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The Tigers week one match up was all but decided by the fourth quarter. Clemson held a 49-3 lead and had replaced many of its players with reserves from deep down on the depth chart. Hunter Johnson did see his first action, though.
Kent State ball, Kent State 22, 15:00, 49-3 Tigers
| Down & Distance | Formation | Play | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down & Distance | Formation | Play | Analysis |
| 2nd and 8 | T formation vs 4-2 Nickel, Nickel CB showing blitz | Zone read rush up the middle by Singleton for 4 yards | Simple zone read up the middle, decent penetration by Kent State for short gain |
| 3rd and 4 | 11 vs 4-3 Over | Bollas forced to throw ball away after escaping pocket to avoid a sack | Clemson’s interior rush bursts through the Golden Flashes offensive line at the snap. Bollas never stood a chance |
Clemson ball, Clemson 8, 13:59, 49-3 Tigers
| Down & Distance | Formation | Play | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down & Distance | Formation | Play | Analysis |
| 1st and 10 | 10 vs Dime | Hunter Johnson enters the game at QB. Hands off to Etienne for a 3 yard gain to the left side. | Clemson spreads the defense out and tries to catch them off guard on the interior. Minimal gain. |
| 2nd & 7 | 10 vs 4-2 Nickel | Travis Etienne takes hand off up the middle. Beats one man on the second level to burst free for a 54 yard gain | Clemson simply overpowering Kent State in the trenches. Etienne just has to find the gap and beat one man to get loose for a huge gain. |
| Down & Distance | Formation | Play | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down & Distance | Formation | Play | Analysis |
| 1st & 10 | 20 vs 4-3 Under | Play fake up the middle. Johnson rolls out left and finds J.C. Chalk for a 1 yard gain | Kent State DBs did a great job staying disciplined on the play and sniffing out the play fake to hold Clemson to minimal gain. |
| 2nd & 9 | 20 vs 4-3 Under | Handoff to Darien Rencher up the middle, Johnson with a draw to the outside. Rencher is stuffed for a one yard gain. | No one falls for the draw and Kent State manages to plug up the gap. |
| 3rd & 8 | 10 vs 4-2 Nickel | Johnson finds Chalk wide open on a comeback route. Chalk makes a move to beat a defender and scampers into the secondary for an 18 yard gain. | Ken State gave the running back way to big of a cushion. Great route and pass underneath and Chalk uses a great stutter step to earn a first down. |
| 1st & 10 | 10 vs 4-3 Under | Read option hand off to Rencher up the middle for 2 yard gain | Kent State stays strong in the trenches and keeps Rencher to a minimal gain. |
| 2nd & 8 | 11 vs 4-3 Over | Johnson rolls left and finds Amari Rodgers on the sideline just short of the sticks. Rodgers makes a move to turn upfield and add a few yards after the catch and earn a first down on a nine yard gain. | Johnson looks comfortable throwing on the run and finds a man open on an underneath route. Rodgers impressively shakes a man off to move the chains. |
| 1st & Goal | 11 vs 4-4 Under | Johnson hands off to Etienne who walks through the middle for a touchdown. | The Tigers over power their opponent in the trenches. Open a huge gap for their running back to go through untouched for the score. |
Neither offense did much of anything beyond this point. The Tigers played many of their reserves alongside Johnson in what turned into a punt off. Johnson made a few routine throws and looked good when rolling out of the pocket on Clemson’s final two drives to end the game.