MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In the week leading up to Saturday’s 58-0 victory over Miami, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney rode his defense. In particular, he lit a fire under his secondary and his defensive line, challenging them to out play the Hurricanes on every play.
And that’s what they did.
Clemson defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd harassed quarterbacks Brad Kaaya and Malik Rosier all afternoon, while the secondary recorded three interceptions, including a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter by cornerback Cordrea Tankersley.
“We knew coming in they were going to make some plays. That is a great team,” Lawson said. “We knew they were going to make some plays, but we knew we had to stay focused and stay hungry and that is what we did.
“We needed to win the turnover margin and that’s what we did today. That team was number one in the nation today in turnover margin. Coach Swinney rode us all week about our secondary playing well and our rush defensive playing well so I felt like we did that today.”
Miami (4-3, 1-2 ACC) came into the game leading the ACC in passing yards (307.5 ypg), thanks to Kaaya’s 299.2 yards per game. But Clemson’s no-fly zone motto held up all afternoon as the Tigers’ limited the Hurricanes to 93 passing yards on 13 of 32 passing, while sacking Kaaya and Rosier a combined four times. Miami had allowed just seven sacks in the first six games of the season.
“We felt like we had to come out and make a statement on national television,” safety Jayron Kearse said.
That statement was heard loud and clear when Lawson—on a two-man rush nonetheless—knocked Kaaya senseless and from the game following a second-quarter sack. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound junior rushed up the field on sophomore Trevor Darling, made a move inside while blowing past left guard Kc McDermott, who was trying to give help, before plowing into Kaaya.
“I hit him very hard,” Lawson said as he described it being somewhat similar to the one Jadeveon Clowney delivered on a Michigan running back in the Outback Bowl a few years back. “That was probably the best hit I have had since I started.”
That finished Kaaya’s afternoon as he left the field just 6 of 10 for 51 yards. He was sacked twice, both by Lawson, while hit several other times. Fellow Defensive end Kevin Dodd forced what looked like a fumble during a first-quarter sack, but replayed overturned the ruling on the field and said Kaaya’s hand was going forward.
Later in the game, backup defensive ends Austin Bryant and Richard Yeargin recorded back-to-back sacks on Rosier to secure the Tigers first shutout since last year’s home shutout over NC State. It was Clemson’s first road-shutout since a 17-0 win at Maryland on October 21, 1995.
“I’m definitely proud of the shutout. I’m a defensive guy and we did not let them score,” said Kearse, who is from the Miami area. “Scoring 58 points, the offense should be very proud of that, but I’m more proud of that shutout we put up on them.”
Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC) limited the Hurricanes to 146 yards total yards, including 53 yards on the ground. Miami averaged just 1.8 yards per carry. Jadar Johnson and Van Smith joined Tankersley with interceptions as the Tigers scored 21 points off the three turnovers.
Tankersley’s led directly to six points as he jumped a Miami route and returned Rosier’s pass 36 yards for a touchdown with 34 seconds to play in the first half. That gave the Tigers a 42-0 lead at the time.
“I was just ready to make a play. But as soon as I looked, I was like, ‘Oh! Ball!’ When I caught it I was like, ‘I’m on my feet. Okay, let’s go score.’ I was just playing ball,” the junior said.
And so did the rest of his defensive teammates.
“We have been waiting for a complete game, four quarters from our defense, and not giving up any cheap touchdowns,” Lawson said. “Our backups did well. I’m proud of Richard and Austin. They got their first career sacks. It was great watching them out there and cheering them on from the sideline. I know they are cheering us on too when we are out there. It felt great.”