TCI hands out some helmet stickers from Saturday’s 34-17 victory over Boston College…
Deshaun Watson
Yes, Watson struggled mightily to get the ball down the field in the first half. Yes, he threw a pair of interceptions. However, he was much better completing vertical throws after halftime, and only one of the picks was truly his fault (he was hit after a poor blitz pickup). It’s impossible to ignore Watson’s career-high 420 passing yards, especially when considering that Boston College’s top-ranked defense had only allowed its first six opponents to throw for a combined 592 yards. Watson guided the Tigers to a 34-point performance against an Eagles defensive unit that had only allowed 43 points all season long. His issues notwithstanding, this was a fantastic game from a player who absolutely needed to play well in order for Clemson to score.
Zac Brooks
He only touched the ball on five occasions, making him an unlikely choice for a helmet sticker. Brooks’ handful of opportunities were valuable, though, so he gets a nod here. The reserve tailback entered the game to bust the Clemson running game out of its early struggles. His first touch was a 22-yard carry that began a scoring drive late in the first quarter. Prior to that run, the Tigers had merely rushed for seven yards on six carries in the game. On Clemson’s next scoring drive, Brooks took a 4th-and-short pass in the flat and scampered 21 yards to the end zone. The Tigers had a secure 17-7 advantage at that point, and Brooks had plenty to do with it.
Ben Boulware
Clemson’s defense makes it difficult to appraise individual players. There are a ton of three-and-outs, meaning there are fewer snaps and fewer chances to accumulate statistics. Also, a lot of different guys get involved, which means there are a bunch of candidates for these kinds of honors. However, one safe bet on almost any given week is that Boulware will make a major impact. He has been a one-man wrecking crew inside all season long, something the Eagles experienced on Saturday. He co-led the Tigers with seven tackles—including 1.5 that went for a loss—and was able to break up a pass and pressure the quarterback once. It was another vintage game for a throwback player in Boulware.
Greg Huegel
Remember when field goal kicking was a major question mark? Those days are long gone now. Huegel has answered the bell, as the former walk-on has now connected on eight of his ten tries this season. The entirety of Memorial Stadium was able to breathe more easily after Huegel banged home a 42-yard kick to give Clemson a 10-7 lead in the first quarter, and his 39-yard field goal gave the Tigers a two-possession lead at 20-10 midway through the third quarter. Good placekicking goes largely unnoticed, while bad placekicking is an attention-grabber. Flying under the radar means Huegel is doing his job, so we’ll show him some love here.