Tigers Topple Terriers: 2nd Half Film Review

Coming into the second half, Clemson is performing as expected against an FCS opponent in Wofford, jumping out to the 42-0 lead at halftime, with Travis Etienne virtually running the ball at will. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence’s efficiency courtesy of improved effectiveness in the short and intermediate passing game carried over from the previous week against Boston College. We start the second half, in which Wofford is set to receive the opening kickoff.

Start of 3rd

Wofford 0 Clemson 42

Wofford Ball: PUNT

4th & 6 at WOF 29

(12:54 - 3rd) Wofford fails to produce any offense after receiving the ball to start the half. A Luke Carter punt for 45 yd is downed at the CLEMSON 26. A holding penalty pushes the ball 10 yards back to the CLEM 16.

CLEM BALL: TOUCHDOWN (6 plays, 84 yards, 2:06)

Key Plays -

2nd & 10 at CLEM 16

(12:00 - 3rd) Trevor Lawrence and starting offense surprisingly takes the field (coaches must want the starters to put one more score on the board. On the second play of the drive, Lawrence completes a pass to Travis Etienne, who takes it for 23 yds to the Clem 39 for a 1ST down.

1st & 10 at WOF 48

(11:00 - 3rd) Lyn-J Dixon run for 14 yds to the Woffd 34 for a 1ST down, inching the Tigers closer to the redzone.

• 1st & 10 at WOF 34

(10:48 - 3rd) A couple of plays later, Lawrence gets it to Justyn Ross, who takes it 34 yds for a TD, (B.T. Potter KICK)

Wofford 0 Clemson 49

WOFFORD BALL: TOUCHDOWN (7 plays, 65 yards, 4:12)

Key Plays -

(10:48 - 3rd) Steven Sawicki kickoff for 58 yds, which is received by Jacquez Allen returned for 28 yds to the Wofford 35

3rd & 6 at WOF 39

(8:43 - 3rd) Joe Newman pass complete to Jacquez Allen for 10 yds to the Wofford 49 for a 1ST down

2nd & 5 at CLEM 46

(7:34 - 3rd) Joe Newman pass complete to Jacquez Allen for 22 yds to the Clem 24 for a 1ST down

2nd & 6 at CLEM 20

(6:36 - 3rd) Ryan Lovelace breaks through 20 yds for a TD, ending the shutout and putting the Terriers on the board. While some starters are in the game, the reserves are starting to trickle in at this point, and the defense failed to properly pick up the pitch man on the option (Luke Carter KICK)

Wofford 7 Clemson 49

CLEM BALL: TOUCHDOWN (8 plays, 77 yards, 3:26)

Key Plays -

(6:36 - 3rd) Luke Carter kickoff for 61 yds , Joe Ngata return for 19 yds to the Clem 23

1st & 10 at CLEM 23

(6:15 - 3rd) Chase Brice enters the game, signaling the end for Lawrence and, by extension, the rest of the starters.

1st & 10 at CLEM 29

(5:50 - 3rd) Chez Mellusi run for 10 yds to the Clem 39 for a 1ST down

1st & 10 at CLEM 39

(5:37 - 3rd) Chez Mellusi run for 9 yds to the Clem 48

2nd & 1 at CLEM 48

(5:00 - 3rd) Chase Brice pass complete to Cornell Powell for 14 yds to the Wofford 38 for a 1ST down

1st & 10 at WOF 38

(4:31 - 3rd) Darien Rencher run for 24 yds to the Wofford 14 for a 1ST down

1st & Goal at WOF 3

(3:10 - 3rd) Darien Rencher run for 3 yds for a TD, (B.T. Potter KICK)

Wofford 7 Clemson 56

WOFFORD BALL: TOUCHDOWN (3 plays, 85 yards, 1:01)

Key Plays -

(3:10 - 3rd) Jonathan Weitz kickoff for 65 yds , Jacquez Allen return for 15 yds to the Woffd 15

3rd & 4 at WOF 21

(2:09 - 3rd) the third play of the drive, quarterback Joe Joe Newman completes a pass over the safety to D’mauriae VanCleave for 79 yds for a TD. Not a good look for Nolan Turner getting beat on the double move. Safety matchups in the slot could be taken advantage of much more heavily (Luke Carter KICK)

Wofford 14 Clemson 56

Clemson Ball: PUNT

Start of 4th

(13:38 - 4th) Despite some good attempts, Clemson’s offense stalls out, resulting in a 35-yard Will Spiers punt for 35 yds, fair caught by VanCleave at the Wofford 21

WOFFORD BALL: PUNT

CLEM Ball: MISSED FG (7 PLAYS, 48 YARDS, 2:17)

Key Plays -

1st & 10 at CLEM 34

(11:20 - 4th) Chez Mellusi run for 11 yds to the Clem 45 for a 1ST down

1st & 10 at CLEM 45

(11:05 - 4th) Chez Mellusi run for 8 yds to the Woffd 47

2nd & 2 at WOF 47

(10:26 - 4th) Chase Brice pass complete to Cornell Powell for 26 yds to the Woffd 21 for a 1ST down

4th & 7 at WOF 18

(9:20 - 4th) The drive stalls in the red zone, so Clemson settles for a 35-yard FG attempt. However, Potter’s kick is hooked wide right. This one looks like it’s less on Potter and more on the timing of the play, as the snap was off and Potter rushed his kick. Potter’s been up and down this year, but I don’t pin this one completely on him.

Wofford 14 Clemson 56

WOFFORD BALL: FUMBLE

3rd & 5 at WOF 25

(7:46 - 4th) Jacquez Allen gains r 9 yds to move the ball to the Wofford 34 for a 1ST down

1st & 25 at WOF 19

(7:00 - 4th) Following a penalty for an illegal Chop Block, Jacquez Allen run for 1 yd to the Wofford 20

2nd & 24 at WOF 20

(6:15 - 4th) Miller Mosley runs the option, but is stuffed and fumbles the ball in the process. The fumble, which was forced by Mike Jones Jr., is recovered by freshman cornerback Sheridan Jones

CLEMSON BALL: FIELD GOAL (4 PLAYS, 1 YARD, 1:08)

4th & 9 at WOF 18

(5:07 - 4th) After three plays in which Clemson simply opted to run the ball for little gain, Potter gets another shot at a 35-yd FG, which he sinks right down the middle. What we get is the final score of the game:

Final: Wofford 14, Clemson 59

A big day for Clemson on offense, which could effectively serve as another much needed tune-up, especially for Etienne and the run-game. The short passing game continued to be effective as the offense took what the Wofford corners gave them. The defense had few issues outside of a few broken plays when the reserves entered the game in the second half. With three regular season games left, Clemson is entering a big stretch where they can’t afford a stumble, especially in games where they should continue to be massive favorites.

Next up is a road matchup in Raleigh against the ever-loved Dave Doeren and the North Carolina State Wolfpack.