Quarterback Deshaun Watson made an early impact on an historic victory for Clemson against Miami on Saturday, and then he watched much of the carnage happen without lifting a finger.

There were a bunch of deserving candidates for TCI’s Player of the Game distinction. In a 58-point beatdown on the road against a storied powerhouse (albeit a crippled one), that is not surprising. However, only one player set the tone for the outpouring of points Clemson’s offense experienced down in Miami Gardens.

Two early plays by Watson really sparked the Tigers. On the first drive of the game, the sophomore quarterback smoothly guided the Clemson offense down the field until a bit of trickery got the scoring started.

Upon the snap of the football, the Clemson offensive line stayed put in its collective stance, as if the defense had jumped offsides. Miami’s defensive front rushed up the field, and then the play developed. Watson flipped the ball out to Jordan Leggett, the offensive line got out in front, and the tight end followed his blockers into the end zone.

After a Clemson interception gave the Tigers possession inside Miami’s red zone, Watson was able to use his legs to flip the field. On a first down play, he found some space on a quarterback keeper and sprinted 63 yards down to the Hurricanes’ eight-yard line. Two plays later, Wayne Gallman pounded it in from five yards away, and the score was 14-0.

8:07 had run off the clock, and the game was basically over already. Watson played a big role in that, and he did not stop contributing.

The offense scored on its next two drives, building a 28-0 advantage before Miami could muster a defensive stop. It was 45-0 when Watson exited the game after one possession in the third quarter. His job was done long before that point.

In seven possessions, Watson led the Tigers on six scoring drives—five touchdowns and one interception. He coolly directed each possession, knifing his way through the Miami defense with surgical precision.

Saturday’s game did not feature Watson as much as normal. Of his team’s 88 offensive plays, the super sophomore only accounted for 27 of them—a far cry from the high level of dependency Chad Morris had on him when healthy a season ago.

Clemson rushed for 416 yards at Miami on Saturday, so conventional wisdom would place much of the credit at the feet of the ball carriers. Co-coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott had a flawless gameplan, so they deserve some love, as well.

However, only one man could direct the ship on the field. That same man made some momentum-grabbing plays in the early going that shaped the way the entirety of the game played out.

That is why Watson is the Player of the Game. In a game with 100 stars, he was the one that shone brightest at the most important time.