Rapid Reaction: Deshaun Watson, Clemson rout South Carolina
By Keith Farner
Published:
South Carolina fans will be happy to see Deshaun Watson move on to the NFL. Because by halftime of Clemson’s 56-7 rout Saturday, Watson was 18-for-24 for 251 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in leading the Tigers to their third consecutive victory in the series.
It was never close. Clemson led 42-0 and finished with its most points against South Carolina since hanging 63 on the Gamecocks in 2003.
Watson finished with 347 yards and matched his career high with 6 touchdown passes in his final home game. He’s a junior but already has said he’ll declare early for the NFL Draft.
As a freshman two years ago, Watson played with a torn ACL in his left knee, threw for two touchdowns and ran for two in 35-17 victory that ended South Carolina’s winning streak in the series. Last year, he had three rushing scores and passed for one more.
When Clemson went up 14-0 on Saturday, Watson connected on the was 100th TD he’s been responsible for in his career. He became the first quarterback in school history to throw six touchdowns in a game against South Carolina.
What it means: It further tilts the rivalry in Clemson’s favor because it’s now won three straight. It also takes some juice out of the Gamecocks’ momentum as they will have a few weeks off before the bowl game. The Gamecocks’ young offensive line got a glimpse of a top-notch pass rush as it was outnumbered several times, especially early in the game. Overload blitzes keyed pressure on Jake Bentley which led to several under-pressure throws.
What I liked: The Gamecocks got an offensive spark early in the second half when Brandon McIlwain relieved Bentley at quarterback. His first play was a 19-yard pass to Hayden Hurst for a first down, and the Gamecocks punctuated that drive with a touchdown play where McIlwain handed off to Deebo Samuel, who threw a 33-yard pass to Bryan Edwards.
Before that, the only highlights in the first half were an Ulric Jones blocked 40-yard field goal attempt by Clemson. And Bryson Allen-Williams intercepted a tipped ball at the Clemson 11 with 9:00 left in the second quarter down 21-0.
What I didn’t like: A slow start for the Gamecocks’ offense. The first three offensive series, the team registered 2 total yards. Late in the first quarter, the yardage difference was 115-2. At the end of the first quarter, Clemson led 21-0 and the Gamecocks had 7 yards. Jamarcus King had arguably the worst first quarter after he was beat for three touchdowns.
In its first five drives, South Carolina didn’t have any plays longer than 4 yards. It got a first down for the first time more than two minutes into the second quarter and by the time Clemson had 15 first downs.
The offensive malaise continued with 38 yards on its first seven drives, when the best possession of those was six plays, 19 yards.
Bentley was just 7-for-17 for 41 yards and an interception before giving way to McIlwain.
Who’s the man: Clemson receiver Mike Williams hauled in three touchdown catches in the first half as he caught six passes for 100 yards. That made him is the first Clemson wide receiver to score three touchdowns in a game against South Carolina. He’s caught a touchdown pass in eight of nine games.
Key play: With about three minutes left in the first half, South Carolina was flagged for a late hit that sent the ball to the Gamecocks’ eight-yard line. A personal foul was called on Jonathan Walton. One play later, Clemson’s Wayne Gillman scored on an eight-yard TD run to put Clemson up 28-0.
What’s next: South Carolina (6-6) will learn its bowl destination next week. But various bowl projections have the Gamecocks headed to the Independence, Texas, or Birmingham bowls.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
