Thumbs up, thumbs down: Clemson vs. UNC
Thumbs up
Deshaun Watson
The sophomore quarterback made quite the case for the Heisman Trophy, accounting for 420 yards of offense and five touchdowns in Clemson’s 45-37 victory.
Wayne Gallman
He surpassed the 100-yard mark for the eighth time this season, which is a school record. The sophomore rushed for 94 yards in the third quarter alone after putting up only 17 in the first half. Gallman finished with 187 rushing yards and also caught his first touchdown pass of the season in the second quarter.
Ball protection
The Tigers turned the ball over at least three times in their previous three games but had only one turnover against North Carolina on a tipped pass thrown by Watson that was intercepted.
Shaq Lawson
The star defensive end all but clinched the game for the Tigers with a sack and forced fumble midway through the fourth quarter. The junior finished second on the team in tackles with six, including two tackles for loss.
Thumbs down
The punting game
Punter Andy Teasdall called his own number on a fake punt on fourth-and-15 from Clemson’s 30 and was stopped well short of the first down. Starting safety T.J. Green was also ejected for targeting on a punt in the second quarter.
Big play defense
North Carolina got back in the game late thanks to several big plays. UNC had touchdown drives in the fourth quarter of 1:33 and 1:02.
Marquise Williams
North Carolina’s quarterback completed only 11 of 33 passing attempts and missed several open receivers down field.
ACC officials
North Carolina recovered an onside kick down eight late in the fourth quarter but was called for offsides. Replays showed no one was offsides.
Matt Connolly