 lead with 10:10 to play in the third quarter. It was Watson’s third touchdown pass of the game.

Clemson’s offense may racked up 280 yards on total offense in the first half, and the 28-second quarter points was quite impressive. But the Tigers offense did not get things going until the defense did its thing first.

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Watson finished the first half was 17 of 24 for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He did thrown an interception early in the game. Gallman had 73 yards on 13 carries, while Peake hauled in four passes for 86 yards.

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Clemson center Ryan Norton is back on the sideline and is riding a stationary bike.

Clemson took a 17-0 lead with 10:10 to play in the second quarter as Deshaun Watson found Charone Peake for a 27-yard touchdown pass following Boulware’s interception. It took Clemson three plays to capitalize on the touchdown.

By the way, Carlos Watkins interception return for a touchdown was the first defensive touchdown by a Clemson player since 2011 when Kournei Brown returned a fumble for a touchdown against NC State.

Ben Boulware gets the defense third straight interception on Taylor Lamb. Clemson has the ball at the App State 27 yard line.

Great call by Defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Clemson loaded up the middle and then only Carlos Watkins dropped back into coverage. App State quarterback Taylor Lamb never saw him as Watkins picked off the pass and rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown. Tigers lead 10-0 with 11:42 to play in the second quarter.

That is the end of the first quarter. Clemson leads 3-0.

Jayron Kearse gets his first interception of the year and the first of the year for the Tigers. That was Kearse’s seventh career interception.

App State gets first first down on a questionable penalty. App State is driving on Clemson following a screen pass. The gain was 27 yards.

Clemson nation had a little heart attack when Deshaun Watson went down following a bad snap that sailed over his head. While recovering the loose ball, he fell on it and knock the wind out of his body. He is okay and returned to the game.

App State once again goes three-and-out after starting in great field position. App. State has 19 yards in three possessions.

After two practices swing due to offside penalties by App. State, Clemson takes a 3-0 lead on a 39-yard field goal by Greg Huegel. It was an 11-play, 59-yard drive.

Don’t forget to check out Hale’s App. State recruiting notes.

The Clemson defense answer the call and gets its second three-and-out of the game. Scott Pagano blew to plays up on that App State series.

Latrell Gibbs intercepts Deshaun Watson on the Tigers fourth play of the game. App. State has the ball at the Clemson 46. The Mountaineers are playing with a lot of energy right now.

App. State will receive the football. Clemson will get the ball to start the second half.

Artavis Scott just went staright into the student section and started high-five the students.

App. State comes out five minutes before the Tigers run down the Hill.

Despite injuring his knee in last week’s game against Wofford, center Ryan Norton will start today’s game against App. State. Scott Pagano will make his second straight start at defensive tackle.

The 12th-ranked Clemson Tigers host Appalachian State today at 12:30 p.m.  The Tigers come in 1-0 following last week’s victory over Wofford, while the Mountaineers bring in a seven-game winning streak dating back to last season. Last week, they defeated Howard 49-0.

Clemson and App State have played a total of four times previous with the Tigers winning all four games. The last meeting was in 1997, a 23-12 Clemson victory.

This is the second year for App State as a FBS school.

Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams was on the sideline for warm ups prior to the game. He was wearing the neck brace he is expected to wear for the next five weeks or so.

Also, we checked in to get the latest on former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. As you probably know he is planning to play in Canada.

There has been a delay. Sources tell TCI that Hamilton owns Tajh’s rights but it does not really need a quarterback. They are trying to get something for Boyd in a trade. That is what has caused the delay.

They hope some kind of deal will be reached in the next week.