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.
