By Gray Gardner.
CLEMSON, SC – Clemson’s football team improved to 3-3 (1-2 in ACC) with a 31-7 win over conference foe Maryland in front of 71,000 fans in Death Valley Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers’ offense started the game with an impressive drive down-field marked by a 24-yard pass down the sideline from Kyle Parker to Dwayne Allen. Two plays later Parker and Allen had another chance to connect, this time for a long touchdown pass. However, Maryland defender Antwine Perez made a great play to knock the ball out of Allen’s hands. The Tigers settled for a 42-yard field goal from Chandler Catanzaro.
Maryland responded to start the second quarter of play. After an incredible one-handed grab by Adrian Cannon on a pass that went for 26 yards, tight end Will Yeatman continued the drive with 3 catches for 41 yards. The Terps went ahead when running back Da’Rel Scott found quarterback Danny O’Brien in the endzone for a throwback pass.
Clemson would not waste any time in responding. Running back Andre Ellington would take the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. It was the Tigers’ first kickoff return for a touchdown since CJ Spiller’s at South Carolina a year ago.
Maryland’s next drive was marked by a missed field goal. The Tigers took over possession and completed a 13 play drive that covered 80 yards and lasted 6 minutes and 52 seconds, ending with a 1-yard touchdown run for Jamie Harper. Catanzaro’s extra point gave Clemson a 17-7 lead which they carried into the half.
The Tigers added another score in the third quarter, set up by Jaron Brown’s 46-yard punt return. Andre Ellington found the endzone on a 1-yard run after a short offensive drive of 5 plays and 21 yards.
The Clemson defense would take over from there. Xavier Brewer intercepted quarterback Danny O’Brien’s pass, returning it 61 yards for a touchdown. The score gave the Tigers a 31-7 lead. Another interception by freshman defensive back Darius Robinson minutes later put the game out of reach for the Terrapins.
Clemson improves to 3-3, 1-2 in ACC play. Maryland falls to 4-2 and 1-1 in ACC play. The Tigers will face Georgia Tech at home next Saturday at 3:30 PM.
Continue to check back with TheClemsonInsider for more news and analyses of today’s game.
