COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ricardo Jones will go down in the annals of the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry in the same vain as past heroes such as Willie Underwood and Antwan Edwards.

The Clemson safety picked off two passes Saturday, including a game-clinching 12-yard touchdown return in the Tigers’ 28-14 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The win was Clemson’s fourth straight to end the regular season.

South Carolina (4-8) had the ball backed up to its 5-yard line with 3:27 to play, as quarterback LaNorris Sellers tried to get the ball to wide receiver Nyck Harbor, but cornerback Ashton Hampton tipped the ball into the air and Jones snagged it and then zig zagged his way into the end zone.

Jones also had a interception in the end zone with 13 seconds to play in the third quarter that stopped a Gamecocks scoring threat. Sellers was also looking for Harbor on that interception.

The Tigers (7-5) intercepted Sellers two times and sacked him five times, as well. The South Carolina quarterback ran for 166 yards two TDs in last year’s stunning win at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. He finished that game with 166 yards on the ground, but on this Saturday he tallied just 2 rushing yards on 12 carries.

The Gamecocks finished with just 41 rushing yards overall.

Sellers did throw for 381 yards, but he completed just 23 of 42 passes in the loss.

Though he did not throw any TDs, Clemson Cade Klubnik completed 24 of 39 passes for 264 yards, while running back Adam Randal ran for 102 yards on 24 carries and scored one TD.

Clemson totaled 415 yards and was 7 of 17 on third down.

QUITE DEFENSIVE

Clemson ended the game with four forced turnovers. Besides Jones’ two interceptions, the Tigers also recovered two fumbles.

Cornerback Avieon Terrell forced a first-quarter fumble. His fifth of the season.

CRAZY SECOND QUARTER

After a scoreless first quarter, Clemson and Carolina combined for 31 points and 336 yards of offense in the second quarter. The Tigers had 17 points and 194 yards, while the Gamecocks tallied 142 and scored 14 points.

The Gamecocks ran just seven plays in the second quarter, thanks to back-to-back long TD plays. Sellers found Nyck Harbor for a 53-yd TD. After the Tigers countered with a Klubnik TD run, Sellers found Vanderius Jacobs for a 74-yard TD.

Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser made a 32-yard field goal with 56 seconds to play in the half for a 17-14 lead.

Randall ran 10 yards for the game’s first TD, which gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead at the time.

THIRD DOWN DEFENSE

Though Clemson gave up a couple of big plays in the second quarter, the defense held its own as it held the Gamecocks to 1-of-11 on third down. Carolina was also 1-for-3 on fourth down

INJURIES

Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell was injured in the first quarter. He rode the bike several times and went to the locker room. He did come back to the sideline, but did not return to the game.

UP NEXT

Clemson’s regular season comes to an end and it will wait to see where it will play in the postseason during the bowl selection show on Dec. 7.