The Clemson Insider hands out some helmet stickers to some of third-ranked Clemson’s top performers from Saturday’s 37-34 win over No. 14 Florida State in Tallahassee:
Wayne Gallman
Gallman built on a triple-digit performance on the ground from the matchup with the Seminoles a year ago by providing another workmanlike performance as the primary tailback for the Tigers. Gallman totaled 82 rushing yards on 20 carries for the night, including a pair of touchdowns. Both of his scores came in short-yardage situations—a one-yard plunge to begin the scoring in the game and a two-yard effort that required a review to be ruled a touchdown and pulled the Tigers within two points at 28-26 with 11:30 to go in the game. Gallman never had a single run of longer than 12 yards, but he only had two plays go for zero or negative yardage.
Deshaun Watson
Watson’s inconsistency created some adversity for the Tigers. The quarterback threw a pair of interceptions due to improper reads of underneath zone coverage, and he missed multiple touchdowns by overthrowing deep balls. Still, when Clemson needed some early momentum and some late magic, Watson was available to provide it. The junior completed nine of his first ten passes, a span that covers both of the Tigers’ early touchdown drives. Of Watson’s final six completions, four of them came on third downs, and another was the game-winning touchdown.
Mike Williams
Williams maintained his status as Watson’s top option on the perimeter, leading the Tigers in targets (10) and receptions (7). Watson went to Williams twice on third downs on the game’s first drive, converting on one and setting up a fourth-and-short situation with another. On the next series, a quick slant to Williams on third-and-two moved the chains and set up the Tigers’ second score. When Clemson needed a score to potentially tie the game in the fourth, Watson found Williams for a pair of third-down conversions, then the lanky NFL prospect hauled in a lob to the back of the end zone that earned Clemson its final two points on a conversion.
Hunter Renfrow
Rarely does Renfrow have flashy games, but he typically shows up as a solid contributor across the board. The former preferred walk-on had five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown against the Seminoles. He was featured on Clemson’s second scoring drive, snagging three passes for 29 yards and a four-yard touchdown in the front right corner of the end zone that put the Tigers ahead 14-0. Also, before Greg Huegel’s kick gave Clemson a 29-28 advantage in the fourth quarter, Renfrow went to the turf to haul in a 20-yard pass that set up a crucial fourth-and-one situation.
Greg Huegel
Saturday’s game did not come down to a kick, but it was a game in which every kick mattered. Huegel made the ones he attempted in hostile Doak Campbell Stadium. He nailed a 23-yarder in the second quarter to extend the lead to two possessions, then he hit from 34 yards away to put the Tigers up by six in the third quarter. His biggest field goal, though, came when he nailed a 46-yard kick from the right hash with 5:25 to play to give the Tigers a 29-28 advantage—the second-longest field goal for Huegel this season. For his career, the former walk-on is 16-for-17 on field goal attempts in true road games, including a perfect 5-for-5 on kicks of 40 yards or longer.
Christian Wilkins/Dexter Lawrence
Wilkins and Lawrence each get one-half of a helmet sticker to represent the combo sack they earned on third-and-20 at the end of the game when Florida State was driving to tie or win. Wilkins consistently wreaked havoc with the Seminoles’ blocking scheme, and Lawrence put a move on the interior of the FSU line that directly resulted in the breakdown that caused that sack. Together, the duo led a fourth down conversion for Gallman out of Clemson’s jumbo package that kept alive the drive that put Clemson on top by a 29-28 score with 5:25 to play.
Photo Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports