END GAME
Clemson ends the 5 game losing streak against the Gamecocks. Clemson wins 35-17.
4:07 4th Quarter: Deshaun Watson goes in for the score, Clemson leads South Carolina 35-17
Gamecocks Defense looks gased as Clemson just picked up another 26 yard on a run by Gullman
7:49 4th Quarter: Dylan Thompson throws a 12 yard touchdown pass to Damiere Byrd. Clemson still leads the Gamecocks 28-17.
12:32 4th Quarter: Gamecocks turn it over on downs.
13:12 4th Quarter: Gamecocks trying to get something going as they once again get good field position
2:37 #42 Stephon Anthony on Clemson defense gets ejected for targeting
Dylan Thompson with long pass to Pharoh Cooper. Gamecocks gets the ball at the 30.
4:30 3rd Quarter: Deshaun Watson with 70 yard touchdown toss to Artavis Scott. Clemson leads South Carolina 28-10
4:42 3rd Quarter: Elliot Fry attempts long field goal and misses.
Thompson comes back in for Quarterback and picks up a 1st down.
Pharoh Cooper with the 20 yard pass as he comes in at quarterback for Dylan Thompson
13:21 3rd Quarter: Gamecocks force first 3 and out, Clemson punts
2nd half begins with South Carolina kicking off and Clemson gets the touchback.
Clemson Stat Leaders: Deshaun Watson-11-14 for 190 yards, Wayne Gallman-13 rush for 91 yards, 1 touchdown, Artavis Scott, 5 receptions for 112 yards, 1 touchdown
Gamecocks Stat Leaders:Dylan Thompson-8-17 for 80 yards, Mike Davis-3 receptions for 27 yards, Pharoh Cooper-1 rush for 20 yards, 1 touchdown
Halftime
0:03 2nd Quarter: Gamecocks come away with a field goal. Clemson leads South Carolina 21-10.
1:17 2nd Quarter: Cole Stoudt enters the ball game and throws an interception. Gamecocks take over.
4:01 2nd Quarter: After getting good starting position by Shon Carson on the kick return Gamecocks with another 3 and out. Punts it away.
4:55 2nd Quarter: Deshaun Watson gets the touchdown. Clemson leads the Gamecocks 21-7.
South Carolina defense looks like it's breaking down, they are going to have to do something different to stop the Clemson offense.
Gamecocks go 3 and out and punt it away.
11:14 2nd QUARTER Wayne Gullam with the 8 yard run for the touchdown. Clemson leads South Carolina 14-7.
11:48 2nd QUARTER: Dylan Thompson fumbles the football, and Clemson gets its back
12:49 2nd QUARTER Gamecocks get the stop on 3rd and 1, Clemson to punt.
Watson with the 15 yard pass to Scott. 1st down Tigers
1ST QUARTER ends with the game tied at 7.
Clemson goes with an onside kick for the kickoff after the touchdown and gets called for kick catch interference, Gamecocks get the ball at the Clemson 43
2:26 1ST QUARTER: Artavius Scott with the 53 yard touchdown reception for Clemson. Game is tied 7-7
Deshaun Watson back in the game as they take over at the 19.
South Carolina Leads Clemson 7-0 in the 1st quarter.
3:41 1ST QUARTER: Pharoh Cooper for the 20 yard run out of the wildcat for the Touchdown!
Rory Anderson for a 24 reception from Dylan Thompson for the 1st down.
6:12 1ST QUARTER: Brandon Wilds with another 1st down for the Gamecocks at the 45.
7:17 1ST QUARTER: Shaq Roland with the 15 yard pick up
South Carolina takes over at the 30
8:00 1ST QUARTER: Clemson attempts field goal but comes up short.
8:47 1ST QUARTER: Cole Stoudt checks in as quarterback as Deshaun Watson goes to the sideline.
11:25 1ST QUARTER: South Carolina punts the ball and downs it at the 2. Clemson ball.
Dylan Thompson with the pass up the middle to Mike Davis as he gets 9 yards.
Mike Davis with a 6 yard run for the 1st Down
Rory Anderson for a pick up of 4 yards.
Clemson Kicks off with the ball landing out of bounds, Gamecocks Start at the 35
Just a few minutes away from Kickoff.
Just Announced, Deshaun Watson will start for the Clemson Tigers
Just 142 yards are needed for Dylan Thompson to become the eighth South Carolina player to pass for 5,000 yards, and a total of 176 yards are needed to surpass former USC quarterback Todd Ellis for the season record. Thompson has no intrest in any of that right as he is totally focused on this monumental rivalry game. "It would be cool" Thompson said about the record. "but I will be alot happier with just going up ther and getting a win. I don't care if i throw fo 50 yards, if we get a win up there, that would be a good memory to have in our last regular-season game."
South Carolina's senior quarterback Dylan Thompson came out of Death Valley victorious two years ago, as he took over for an injured Connor Shaw, so he knows how to win there. The Gamecocks need him to have a good game to win Saturday, and it all starts with him protecting the football. He has 11 interceptions on the season, and he won’t be able to afford many turnovers against Clemson’s defense.
The defensive front for Clemson needs to stop the deadly South Carolina run game. Stopping the run is something that the Tigers have done very effectively all season. The Tigers are a solid defensive unit, only giving up 252.4 yards per game. South Carolina will have to take advantage of every opportunity that it gets.
Clemson's offense needs to run the ball, something that Wayne Gallman and Tyshon Dye has done a far better job with in the past few weeks. And, most importantly, the QB, whoever that may be, needs to protect the football. If it’s Deshaun Watson, Clemson fans will feel a bit more comfortable, but If it’s Cole Stoudt, then there are legitimate worries. But regardless, the Gamecock's pass rush has been practically nonexistent this season, which should help the Tigers with keeping the ball safe, even if Stoudt is the one thats in command.
The Tigers turned it over six times during last years battle, but surprisingly, still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. The Tigers won’t be able to make multiple mistakes on Saturday as turnovers have really hurt Clemson in this series over the past few seasons.
The Gamecocks were 10-of-19 on third down in last season’s game in Columbia, and that helped them control the ball for 38 minutes of that game. Clemson's defense is very good, and is able to step it up in high pressure situations, but even the best defenses will eventually wear down if they can’t get off the field.
The Gamecocks will need to establish the running game and effectively move the ball on Saturday. Running the ball will keep pressure off quarterback Dylan Thompson, and it will also help South Carolina control the clock. Clemson has the ability to bring pressure if they get teams into passing situations, so it’s important that the Gamecocks stays out of long-yardage situations on third down.
Regardless whether or not if it’s Deshaun Watson or Cole Stoudt that gets the start, the Gamecocks will need to get after the quarterback. South Carolina’s pass defense, which ranks 46th nationally, will not be able to sit back and have automatic plays. The Gamecocks will need to pressure the quarterback, force mistakes, and disrupt plays from the Tigers. The Carolina defense will need to have an all around big game with minimal mistakes.
One of the big questions still surrounding Clemson will be whether or not quarterback Deshaun Watson will be able to play. Dabo Swinney has already said that he is going to play on Saturday but considering he is coming off of an injury, he won't be 100 percent. "Deshaun doesn't have to b 100 percent to play" Swinney said at his weekly press conference. "He does have to be able to do the things we need him to do to win the game."
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, is quick to remind everyone, that he has won the last five contests against his in-state rivals. In fact, none have been close as South Carolina has won each by at least two possessions. The players come and go, and change frequently, but Spurrier clearly has something on Clemson's Dabo Swinney. Rest assured that the Head Ball Coach will have a few tricks up his sleeve like he always does as he attempts to extend his bragging rights another year, making six straight wins, the most ever by South Carolina in this rivalry.
The rivalry is now officially named the "Palmetto Bowl". The two schools announced the official name on Wednesday after being called that unofficially by fans for years. It will feature a new traveling trophy that wll reside at the winning school for a whole year. the new trophy will be revealed during next years Palmetto Bowl in 2015.
The Clemson Tigers vs South Carolina Gamecocks live will battle it out again on Saturday in another chapter of the storied rivalry. The Gamecocks, have five straight victories in a row, but has had a rough season. A win on Saturday would make the season somewhat of a success, for they will have beaten Georgia, Florida, and their in-state rival.