No. 2 Clemson, Watson survive 19-13 scare against Auburn

If the experts are to be believed, Sean White is the harbinger of death to Malzahn’s fledgling, comatose offense. Neither Tigers team did much offensively in the first quarter, as it went scoreless into the second frame.

Newton was the last Auburn quarterback to lead a victory over Clemson in Jordan-Hare Stadium after he passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns while running for 68 yards in the come-from-behind overtime victory. He connected with Williams on passes of 11 and 26 yards before picking up a first down on a scramble after the defender almost knocked the ball free. “(Williams) made a couple of difference-maker plays, especially in the fourth quarter when we were trying to get the ball back. However, there’s a good chance that Auburn will play three quarterbacks, according to Malzahn. “At times, we struggled”, Malzahn said. Game over. But Swinney was convinced, right or wrong, that the risk of that choice far outweighed the potential reward.

Auburn defensive back Joshua Holsey celebrates after knocking the ball out of the grasp of Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Auburn, Ala. Here’s how we see the battle between the Tigers and the…

Watson believes the performance has more to do with timing and miscommunication issues than with Auburn’s defense.

In addition to those three, Swinney was also impressed with true freshman defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who finished second on the team in tackles with seven and added a tackle for loss.

“Hats off to them”, Ruffin said.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson isn’t anxious about his team’s sluggish start or where he fits into the Heisman Trophy race after week one. A reunion with his offensive line coach and fellow co-offensive coordinator from Tulsa, Herb Hand, signals a return to the Malzahn offense we’ve all come to know and love. “Holding those guys to 19 points I thought was really unbelievable”.

“Offensively, obviously in the first half it was a big struggle,”?he said.

Watson: “We knew they were going to be good. The biggest issue was the two times in the red zone when we didn’t score”.

Carlson’s 53-yard field goal, which was the first points of the game, was the school record sixth time he’s connected on a kick from beyond 50 yards.

Cam Newton, the defending National Football League Most Valuable Player and 2010 Heisman Trophy victor, was in attendance Saturday night along with former Heisman Trophy victor Bo Jackson. Coach Dabo Swinney went for it on fourth and 4 instead of attempting a 34-yard field goal. Greg Huegel would later sink a 30-yard field goal to make 10-3 Clemson at the half.

“We’ve just got to understand that we’ve got to get off to a fast start like we always do”, Elliott said.

Johnson had 94 yards rushing on 23 carries for Auburn.

Clemson was scoreless in the first quarter, went almost the final 10 minutes without a point and survived a late touchdown to eke out the victory.

Unfortunately for Auburn, Clemson answered with a touchdown, a 16-yard strike to the far corner of the end zone from Heisman favorite Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow with 9:59 left on the game clock. Kerryon Johnson, listed as a running back, scored on a 9-yard keeper to close the deficit to six with 3 minutes, 22 seconds left. Auburn, which will play at Clemson next season before dropping off the schedule, and Georgia have fit the bill in recent years, and Texas A&M will come onto the schedule for 2018 and 2019.