This time replay got it right.

At least that is the way Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney sees it.

On Syracuse’s opening drive in Clemson’s 31-14 victory Saturday at the JMA Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., the Orange found themselves on the move when Garrett Shrader scrambled 19 yards up the field on a first-down-play from his own 36.

However, Shrader never saw Clemson defensive end Justin Mascoll, who tattooed the 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback from left side. The hit was so hard, it knocked the football loose and defensive tackle Payton Page recovered it at the Tigers’ 45.

The hit was so hard, it also drew a flag from the line judge, as he called Mascoll for targeting. The official felt the graduate senior led with the crown of his head and hit Shrader’s helmet.

The call forced Swinney off the sideline, immediately questioning the line judges’ call.

“I just saw it clean. I did not see what they saw,” Swinney said. “I saw a clean hit.”

Replay also saw it.

The replay official overturned the call on the field and awarded Clemson the football. Replay clearly showed Mascoll hit Shrader in the shoulder and did not lead with the crown of his helmet.

“It looked worse than it was because (Shrader) did not see it coming,” Swinney said. “I think sometimes when it is a quarterback… but he was not a defenseless player. He is running the ball and he is not sliding. He is not a guy that slides. He is a punishing runner, but he just did not see him. I know it looks worse than it was, but I thought it was a clean hit from the get-go.”

Mascoll’s forced fumble gave the Tigers (3-2, 1-2 ACC) the football at their own 45-yard line. Seven plays later, on third down from the Orange’s 14, quarterback Cade Klubnik found Troy Stellato for a touchdown in right side of the end zone.

The overturned call not only kept Mascoll in the game, but it led to a touchdown and set the tone for a much-needed Clemson victory.

“I saw it on the replay, and I just did not agree with the call. But hey, that is why we got replay and review, and they got it right,” Swinney said.

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