The Tigers are on a Roll

By Brandon Rink
SouthernPigskin.com

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With how Chad Morris’ offense is rolling, an 11-1 Clemson team seems like quite the catch for a BCS bowl at this point.

Sometimes, it just looks easy for Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd.

His multiple connections with All-ACC receivers DeAndre “Nuke” Hopkins and Sammy Watkins shredded Duke’s secondary Saturday night, as the Tigers cruised to a 56-20 win at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Boyd passed for 300 yards and five touchdowns in the first half, and rushed for a team-leading 74 yards and a sixth score of the half while Clemson piled up the points on five of its first six drives to a 42-17 edge after two quarters.

The junior gunslinger tied the Tigers’ single-game record for touchdown passes (five) with 9:29 to go in the second quarter – hitting sophomore receiver Martavis Bryant on a 41-yard post pattern.

All-totaled, Clemson (8-1, 5-1 ACC) had 487 first-half yards of total offense, which set another school record, along with Boyd breaking the mark for touchdowns (six) and Hopkins setting the single-season and career school-records in touchdown catches (13 and 22, respectively).

The success, in part, was a product of what Clemson coach Dabo Swinney saw on tape from the Blue Devils (6-4, 3-3 ACC) going in.

“We felt if they were going to play man coverage in the secondary – we could be successful like we were against Wake Forest,” Swinney said. “Tajh was terrific in the first half and Nuke continues to set records.

"Overall, we continue to respond and play as a team. It feels great to get a fourth win away from home.”

Boyd credited his offensive line for the primetime performance of 718 offensive yards, converting 7-of-10 third down tries.

“Those guys are really the heroes of the game,” he said. “We had over 300 yards passing and we had over 300 yards rushing, and I don’t think there’s being enough said about those guys. Those guys were grinding it out and opening holes and I’m proud of how they competed.”

Tigers running back Andre Ellington left after one carry with a hamstring injury, but Swinney said it was “minor.” Tight end Brandon Ford also left early, which Swinney said was due to a bruised rib.

No track meet in Durham

With 45 points combined through 17 minutes of football, all signs pointed to a back-and-forth affair in Durham.

And on the Tigers’ next drive, star-of-the-night “Nuke” Hopkins fumbled right after Duke had drawn within 11 points at 28-17.

But that’s when the game turned. Brent Venables’ defensive unit – tied for 82nd nationally in total defense coming in – stepped up under the gun on the road.

Duke punted eight of its next 11 possessions, and their lone score for the rest of the game was a Ross Martin 47-yard field goal in garbage time in the second half. The Blue Devils averaged 2.6 yards per play in those final 11 possessions, after hitting 9.7 yards per play when scoring three of their first four drives.

“Our guys came out very focused in the second half and very determined, and played better than in the third quarter last week,” Venables said. “There were a lot of things that were very positive.”

Venables says the performance, mixing in a healthy rotation with the big lead, is yet another sign of Clemson’s defense improving down the stretch.

“We might have emptied the roster tonight,” he said. “And against a quality team on the road. Having a perspective from that standpoint, our guys continue to get a little bit better each week out.”

BCS-Bound, again?

While FSU’s path to an ACC title is looking easier by the day, Clemson’s path to an at-large BCS bowl bid is also looking increasingly easier.

The No. 9 Tigers (No. 13 in the BCS) seek an 11-1 finish, returning home to Death Valley for their final three games – where they’re riding an 11-game winning streak.

One potential bid “stealer” was washed away Saturday night, when No. 19 Boise State fell 21-19 at home to San Diego State. All the Broncos needed to do was finish 11-1 themselves and they would have likely been in the top-12 for an automatic bid.

Maryland (4-5, 2-3 ACC) and NC State (5-4, 2-3 ACC) finish out the ACC slate for the Tigers, both losing by 20 points or more at home Saturday, and then there’s the season finale with No. 8 South Carolina (7-2), which will be tough despite Marcus Lattimore’s absence.

With how Chad Morris’ offense is rolling, an 11-1 Clemson team seems like quite the catch for a BCS bowl at this point.