Written by Erik Slaby
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Clemson, SC - On a chilly, fall afternoon here at Memorial Stadium, or more commonly known as Death Valley, the nationally ranked 2nd Clemson University Tigers were defeated by the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, 43-42. It was a thrilling, close game for all who watched. This loss now makes it a bit tougher for Clemson to make it to the College Football Playoff and Pittsburgh is now bowl-eligible.
This game was close throughout the day and right up to the final moment. This game may have not been as close had Clemson not hurt themselves with penalties and turnovers all night. Clemson turned the football over three times and had nine penalties for 101 yards. All three of those turnovers were interceptions thrown by Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. Even though Clemson had their struggles, they still had a chance to close out the game with five minutes left.
Clemson got the ball back after a Pittsburgh scoring drive that was started by an interception of Watson by linebacker Saleem Brightwell, who returned it 70 yards to set the Pittsburgh offense in great field position. Three plays later, Pittsburgh running back James Conner ran for a 20 yard TD and Pittsburgh converted on a two-point conversion. The score was now 42-40 with Clemson leading when they got the ball.
Clemson drove their way down the field, while working time off the clock. They were able to get the ball to the Pittsburgh 36 yard line, in great field position and burned off roughly four minutes off the clock when they faced a critical third down and one yard to go. If Clemson converts the third down, it’s very likely that they win the game. Clemson tried to run the ball on third down with running back Wayne Gallman and failed to gain any yardage. Clemson then decided to go for it on fourth down.
On fourth down, Clemson pitched the football to Gallman who was stopped short of the first down by a powerful Pittsburgh rushing defense. Pittsburgh then drove the ball down the field and kicker Chris Blewitt drilled a 48 yard field goal in the final seconds to win the game. All night, Clemson had success throwing the ball so it is a bit perplexing that they decided to run the ball on back to back plays. Especially considering that the Pittsburgh defense held them to 50 yards rushing. Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke after the game in regards to the critical stops that the defense had made late in the game.
“They (defense) get a big third and short stop, fourth and short stop,” Naduzzi said. “That’ll go down in history as one of the greatest fourth down stops ever, really if you think about it. I mean you knock off the number two team in the country and you know, do it in that fashion, that way.”
Even though Clemson lost, there were still a few highlights for them, especially offensively. Watson completed 52 of 70 passes for 580 yards, three touchdowns but he also threw three interceptions. The 70 pass attempts set a school record and the 580 passing yards set an Atlantic Coast Conference record, as well as a Clemson school record set back in 2013 by Tajh Boyd. Wide receiver Mike Williams had 15 catches for 202 yards and one touchdown and wide receiver Artavis Scott had 13 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown.
Pittsburgh was led by their tough physical defense that prides themselves on stopping the run. This proved to be a major problem for Clemson throughout the night. Pittsburgh also had three players have 11 tackles or more, as well as forcing the three turnovers. Defensive back Avonte Maddox may have been the start of the defense as he had 11 tackles, two of them for a loss and an interception.
Offensively, Pittsburgh was led by quarterback Nathan Peterman who completed 22 of 37 passes for 308 yards and five touchdowns. This was the first time all season that a quarterback passed for five touchdowns against Clemson. Conner ran roughshod over the Clemson defense all night. He had 20 carries for 132 yards, one touchdown and he also had three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.
With this loss, Clemson still controls their own fate in the ACC but are on shakier ground in regards to the College Football Playoff. They will need to win the rest of their games, including the ACC Championship game. Next week, Clemson travels on the road for a tough game against Wake Forest, who was defeated by Louisville this week. If they win next week, that will seal their spot in the ACC Championship game.
This game was close throughout the day and right up to the final moment. This game may have not been as close had Clemson not hurt themselves with penalties and turnovers all night. Clemson turned the football over three times and had nine penalties for 101 yards. All three of those turnovers were interceptions thrown by Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. Even though Clemson had their struggles, they still had a chance to close out the game with five minutes left.
Clemson got the ball back after a Pittsburgh scoring drive that was started by an interception of Watson by linebacker Saleem Brightwell, who returned it 70 yards to set the Pittsburgh offense in great field position. Three plays later, Pittsburgh running back James Conner ran for a 20 yard TD and Pittsburgh converted on a two-point conversion. The score was now 42-40 with Clemson leading when they got the ball.
Clemson drove their way down the field, while working time off the clock. They were able to get the ball to the Pittsburgh 36 yard line, in great field position and burned off roughly four minutes off the clock when they faced a critical third down and one yard to go. If Clemson converts the third down, it’s very likely that they win the game. Clemson tried to run the ball on third down with running back Wayne Gallman and failed to gain any yardage. Clemson then decided to go for it on fourth down.
On fourth down, Clemson pitched the football to Gallman who was stopped short of the first down by a powerful Pittsburgh rushing defense. Pittsburgh then drove the ball down the field and kicker Chris Blewitt drilled a 48 yard field goal in the final seconds to win the game. All night, Clemson had success throwing the ball so it is a bit perplexing that they decided to run the ball on back to back plays. Especially considering that the Pittsburgh defense held them to 50 yards rushing. Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke after the game in regards to the critical stops that the defense had made late in the game.
“They (defense) get a big third and short stop, fourth and short stop,” Naduzzi said. “That’ll go down in history as one of the greatest fourth down stops ever, really if you think about it. I mean you knock off the number two team in the country and you know, do it in that fashion, that way.”
Even though Clemson lost, there were still a few highlights for them, especially offensively. Watson completed 52 of 70 passes for 580 yards, three touchdowns but he also threw three interceptions. The 70 pass attempts set a school record and the 580 passing yards set an Atlantic Coast Conference record, as well as a Clemson school record set back in 2013 by Tajh Boyd. Wide receiver Mike Williams had 15 catches for 202 yards and one touchdown and wide receiver Artavis Scott had 13 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown.
Pittsburgh was led by their tough physical defense that prides themselves on stopping the run. This proved to be a major problem for Clemson throughout the night. Pittsburgh also had three players have 11 tackles or more, as well as forcing the three turnovers. Defensive back Avonte Maddox may have been the start of the defense as he had 11 tackles, two of them for a loss and an interception.
Offensively, Pittsburgh was led by quarterback Nathan Peterman who completed 22 of 37 passes for 308 yards and five touchdowns. This was the first time all season that a quarterback passed for five touchdowns against Clemson. Conner ran roughshod over the Clemson defense all night. He had 20 carries for 132 yards, one touchdown and he also had three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.
With this loss, Clemson still controls their own fate in the ACC but are on shakier ground in regards to the College Football Playoff. They will need to win the rest of their games, including the ACC Championship game. Next week, Clemson travels on the road for a tough game against Wake Forest, who was defeated by Louisville this week. If they win next week, that will seal their spot in the ACC Championship game.