Clemson rolls past Appalachian State
Carlos Watkins hadn’t scored a touchdown since his senior year in high school, so he needed to think quickly when the moment presented itself Saturday.
“It’s really any big guy’s dream to get in the end zone,” said Watkins, a 300-pound defense tackle from Mooresboro, N.C.
Leading by a field goal in the second quarter, Clemson was looking for a spark — any spark. When Appalachian State quarterback Taylor Lamb took the snap at the 14-yard line, Watkins saw the ball when it left his hand.
“Honestly, it hit my hands and stayed there,” Watkins said, grinning as he recalled the instant. “I looked down at it. Well, time to run.”
His 15-yard return for a touchdown seemed to ignite Clemson’s fuse. The Tigers scored three more touchdowns in the second quarter and coasted to their second win of the season, 41-10, with another dominating defensive performance.
“We did enough to get control of the game,” said coach Dabo Swinney. “Defensively we dominated.”
Swinney said the staff saw opportunities for big plays and the offense delivered four touchdowns of at least 23 yards, including three passes by Deshaun Watson.
With a Thursday night game at Louisville, there was no urgency to bury App State, but for a half the defense had its way, intercepting Lamb on three straight possessions.
Watson completed 19 of 26 passes for 248 yard and three touchdowns, Wayne Gallman rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown and Greg Huegel kicked his first two career field goals to complete the scoring.
After nary a one last week, Clemson finished with four turnovers. The Tigers totaled 10 tackles for loss, limited App to 3 of 16 on third down and forced the Mountaineers to rely on the run game.
“This is a team that passes the football, that’s how they make their living and we held them to 95 yards passing,” Swinney said. “The challenge coming into this game was our secondary going to accept our challenge.
“I thought they were tremendous.”
Safety Jayron Kearse intercepted a pass in the end zone during the first quarter to snuff App’s first threat. Linebacker Ben Boulware picked one off to set up the first of two touchdown passes to Charone Peake. Watson and Peake later connected on a 59-yarder that traveled nearly 70 yards through the air.
Artavis Scott caught a 41-yarder in the third quarter, but the defense made its point, holding App to 88 total yards and three first downs in the first half. App finished with 298 yard — 203 rushing — but the Swinney decided to use his bench extensively for the experience and preserve the others for Thursday’s game in Louisville.
Nevertheless, for a team that lost defensive eight starters to graduation and a ninth to a season-ending injury, it was impressive.
“We wanted to prove to everybody — no drop off,” said Watkins. “The way it’s going, we’ve got some things to improve, but we can hold up our side.”
Watson, who threw his first interception of the season in the first quarter, the third of his career, was thankful for the defensive assist. “It’s nice to know when things aren’t going your way there is still a chance when your defense is still making plays.”
TURNING POINT
Clemson was nursing a tenuous lead in the second quarter when defensive tackle Carlos Watkins intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to make the score 10-0.
THREE POINTS
Star of the game: Charone Peake caught four passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns, the first time he’d scored more than one TD in a game.
Stat of the game: Three interceptions in consecutive first half possessions: one by safety Jayron Kearse in the end zone to turn back an App scoring threat, Watkins’ for a touchdown then linebacker Ben Boulware which was followed shortly by a 24-yard TD pass to Peake.
Play of the game: Second down and 2 at the Clemson 41, Watson winds up and launches a pass to Peake that traveled nearly 70 yards through the air.
OBSERVATIONS
Wayne Train: Coming out of high school, Wayne Gallman was pegged by some scouts as a better linebacker than running back. Gallman led Clemson in rushing last season and again in both games this year. On his 23-yard TD run in the second quarter he resembled a runaway locomotive.
Special teams improved: Greg Huegel hit 2 of 3 field goals, Andy Teasdall averaged 43. 5 yards on six punts, Artavis Scott was flawless on punt returns and Ray-Ray McCloud ripped off a 73-yard kickoff return.
THEY SAID IT
“It wasn’t pretty at times.” — Dabo Swinney on the drop off during the second half with the starters on the bench
“Honestly, we don’t worry about that stuff.” — Ben Boulware when asked about the sluggish start by the offense.
“That was a long throw. … I didn’t know he had thrown it my way or it could reach me until I looked up and saw it coming down.” — Charone Peake on the 59-yard TD pass from Deshaun Watson
UP NEXT
Who: Clemson at Louisville
When: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 17
Where: Papa John’s Stadium
TV: ESPN
This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 4:09 PM.