CLEMSON, S.C. — Out of the 11 first downs Clemson earned in the second half, seven came via the ground game.

Conservatively, the Tigers amped up their rushing attack in the last 30 minutes to work the clock and chip away at Syracuse’s sturdy defense. Ultimately, No. 21 Clemson (6-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast) owned the clock in the second half and effectively put the finishing touches on its 16-6 victory over the Orange (3-5, 1-3) on Saturday night.

CU running back Wayne Gallman had just 17 rushing yards at the half, but eclipsed 100 by the time the faithful of Death Valley engulfed the Memorial Stadium field after the final horn.

“I thought, stopping the run, we did a good job up until the end,” SU defensive end Robert Welsh said.

The Orange jogged into the locker room with a 6-3 lead, countering the Tigers’ staunch defensive effort with one of its own. Clemson had 61 yards on the ground by halftime and 96 in the air. SU had logged 52 and 66, respectively.

At the break, SU led Clemson in time of possession 16:21 to 13:39.

The defensive stalemate extended five minutes into the second half before Clemson’s offense found its groove. Gallman shot up the left side for a 21-yard pickup into SU territory and quarterback Cole Stoudt scrambled to convert a third-and-4.

But SU’s defense made a goal-line stand to hold the Tigers to a game-tying field goal.

Later in the third, Gallman took a carry 16 yards down to SU’s 30, leading to a Tigers field goal and a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“They run that hurry-up offense,” SU linebacker Cam Lynch said. “Stopping them (was) a little bit harder but other than that, we fought hard.”

Published on October 27, 2014 at 12:13 am

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