With the exception of a couple plays in the second quarter, Clemson’s defense stepped up big time in Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
Aside from two second-quarter touchdowns allowed, Clemson held South Carolina’s offense in check and out of the end zone for most of the day, helping lead the Tigers (7-5) to a 28-14 victory over the Gamecocks (4-8) at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
Nyck Harbor was able to get behind the Clemson defense for a 53-yard touchdown for South Carolina’s first score of the day at the 11:14 mark of the second period. On their next possession, the Gamecocks hit another explosive when Vandrevius Jacobs scored on a 74-yard touchdown catch and run after Clemson cornerback Jeadyn Lukus inexplicably gave up on the play.
Other than those two scores, Clemson’s defense pitched a shutout – and made some huge plays along the way.
None bigger than late in the fourth quarter, with South Carolina trailing 20-14. A deflection led to a pick-six for Clemson safety Ricardo Jones from 12 yards out, extending the Tigers’ lead to two touchdowns and thwarting the Gamecocks’ chance to put together a long, go-ahead drive.
Then, on South Carolina’s ensuing possession, Clemson safety Ronan Hanafin caused a fumble that linebacker Sammy Brown recovered, essentially sealing the Tigers’ sixth straight win in Columbia.
It was the last of the four turnovers that Clemson created in the contest. Jones also came up with an interception in the end zone late in the third quarter, and cornerback Avieon Terrell forced a first-quarter fumble that defensive end T.J. Parker fell on.
Another major play in the game came midway through the fourth quarter, when Clemson linebacker Wade Woodaz broke up a LaNorris Sellers pass on fourth-and-3 from the Clemson 34-yard line, resulting in a turnover on downs with the Gamecocks trailing by just six points.
“Defensively, to me, that’s the story of the game,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “Story of the game was defense in the second half. … It was two of the worst plays that I’ve ever seen, but man, they responded. Four takeaways. We got a score on D. … Just a lot of great things.”
A year after Sellers ran all over Clemson’s defense – 166 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in South Carolina’s 17-14 win at Clemson – the sophomore quarterback was contained on the ground throughout Saturday’s game, as he had just 2 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
“Y’all all know the story of the game last year,” Swinney said. “We read all about it for a year. … That is unbelievable effort by our defense. Because let me tell ya, Sellers – that’s one of the best players in the country. That guy is special. He is a great football player. He’s a great kid. He’s a great player. And to hold that guy to 2 yards rushing – unbelievable. And I just can’t say enough about [defensive coordinator Tom] Allen and our defensive staff and the plan that they put together.”
Clemson held South Carolina to just 41 rushing yards overall on 19 carries, a 1-for-11 clip on third downs, and 1-for-3 on fourth downs, while posting five sacks and six tackles for loss.
Parker had three sacks, three tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries, while fellow defensive end Will Heldt recorded 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and three quarterback hurries.
Thanks in large part to an outstanding defensive performance, the Tigers avenged last year’s loss to South Carolina and have now won six straight road games against the Gamecocks for the first time since winning in Columbia six straight times across the 1989-99 seasons.