Clemson’s Shaq Lawson vows to play against Alabama

Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) can’t take control of the ball as Oklahoma safety Steven Parker (10) defends, during the second half of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The Clemson Tigers flexed their muscles in the Orange Bowl on Thursday, and proved to any doubters that they are ready to compete for it all against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Glendale, Arizona.

The Clemson Tigers are returning to the Palmetto state fresh from their 37-17 win against the Sooners in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Clemson finally got some momentum going in the 2nd quarter from an unexpected source.

“People doubt us all the time”, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said.

Alabama’s defense did Clemson’s one-half better, shutting out Michigan State as the Crimson Tide cruised to a 38-0 victory.

It was the first drive of the second half.

Both Oklahoma scoring drives so far were assisted by 15-yard penalties against the Tigers, the first being a pass interference on the game’s opening possession. As the Sooners lined up, the Tigers defenders knew from the formation and movement of the tailback that Oklahoma would direct snap the ball to Perine, as it ran that play against TCU in a similar situation earlier this year.

There’s a reason why, leading up to the game, Venables said, “To say we’d be in the playoff, I’d have checked into an insane asylum”.

A fake punt from Clemson on fourth and four from the Oklahoma 45 line secured a huge first down for the Tigers.

It capped a convincing 37-17 victory for Clemson. But ultimately, the Sooners did not have enough to reach the title game.

Jake Coker threw for two touchdowns and Henry, the Heisman Trophy victor, added two more on the ground as Alabama almost doubled the Spartans’ total offensive yards production.

Junior defensive end Shaq Lawson, a consensus All-American who came into Thursday’s game tied for the Football Bowl Subdivision lead in tackles for loss, suffered a knee injury on Clemson’s first defensive series of the game.

This wasn’t just a beating.

“I said coming into the game whoever could run most effective would have the best opportunity to win”, OU head coach Bob Stoops said. Lawson told FOX Carolina’s Aaron Cheslock that the injury won’t keep him out of the title game.

If college football fans squint their eyes just right when Clemson rubs on “Howard’s Rock” and then runs down the hill in Death Valley amid thunderous cheers, many would swear they were attending an SEC football game.

The Tide looked like a team with no weaknesses against overmatched Michigan State (12-2). “All we require in the recruitment of any player is that he must be a great player at his position, meet the academic requirements and have good character”.

The Tigers took the kickoff to start the second half and marched 75 yards for a touchdown to take the lead for good. The job that Venables did in building last year’s Clemson defense, and then having to rebuild it entirely in 2015 after so many key players moved on to the National Football League, is nothing short of remarkable. He caught eight passes for 138 yards and two TDs. “They were getting exhausted, and when Wayne came out and ran the way he did, we knew we had them on the ropes. I’m proud as hell of them to get where they are”.