No. 9 Clemson outlasts Louisville 20-17 in ACC opener
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he expected nothing less than “a 60-minute, all-hands-on-deck slugfest” against Louisville Thursday night.
He got it.
And despite plenty of tenuous moments, his team also got the victory, prevailing 20-17 in a nationally televised Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Clemson, ranked ninth in the latest USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll, improved to 3-0 for the fourth time in seven seasons under Swinney. The Tigers now will savor an open date before facing a challenging two-game stretch against Notre Dame on Oct. 3 and Georgia Tech on Oct. 10.
Louisville slipped to 0-3, matching its worst start since 1984.
But the Tigers’ victory was far from easy, hanging in the balance until safety Jadar Johnson cradled Louisville’s desperation pass in his arms on the game’s final play.
Clemson outgained Louisville 401-272, but the Cardinals managed to hang around despite managing just 19 yards rushing.
They intercepted Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson twice, then got a 100-yard kickoff return late in the game to keep the 55,396 spectators at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in their seats late into the night.
But the Tigers kept them at bay thanks to the running of Wayne Gallman, who had 139 yards on 24 carries, and Watson, who added 54 crucial yards on 12 attempts.
Watson also completed 21-of-30 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Artavis Scott led Clemson’s receivers with eight grabs for 40 yards, but it was the defense that repeatedly saved the day, thwarting Louisville time and again in crucial instances.
The Tigers, led by linebacker B.J. Goodson, who had eight tackles, defensive end Shaq Lawson, who had 1.5 tackles for loss, held Louisville to just 2-of-14 on third-down conversions.
Clemson, which defeated Louisville by a 23-17 score last season, has held the Cardinals 3-of-31 on third down conversions over their last two meetings.
After a scoreless first quarter that saw the two teams combine for six punts, Clemson finally broke through with a five-play, 61-yard scoring drive capped by freshman Hunter Renfrow’s 32-yard touchdown catch — the first of his career.
Louisville responded with a 26-yard field goal by John Wallace to cut the Tigers’ lead to 7-3 with 1:29 left in the first half.
The Cardinals struck first in the second half, taking their only lead of the game by driving 58 yards in nine plays. Jeremy Smith plunged in from the 1-yard line for a 10-7 lead.
But Clemson bounced back, driving 56 yards in nine plays before calling on placekicker Greg Huegel, who converted a 36-yard field goal, with 6:57 left in the third quarter.
The Tigers extended their lead shortly thereafter, with Watson leaning heavily on his tight ends. He completed one pass to Stanton Seckinger and two to Jordan Leggett — the final covering 25 yards for a touchdown that pushed Clemson’s lead to 17-10.
After Cordrea Tankersley’s interception set the Tigers up again at the 50, Clemson extended its lead four plays later on a 27-yard field goal by Huegel that provided a 20-10 cushion.
But the celebration would be short-lived as Louisville’s Traveon Samuel returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. After forcing a Clemson punt, the Cardinals drove to the Clemson 21-yard line before Wallace missed a 38-yard field goal attempt wide left.
The Tigers then came up a half-yard short of a first down on their next possession, giving Louisville a final chance. The Cardinals drove to Clemson’s 41 yard line, but a desperation heave toward the end zone on the game’s final play was intercepted by Johnson.
Clemson, which lost nine of its first 10 Thursday night ESPN games, has won five in a row and is 5-1 under Swinney in such games.
Scott Keepfer writes for the Greenville News
PHOTOS: Best of Week 3