Clemson Tigers vs North Carolina Tar Heels Football Recap

Clemson 59, UNC 38

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s mantra to his team through seven games had been “what they say now?” – referring to the critics in the media and doubting Thomases of the Tiger faithful after big wins and taking care of business in the rest.

After Clemson’s 59-38 takedown of the North Carolina Tar Heels Saturday – what more can be said of how impressive the Tigers have been to an 8-0 start?

Fueled by a 35-point third quarter, Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC) overcame a back-and-forth first half, where the Tar Heels (5-3, 1-3 ACC) held a 7-3 lead at one point and were down 24-17 by end of the first half.

Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd hit five touchdown passes to five different receivers to tie school records on both accounts with 367 passing yards on 27-of-42 completions.

Clemson got off to an inauspicious start by 10 first-quarter points from three trips inside UNC’s 35-yard line, only a field goal off from an early interception lofted into double coverage by Tar Heels quarterback Bryn Renner.

Tied at 10, Clemson mounted their first sustained drive of the game, going eight plays and 80 yards capped by a perfect 29-yard touchdown pass from Boyd to freshman wide receiver Martavis Bryant.

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Facing second-and-nine, UNC’s Renner fired a swing pass into the arms of Tigers defensive end Kourtnei Brown for a 20-yard interception touchdown return to put Clemson up 24-10 with 4:45 to go in the second quarter

The Tar Heels struck back quick – Renner recovering well with a 58-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Jheranie Boyd (his second touchdown reception of the half) to draw within seven points.

But Clemson Memorial Stadium had seen nothing yet.

Tigers offensive coordinator Chad Morris reached into the bag of tricks with a double-reverse pass out of the Wildcat formation – Boyd connecting on the 39-yard fade to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, setting up a one-yard touchdown plunge by Boyd to regain the two touchdown lead.

UNC fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return deep in their territory, where Boyd connected on his third touchdown pass of the game to tight end Brandon Ford.

This time, the Tar Heels had an answer, and a quick one – kick returner T.J. Thorpe redeeming himself from the previous fumble with a 100-yard kickoff touchdown return to bring UNC back within two possessions.

After a quiet two and a half quarters, Clemson star freshman receiver Sammy Watkins got in on the action catching a 42-yard Boyd pass in stride to put the Tigers up 45-24 with 7:11 left in the third quarter – it became apparent, there was no North Carolina comeback in the works.

But just to drive home the point, UNC fell to 0-8 on third down conversions on their next drive, preceding a nine-yard touchdown pass from Boyd to tight end Dwayne Allen, and on the Tar Heels’ next possession, they fumbled into the arms of defensive end Brown’s arms for his second defensive touchdown of the game.

Brown became the first ACC player and third-ever in the FBS with fumble and interception touchdown returns in the same game (since the NCAA started keeping the stat in 2000).

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Staff Writer