No. 2 Clemson has completed dominated Syracuse through one half, leading 30-0 at Death Valley East.
The Tigers have found points on all but two of their seven possessions, including four consecutive touchdown drives before a missed field goal closed the half. The first came on just a 15-yard drive after Ryan Carter intercepted Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey in Orange territory. The other three traveled 95, 89 and 86 yards, capped by two Deshaun Watson throws.
The only negative for Clemson so far (other than a missed extra point) has been an injury to Watson’s throwing shoulder. On the Tigers’ final drive of the half, Watson landed on his right shoulder while being brought down by two Orange defenders after a 13-yard run. He fired incomplete to Adam Choice on the next play, and then removed himself from the game while pointing to his right shoulder. Trainers later took him to the locker room.
While the severity of the injury is not yet known, the 30-point spread makes it unlikely Clemson’s franchise quarterback will see the field again today.
If this is it for him, Watson finishes the day hitting 13-of-16 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns while rushing seven times for 84 yards and another score. Nick Schussler finished off the Tigers’ final drive, hitting 4-of-7 passes for 29 yards and a 5-yard scoring strike to Artavis Scott.
Dungey hit 6-of-9 passes for 48 yards and an interception before leaving due to an injury of his own. Austin Wilson entered and completed 8-of-14 passes for 48 yards and another interception.