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In a shocking start of events, the PITT Panthers won the opening toss and elected to receive. They then went 75 yards in just 5 plays in a minute and 52 seconds, finding the endzone on a 15-yard pass from Nathan Peterman to George Aston to make it 7-0 Panthers.
Clemson’s opening possession looked to be promising, before Deshaun Watson threw an interception in the back of the endzone that was hauled in by PITT’s Ryan Lewis. The Panthers were unable to do anything with the turnover and were forced to punt. Then it was the Watson show as he led his Tigers on a 6 play 51 yard drive to tie the game up at 7 as Wayne Gallman finished the drive with a 1 yard TD run.
PITT then answered right back, thanks in due part to busted coverage that saw tailback James Conner run uncovered down the right sideline where Nathan Peterman found him for a 46 yard TD completion, as Conner went untouched into the endzone to make it 14-7.
Clemson’s ensuing possession saw them get the ball right up to the PITT goal line in what looked to be a Tiger TD. However, the play wasn’t called dead and the ball popped lose and Jordan Whitehead picked it up and ran it back 100 yards for a Panthers TD. This would have made it 21-7 PITT, but the play was reviewed and it was determined that Wayne Gallman crossed the goal line, thus tying the game at 14 with 40 seconds left on the clock in the 1st quarter.
After a stalled Panthers drive, Clemson went on a prolific 11 play 80 yard drive to take their first lead of the game with a 15 yard TD pass from Watson to Mike Williams. This made it 21-14 with 10:06 left in the 2nd quarter.
PITT then got to work on a drive of their own, which didn’t take any where near as long. After 3 incomplete passes and a holding call against the Tigers defense, Peterman found Scott Orndoff on the right sideline and he made an amazing juggling catch on his way to a 55 yard TD connection. However the PAT was missed and the Tigers retained the lead at 21-20.
The Tigers then started a promising drive and found themselves quickly in PITT territory. However, on 3rd and 7 from the PITT 44 yard line, Deshaun Watson threw over the middle and was hit as he threw. This cause the ball to go a bit high as it hit the tips of Deon Cain’s fingers and ricoshade into the hands of Panthers defender Avonte Maddox for the interception.
Then it was the James Conner show, as he put together 4 carries on the drive for a total of 58 yards before Peterman found George Aston in the endzone for a 1 yard TD pass. This gave PITT a 27-21 lead over the No. 2 ranked Tigers with 2:23 left in the 1st half.
Clemson would not lie down quietly though, and quickly again moved the ball down field as the PITT defense gave plenty of cushion to the Tiger receiver’s. They went 75 yards in just 6 plays, taking just 1 minute and 15 seconds off the clock as Watson found Artavis Scott for a 13 yard TD completion to give the Tigers the lead back at 28-27.
With 1:02 left on the Clock and the ball at their own 16-yard line, the Panthers were able to get the ball into field goal range just before the half. However, the 53-yard attempt from Chris Blewitt was blocked by Dexter Lawrence as time expired and sent the Tigers into the locker room with a 28-27 lead.