Ryan, Eagles Dash Clemson's ACC Title Hopes |
by Dan Scott
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Correspondent
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Sun Nov 18 00:04:56 GMT-04:00 2007
CLEMSON - After 58-plus minutes of a black-and-blue war, it came down to this: One receiver made a catch. One didn't.
Matt Ryan's 43-yard scoring pass to a wide-open Rich Gunnell with 1:46 left in the game provided visiting Boston College with a 20-17 victory over Clemson Saturday night before a rowdy sellout crowd at Death Valley.
The win advances the Eagles (9-2, 6-2 ACC) to the conference championship game in Jacksonville in two weeks.
For the Tigers (8-3, 5-3), it was their best opportunity to play for an ACC championship in Tommy Bowden's tenure since beginning the year 8-0 back in the 2000 season. But while Clemson played reasonably well for much of the night, it made enough mistakes to keep BC within striking distance.
But in the end it was one play for each team that ultimately told the final tale.
"We put our best players on the field, they put their best on the field, and they had one guy who separated himself from the rest," said Bowden. "You can't fault our team for their effort...We got good pressure (all night), but you just about have to get it every down. You give (Ryan) one down and he'll make a play."
Clemson had taken the lead with just over five minutes remaining in the game on a four-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cullen Harper.
Ryan drove the Eagles to the Tigers' 43 yard line, converting one third down opportunity along the way. The game-winning pass also came on third down, Ryan rolling to his right, stopping and throwing deep back down the left side. Gunnell, running free behind cornerback Crezdon Butler, made the catch and waltzed into the end zone for the score.
Still, Clemson had a chance to provide its fans with a dramatic finish.
Beginning at their own 28, Harper completed three passes totaling 27 yards that put the Tigers at the BC 45. He then took a shot deep down the left sideline, and found Kelly running just ahead of the Eagles' coverage.
The ball was on target, but Kelly dropped it as he fell across the goal line.
"He just didn't make the catch," Bowden said. "He's made that catch a whole bunch, but he just didn't make the catch. Our players gave everything they had. We just came up a little short."
Still, the drive wasn't finished. Kelly caught a big pass over the middle for 12 yards on fourth-and-10, and then Harper found Grisham for three yards to the BC 30. But after an incompletion left Clemson with 11 seconds remaining, Harper was sacked on the next play for a seven-yard loss forcing the Tigers to call timeout with :05 to go.
That set up Mark Buchholz for a 54-yard field goal attempt to send the game to overtime for the third straight year, but the kick was well short and Clemson's hopes of its first ACC title since 1991 were dashed.
There's no time to allow the loss to linger, however. The Tigers close the season next Saturday at rival South Carolina, and need a victory to keep themselves on track for a New Year's Day bowl.
"We'll have to bounce back," said Bowden. "Big games, when you lose them, they stay with you for a while. But we'll have to bounce back because next week is a big game for a lot of people."
NOTES
- Tonight's Boston College win gave the Eagles an 8-7-2 advantage in the all-time series score, and marked the 17th time the teams have met since the 1939 season. The loss marks the third consecutive year in which Boston College has ended Clemson's ACC title game and Atlantic Division championship aspirations. Each of the last three losses have been by three points or less.
- Boston College's Steve Aponavicius' 40-yard field goal at 1:14 in the second quarter marked the first time an opponent scored on the Tigers in the second quarter since Virginia Tech recorded 14 points in the second period on October 6. In the Tigers' four games since the loss to the Hokies, Clemson has outscored its opponents by a combined 88-3 tally. Overall, Clemson has outscored its opposition 137-33 in the second period.
- Mark Buchholz recorded his 17th made field goal of the season in the third quarter to give Clemson a 10-3 lead. With that field goal, Buchholz became the first Clemson athlete to play two sports (football, soccer) and to make more than 16 field goals in the same season. Obed Ariri connected on 16 of 22 field goals during the 1979 season as a two-sport athlete, then went on to make 23 field goals during the 1980 season, during which he played only football.
- DeAndre McDaniel tallied his second career interception in the second quarter. The freshman from Tallahassee, FL, is the fifth Tiger to record at least two interceptions so far this season.
- Phillip Merling has had two sacks in two games this season. He had two sacks against Wake Forest on Nov. 10, then tallied two sacks against Boston College. Ricky Sapp is the only other Tiger to record two sacks this season (NC State, Sept. 22).
- Prior to the interception by Boston College's Kevin Akins in the fourth quarter, Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper had completed 134 passes without an interception. His last interception occurred against Central Michigan, and the junior has only five interceptions on the season.
- With his four-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, quarterback Cullen Harper has recorded a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games.
Scoring Summary (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook
#18 Boston College vs #15 Clemson (Nov 17, 2007 at Clemson, SC)
Boston College (9-2,5-2) vs. Clemson (8-3,5-3)
Date: Nov 17, 2007 Site: Clemson, SC Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 81500
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Boston College...... 0 3 0 17 - 20
Clemson............. 7 0 3 7 - 17
Scoring Summary:
1st 08:20 CU - Davis, J 1 yd run (Buchholz, M kick)
13 plays, 68 yards, TOP 4:30, BC 0 - CU 7
2nd 01:14 BC - Aponavicius, S 40 yd field goal
7 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:57, BC 3 - CU 7
3rd 10:09 CU - Buchholz, M 22 yd field goal
12 plays, 52 yards, TOP 4:45, BC 3 - CU 10
4th 13:37 BC - McCluskey, J 2 yd run (Aponavicius, S kick)
11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:40, BC 10 - CU 10
09:01 BC - Aponavicius, S 30 yd field goal
11 plays, 31 yards, TOP 4:25, BC 13 - CU 10
05:28 CU - Harper, C 4 yd run (Buchholz, M kick)
10 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:26, BC 13 - CU 17
01:46 BC - Gunnell, R 43 yd pass from Ryan, M (Aponavicius, S kick)
8 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:36, BC 20 - CU 17
Kickoff time: 7:53 PM End of Game: 11:25 PM Total elapsed time: 3:32
Officials: Referee: Tom McCreesh; Umpire: Tom Laverty; Linesman: Perry Hudspeth;
Line judge: T. Hardison; Back judge: Tommy Pace; Field judge: Billy Beckett;
Side judge: Jim Corpora;
Temperature: 50 deg Wind: Calm Weather: Partly Cloudy
Team Statistics
Team Statistics (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook
#18 Boston College vs #15 Clemson (Nov 17, 2007 at Clemson, SC)
BC CU
FIRST DOWNS................... 26 21
Rushing..................... 9 4
Passing..................... 16 15
Penalty..................... 1 2
NET YARDS RUSHING............. 60 47
Rushing Attempts............ 34 31
Average Per Rush............ 1.8 1.5
Rushing Touchdowns.......... 1 2
Yards Gained Rushing........ 113 92
Yards Lost Rushing.......... 53 45
NET YARDS PASSING............. 315 226
Completions-Attempts-Int.... 31-47-1 26-40-1
Average Per Attempt......... 6.7 5.7
Average Per Completion...... 10.2 8.7
Passing Touchdowns.......... 1 0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS........... 375 273
Total offense plays......... 81 71
Average Gain Per Play....... 4.6 3.8
Fumbles: Number-Lost.......... 0-0 0-0
Penalties: Number-Yards....... 10-65 7-47
PUNTS-YARDS................... 3-121 4-149
Average Yards Per Punt...... 40.3 37.2
Net Yards Per Punt.......... 38.3 37.2
Inside 20................... 0 0
50+ Yards................... 0 0
Touchbacks.................. 0 0
Fair catch.................. 0 3
KICKOFFS-YARDS................ 5-214 4-264
Average Yards Per Kickoff... 42.8 66.0
Net Yards Per Kickoff....... 29.4 51.0
Touchbacks.................. 0 1
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD. 0-0-0 3-6-0
Average Per Return.......... 0.0 2.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD 2-40-0 4-67-0
Average Per Return.......... 20.0 16.8
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD.. 1-8-0 1-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD. 0-0-0 0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards........... 0 0
Possession Time............... 36:30 23:30
1st Quarter................. 8:46 6:14
2nd Quarter................. 8:46 6:14
3rd Quarter................. 9:28 5:32
4th Quarter................. 9:30 5:30
Third-Down Conversions........ 6 of 16 7 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 3 of 5 1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 3-4 3-3
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 3-37 5-48
PAT Kicks..................... 2-2 2-2
Field Goals................... 2-2 1-3
Individual Statistics
Individual Statistics (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook
#18 Boston College vs #15 Clemson (Nov 17, 2007 at Clemson, SC)
Boston College
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
--------------------------------------------
Callender, A 22 80 5 75 0 13 3.4
Whitworth, L 2 12 0 12 0 12 6.0
McCluskey, J 1 2 0 2 1 2 2.0
Ryan, M 9 19 48 -29 0 7 -3.2
Totals... 34 113 53 60 1 13 1.8
Passing Att-Cmp-Int Yds TD Long Sack
--------------------------------------------
Ryan, M 47-31-1 315 1 43 5
Totals... 47-31-1 315 1 43 5
Receiving No. Yds TD Long
-----------------------------------
Callender, A 11 92 0 20
Megwa, C 6 60 0 12
Gunnell, R 5 82 1 43
Purvis, R 3 23 0 9
Whitworth, L 2 24 0 15
Robinson, B 2 20 0 11
Challenger, K 1 11 0 11
Jarvis, J 1 3 0 3
Totals... 31 315 1 43
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
----------------------------------------------
Ayers, J 3 121 40.3 44 0 0
Totals... 3 121 40.3 44 0 0
Punts Kickoffs Intercept
All Returns No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg
---------------------------------------------
Gunnell, R 0 0 0 2 40 29 0 0 0
Akins, K 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 8
Totals... 0 0 0 2 40 29 1 8 8
Field goal attempts
----------------------------------------
Aponavicius, S 2nd 01:14 40 yds - Good
Aponavicius, S 4th 09:01 30 yds - Good
Kickoffs No. Yds TB OB Avg
---------------------------------------
Aponavicius, S 5 214 0 0 42.8
Clemson
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
--------------------------------------------
Spiller, C 11 52 0 52 0 19 4.7
Davis, J 12 15 5 10 1 6 0.8
Grisham, T 1 5 0 5 0 5 5.0
TEAM 1 0 3 -3 0 0 -3.0
Harper, C 6 20 37 -17 1 9 -2.8
Totals... 31 92 45 47 2 19 1.5
Passing Att-Cmp-Int Yds TD Long Sack
--------------------------------------------
Harper, C 40-26-1 226 0 26 3
Totals... 40-26-1 226 0 26 3
Receiving No. Yds TD Long
-----------------------------------
Grisham, T 10 89 0 26
Kelly, A 8 70 0 21
Taylor, R 4 42 0 22
Spiller, C 1 10 0 10
Harris, L 1 9 0 9
Linthicum, B 1 4 0 4
Dye, X 1 2 0 2
Totals... 26 226 0 26
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
----------------------------------------------
Maners, J 4 149 37.2 45 0 0
Totals... 4 149 37.2 45 0 0
Punts Kickoffs Intercept
All Returns No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg
---------------------------------------------
Taylor, R 0 0 0 1 17 17 0 0 0
Spiller, C 3 6 7 1 19 19 0 0 0
Gilchrist, M 0 0 0 1 18 18 0 0 0
McDaniel, D 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Davis, J 0 0 0 1 13 13 0 0 0
Totals... 3 6 7 4 67 19 1 0 0
Field goal attempts
----------------------------------------
Buchholz, M 2nd 06:52 46 yds - Missed
Buchholz, M 3rd 10:09 22 yds - Good
Buchholz, M 4th 00:00 54 yds - Missed
Kickoffs No. Yds TB OB Avg
---------------------------------------
Buchholz, M 4 264 1 1 66.0
FUMBLES: Boston College-None. Clemson-None.
Drive Chart
Drive Chart (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook
#18 Boston College vs #15 Clemson (Nov 17, 2007 at Clemson, SC)
Drive Started Drive Ended Consumed
Team Qtr Spot Time Obtained Spot Time How Lost Pl-Yds TOP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BC 1st B35 15:00 Kickoff B34 12:50 Punt 3--1 2:10
BC 1st B20 08:20 Kickoff C22 01:44 Downs 14-58 6:36#
BC 2nd B20 14:12 Punt B31 10:12 Punt 8-11 4:00
BC 2nd B23 09:23 Punt B37 08:37 Interception 3-14 0:46
BC 2nd B29 06:52 Missed FG B32 04:49 Punt 3-3 2:03
BC 2nd B37 03:11 Punt C23 01:14 *FIELD GOAL 7-40 1:57#
BC 3rd B21 10:03 Kickoff C31 02:58 Downs 15-48 7:05
BC 3rd B20 02:17 Punt C00 13:37 *TOUCHDOWN 11-80 3:40#
BC 4th C44 13:26 Interception C13 09:01 *FIELD GOAL 11-31 4:25#
BC 4th B29 05:22 Kickoff C00 01:46 *TOUCHDOWN 8-71 3:36
BC 4th B37 00:00 Missed FG B37 00:00 0-0 0:00
CU 1st C32 12:50 Punt B00 08:20 *TOUCHDOWN 13-68 4:30#
CU 1st C22 01:44 Downs C44 14:12 Punt 5-22 2:32
CU 2nd C07 10:12 Punt C40 09:23 Punt 4-33 0:49
CU 2nd B49 08:37 Interception B29 06:52 Missed FG 5-20 1:45
CU 2nd C32 04:49 Punt C32 03:11 Punt 4-0 1:38
CU 2nd C42 01:08 Kickoff C40 00:00 End of half 6--2 1:08
CU 3rd C43 14:54 Kickoff B05 10:09 *FIELD GOAL 12-52 4:45#
CU 3rd C31 02:58 Downs C35 02:17 Punt 3-4 0:41
CU 4th C46 13:36 Kickoff C46 13:26 Interception 1-0 0:10
CU 4th C44 08:54 Kickoff B00 05:28 *TOUCHDOWN 10-56 3:26#
CU 4th C28 01:38 Kickoff B37 00:00 Missed FG 11-35 1:38
BC 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd
Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr Half Half Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time of possession 08:46 08:46 09:28 09:30 17:32 18:58 36:30
3rd Down Conversions 0/3 1/4 1/3 4/6 1/7 5/9 6/16
Avg Field Position B27 B27 B20 B42 B27 B31 B29
4th Down Conversions 1/2 0/0 1/2 1/1 1/2 2/3 3/5
CU 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd
Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr Half Half Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time of possession 06:14 06:14 05:32 05:30 12:28 11:02 23:30
3rd Down Conversions 4/4 1/6 1/3 1/3 5/10 2/6 7/16
Avg Field Position C27 C33 C37 C39 C31 C38 C34
4th Down Conversions 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/1 0/0 1/1 1/1
Drive Chart (By Quarter)
Drive Started Drive Ended Consumed
Team Qtr Spot Time Obtained Spot Time How Lost Pl-Yds TOP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BC 1st B35 15:00 Kickoff B34 12:50 Punt 3--1 2:10
CU 1st C32 12:50 Punt B00 08:20 *TOUCHDOWN 13-68 4:30#
BC 1st B20 08:20 Kickoff C22 01:44 Downs 14-58 6:36#
CU 1st C22 01:44 Downs C44 14:12 Punt 5-22 2:32
BC 2nd B20 14:12 Punt B31 10:12 Punt 8-11 4:00
CU 2nd C07 10:12 Punt C40 09:23 Punt 4-33 0:49
BC 2nd B23 09:23 Punt B37 08:37 Interception 3-14 0:46
CU 2nd B49 08:37 Interception B29 06:52 Missed FG 5-20 1:45
BC 2nd B29 06:52 Missed FG B32 04:49 Punt 3-3 2:03
CU 2nd C32 04:49 Punt C32 03:11 Punt 4-0 1:38
BC 2nd B37 03:11 Punt C23 01:14 *FIELD GOAL 7-40 1:57#
CU 2nd C42 01:08 Kickoff C40 00:00 End of half 6--2 1:08
CU 3rd C43 14:54 Kickoff B05 10:09 *FIELD GOAL 12-52 4:45#
BC 3rd B21 10:03 Kickoff C31 02:58 Downs 15-48 7:05
CU 3rd C31 02:58 Downs C35 02:17 Punt 3-4 0:41
BC 3rd B20 02:17 Punt C00 13:37 *TOUCHDOWN 11-80 3:40#
CU 4th C46 13:36 Kickoff C46 13:26 Interception 1-0 0:10
BC 4th C44 13:26 Interception C13 09:01 *FIELD GOAL 11-31 4:25#
CU 4th C44 08:54 Kickoff B00 05:28 *TOUCHDOWN 10-56 3:26#
BC 4th B29 05:22 Kickoff C00 01:46 *TOUCHDOWN 8-71 3:36
CU 4th C28 01:38 Kickoff B37 00:00 Missed FG 11-35 1:38
BC 4th B37 00:00 Missed FG B37 00:00 0-0 0:00
Defensive Statistics
Defensive Statistics (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook
#18 Boston College vs #15 Clemson (Nov 17, 2007 at Clemson, SC)
Boston College
## Player Solo Ast Tot TFL/Yds FF FR-Yd Intc BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QH
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Gause, D 7 2 9 1.0/2 . . . . . . .
44 Silva, J 5 2 7 . . . . . . . .
94 Herzlich, M 5 2 7 2.0/15 . . . . . 1.0/13 .
29 Morris, T 6 . 6 . . . . . . . .
20 Rollins, R 5 1 6 1.0/7 . . . . . 1.0/7 .
57 Larkin, N 5 1 6 . . . . . . . .
34 McLaughlin, M 5 . 5 1.0/1 . . . . . . .
7 Akins, K 5 . 5 . . . 1-8 . . . 2
19 Anderson, P 4 . 4 . . . . 1 . . .
40 Dunbar, J 2 2 4 . . . . 1 . . .
98 Albright, A 2 2 4 1.0/17 . . . . . 1.0/17 .
97 Smith, B 2 1 3 1.0/1 . . . . . . .
86 Ramella, J 2 . 2 . . . . . . . .
47 Newman, B 1 1 2 . . . . . . . .
92 Smith, A 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
2 Robinson, B 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
35 Francois, R 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
Clemson
## Player Solo Ast Tot TFL/Yds FF FR-Yd Intc BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QH
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 Clemons, C 10 3 13 . . . . . . . .
25 Hamlin, M 9 2 11 . . . . . . . .
32 Watkins, N 5 6 11 . . . . . . . .
20 Billie, T 6 2 8 . . . . . . . .
94 Merling, P 5 1 6 2.0/22 . . . . . 2.0/22 1
97 Scott, D 4 2 6 2.0/7 . . . . . 1.0/6 .
36 Maxwell, B 4 . 4 . . . . 1 . . .
38 Chancellor, C 4 . 4 . . . . 2 . . .
18 Butler, C 4 . 4 . . . . . . . .
45 Vincent, C 3 1 4 1.0/2 . . . 2 . . .
43 Clay, A 2 1 3 1.0/2 . . . . . . .
24 Alexander, K 1 2 3 1.0/8 . . . . . 1.0/8 1
7 Sapp, R 1 1 2 . . . . . . 0.5/0 3
91 Jackson, Ra 1 1 2 1.0/12 . . . . . 1.0/12 .
8 Cumbie, J 1 . 1 . . . . . . . 1
89 Chavis, M 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
87 Ashe, T 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
90 Brown, K 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
33 Conner, K 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
5 Taylor, R 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
2 McDaniel, D 1 . 1 . . . 1-0 . . . .
Participation Report
Participation Report (Final)
The Automated ScoreBook
#18 Boston College vs #15 Clemson (Nov 17, 2007 at Clemson, SC)
Boston College Clemson
POS ## OFFENSE POS ## OFFENSE
LT 77 Cherilus, G LT 79 Richardson, B
LG 67 Anevski, T LG 74 Pilgrim, B
C 65 Tennant, M C 65 Austin, T
RG 73 Ramsey, C RG 71 Humphries, B
RT 74 Castonzo, A RT 67 Capote, C
TE 80 Purvis, R WR 80 Kelly, A
WR 84 Challenger, K QB 10 Harper, C
QB 12 Ryan, M RB 1 Davis, J
RB 32 Callender, A WR 13 Grisham, T
WR 2 Robinson, B WR 26 Harris, L
TE 89 Loyte, J WR 5 Taylor, R
POS ## DEFENSE POS ## DEFENSE
DE 98 Albright, A DE 94 Merling, P
DT 60 Brace, R NG 97 Scott, D
DT 97 Smith, B DT 8 Cumbie, J
DE 57 Larkin, N DE 7 Sapp, R
LB 7 Akins, K LB 20 Billie, T
LB 34 McLaughlin, M LB 45 Vincent, C
LB 94 Herzlich, M LB 32 Watkins, N
CB 9 Gause, D CB 38 Chancellor, C
SS 19 Anderson, P SS 25 Hamlin, M
FS 44 Silva, J FS 22 Clemons, C
CB 29 Morris, T CB 18 Butler, C
Boston College: 11-Megwa, C, 18-Gunnell, R, 20-Rollins, R, 30-Whitworth, L, 35-Francois, R, 36-McCluskey, J, 40-Dunbar, J,
46-Ayers, J, 47-Newman, B, 48-Pruitt, T, 52-Giles, A, 55-Scafe, D, 64-Rossi, N, 78-Hall, T, 82-Jarvis, J, 83-Aponavicius, S,
85-Thompson, R, 86-Ramella, J, 92-Smith, A, 99-Willette, J.
Clemson: 2-McDaniel, D, 12-Gilchrist, M, 14-Buchholz, M, 16-Wade, M, 17-Wade, C, 21-Dye, X, 24-Alexander, K, 27-Chambers, S,
28-Spiller, C, 33-Conner, K, 35-Macko, P, 36-Maxwell, B, 41-Pearson, A, 43-Clay, A, 44-Cooper, S, 47-Miller, J, 49-Maners, J,
50-McKissic, J, 54-Leonard, C, 68-McDuffie, C, 70-Grant, J, 76-Lambert, C, 83-Faerber, N, 84-Robinson, A, 86-Palmer, M,
87-Ashe, T, 88-Linthicum, B, 89-Chavis, M, 90-Brown, K, 91-Jackson, Ra, 99-Jenkins, J.
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