T-to-T connection: Lawrence, Higgins share special day in Clemson win over USC

Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott groaned a little and began preparing his answer before the question was even finished.

Scott made sure he didn’t say anything to slight anybody else when he was asked if quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Tee Higgins make up the best pass-game tandem in college football.

“I would not trade Trevor or Tee for any quarterback-receiver combo in the country,” Scott said with a smile after No. 3 Clemson’s 38-3 victory over rival South Carolina on Saturday. “These guys are really, really special. A lot of it is because of the work that they put in during the week.”

It showed on one particular play, which was a highlight among many in another dominant performance by the Tiger offense.

Following a goal-line stop by South Carolina and an interception from the Clemson defense, the Tigers faced a third-and-9 from the USC 10 when Lawrence took a snap from the right hash and threw a rope to the left-corner of the end zone, where Higgins stretched out and hauled in a pass over from the defender’s head that put Clemson up 7-0.

“That was very impressive,” Scott said. “We were able to move Tee into the slot there and we knew we were going to get man coverage and a favorable matchup for us. That was just great execution.”

It was a play the Tigers worked on during the extended practice time the last two weeks and one that Scott told Higgins he needed to stretch for the pylon.

“Trevor threw a great ball,” Higgins said.

The duo also combined on a 65-yard score on Clemson’s second first-quarter touchdown, and both came away with record-setting performances Saturday.

Higgins’ two TD catches put him in rare air at a school that’s produced the likes of NFL receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins and Mike Williams. Higgins is the only pass catcher in school history to record double-digit scores in back-to-back seasons.

“To do it here at ‘Receiver U,’ it’s a blessing,” said Higgins, who had 101 yards on three catches. “I never imagined it and I can’t believe it actually happened.”

Scott said it puts Higgins in “that top category” of Tiger receivers.

“It’s hard to do something as a Clemson wide receiver that hasn’t been done here because of the top-caliber guys we’ve had here,” Scott said.

Meanwhile, Lawrence, who threw for 295 yards on 26-of-36 passing with three touchdowns, set a school record with 18 consecutive completions during the game while also rushing for a career-high 66 yards — after overcoming a “too amped up” start.

“You could tell, he threw a couple balls high (early),” co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said. “He settled in and threw 18 completions in a row. He just wasn’t going to be denied.”

Lawrence also set a school mark in the series. Combined with his 393 passing yards from last year, he has 688 yards in two games against the Gamecocks. No Clemson quarterback has ever passed for that many yards in a two-game span in the rivalry.

Lawrence passed Deshaun Watson (626) and Charlie Whitehurst (589).

“I just thought he was pretty special to watch him play quarterback today,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

Lawrence gave the visiting fans plenty to cheer for as he hurt the Gamecock defense with his scrambling ability throughout his first, and likely last, game at Williams-Brice Stadium.

“It was awesome,” Lawrence said about the atmosphere. “It’s a really nice stadium and obviously their fans are passionate about them and the rivalry game, so it was a lot of fun.”