Tigers Get Goal Line Stand To Beat Louisville: Rapid Reactions

After a closer than comfortable win over Florida State last week Clemson traveled to Louisville with hopes of not only getting bowl eligible but also keeping their hopes of getting to their seventh straight ACC championship game alive.

The Tigers knocked off the Cardinals 30-24 thanks to a goal line stand and improve to 6-3 on the season and 5-2 in ACC play. They now head back home for a noon matchup with UConn and Military Appreciation day next Saturday.

• It was good to see DJ Uiagalelei come out throwing and putting the ball exactly where he needed to on the Tigers first drive with a back shoulder pass to Joseph Ngata and then a 46 yard touchdown pass to Beaux Collins. It was Uiagalelei’s best game of the season. Still some room for improvement but a lot to build from.

• Surprisingly the Louisville was able to manhandle Clemson’s defensive front and the result was their first three touchdowns were rushing scores. The Tigers had no answer for Malik Cunningham and were fortunate he went down with an injury.

• The Tigers offense, like other games this season, seemed to go into a shell after their first touchdown drive of the game.

• It seemed a little strange that Clemson came out with Hunter Rayburn at center and Mason Trotter at RG. Regardless, offensive line play was abysmal. There was very little room for the backs to run but it was the pass protection that was really bad. Not surprising seeing as this was the sixth different OL the Tigers have started this season.

• The Tigers special teams made the first real mistake of the game when Will Brown muffed a punt late in the first quarter that set up the Cardinals with a short field and Malik Cunningham didn’t waste any time when he scampered for a 26 yard touchdown.

• When Uiagalelei went out in the second with an injury it was nice to see Taisun Phommachanh come in and drive the Clemson offense into position for a 38 yard field goal by BT Potter but it was also very evident that he is not a very confident passer, and there should now be no doubt about which players gives this yeam the better chance to win.

• After being down 17-7 Uiagalelei and the Tigers closed out the half on a 10-0 run to go into the locker room tied up 17-17 with Louisville. The last touchdown came on the a two-minute drill, which was ran to perfection pretty much. Uiagalelei seems comfortable pushing the pace.

• On on Clemson’s second drive of the third quarter they were not able gain a yard on fourth and goal from the one. Very disappointing seeing as the coaches sent out the big boys and this years version of the jumbo package. You can’t pick up a yard agains that Louisville defense?

• Will Shipley proved his worth once again. While the Tigers leading rusher didn’t have a lot of yards but had some crucial ones that helped out. The freshman finished with 40 yards, but they were 40 TOUGH yards.

• Amazingly in a game that saw the defense get beat up front all game was it that same defense that got the winning stop on a goal line stand.
• Oh, and Louisville has still NEVER beaten Clemson.