ATLANTA, Ga.– Chandler Catanzaro nailed a 32-yard field goal as time expired to cap a furious Clemson rally as the Tigers defeated LSU 25-24 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Freshman running back Jeremy Hill rumbled 57 yards to paydirt on the first play of the second half, but the LSU defense could not stop the Clemson dual threat of quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver DeAndre Hopkins as they both ran roughshod over a vulnerable LSU secondary.
After Hill’s touchdown run made it 21-13, the Tiger offense and junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger could not find a consistent rhythm to sustain drives and only managed three points the rest of the way as Clemson took advantage of the worn down LSU defense.
Boyd finished 36-for-50 with 346 yards through the air and two touchdowns to Hopkins, who exploded for 191 yards on 13 catches.
Hill paced the LSU offense with 124 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
ATLANTA, Ga.– LSU used a blocked extra point late in the second quarter to head into the locker room with a tenuous 14-13 lead in the Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome.
Clemson quarterback junior Tajh Boyd shredded a vulnerable LSU secondary to the tune of 177 yards through the air and a touchdown to classmate DeAndre Hopkins as the Tigers mounted consistent drives downfield, keeping the LSU defense on its toes.
Junior defensive end Barkevious Mingo got the ball rolling early for LSU as he forced a Sammy Watkins fumble on the second play of the game that was recovered by LSU’s junior safety Craig Loston.
Watkins sustained a right ankle injury on the play and will not return to action, according to Clemson.
Two plays later, freshman running back Jeremy Hill scampered 17 yards for the touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead just 55 seconds into the game.
Clemson responded with a methodical 75-yard drive capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run from Boyd, diving for the goal line to knot the score at seven and bring the Clemson faithful to its feet.
After both teams exchanged two punts apiece, LSU reeled off an eight play drive, capped off with a touchdown from junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger to sophomore Jarvis Landry, who reeled in the ball on a fade route in the corner of the endzone.
Once again, Clemson answered five minutes later with a similar eight play drive that resulted in the Hopkins touchdown grab and ensuing blocked extra point.
Hopkins abused LSU junior cornerback Tharold Simon throughout the half as he hauled in seven passes for 105 yards for an average of 15 yards per reception.
LSU was able to contain Clemson’s 1000-yard rusher Andre Ellington, who only managed 39 yards on eight carries.
Spearheaded by junior linebacker and team MVP Kevin Minter, who registered 14 tackles in the first half, the LSU defense found its footing late in the first half, breaking through the Clemson defensive line to sack Boyd twice in the final minute.
After spending most of the first quarter eluding a fierce Clemson pass rush, Mettenberger had an efficient second quarter to finish the half 9-for-12 for 95 yards and the touchdown throw to Landry.
