Game blog: Observations as Clemson football escapes Syracuse with win

Numbers can be deceiving. So can talk.

But when it comes to Syracuse and Clemson and their rushing games tonight at Carrier Dome, you likely can believe both the Orange's numbers and the Tigers' comments.

Syracuse (3-3, including 0-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference games) leads the ACC and is No. 12 in FBS in rushing offense (242.8 yards per game). Freshman Sean Tucker leads the conference with 791 yards and nine touchdowns, and sophomore quarterback Garrett Shrader ranks No. 9, buoyed by 137- and 178-yard efforts in the Orange's past two games.

No. 25 Clemson (3-2, 2-1), meanwhile, has struggled with its rushing and passing games this season. The Tigers, however, are coming off their best performance of the season, producing 231 yards rushing and 211 passing in a 19-13 win two weeks ago against Boston College. Sophomore Kobe Pace rushed for 125 yards and averaged 6.9 yards per carry, and freshman Phil Mafah made his collegiate debut with 58 yards, averaging 7.3 yards on his eight carries.

That rushing game, coach Dabo Swinney says, is the key to improvement by quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, struggling in taking the reins from Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 selection in the NFL draft this year. Better running, Swinney reasons, will stop opponents from putting extra defenders in pass coverage.

“There are not a lot of (passing) plays when there are eight (defenders) deep," Swinney said. "Not much there. You have to be able to run the ball effectively when people are challenging you that way."

Let the handoffs begin. 

10:48 p.m.: Strange call by Syracuse lets Clemson football escape with win

A strange third-down play call by Syracuse helped Clemson to its fourth win Friday night.

The Orange moved from their 7 to Clemson's 32 and then called for a run up the middle on third-and-two. Clemson stuffed the play.

Syracuse then tried a 48-yard field goal with 43 seconds left, which Andre Szmyt hooked wide left. 

10:40 p.m.: Clemson football dodges Orange bullet

Syracuse's Andre Szmyt missed a 48-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining, allowing Clemson to escape New York with a three-point win.

Final score: Clemson 17, Syracuse 14

10:14 p.m.: Momentum proves fleeting for Clemson football

Syracuse strikes back quickly after falling behind by 10 in the fourth quarter.

Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader,  who was 12-for-28 for 62 yards, completed a 62-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Pena. Pena, making only his second reception of the season, split the secondary and outraced everyone to the end zone.

Clemson 17, Syracuse 14, 7:18 remaining.

10:10 p.m.: Clemson football gets breathing room

After a scoreless third quarter, Clemson scored on its first possession of the fourth on a 40-yard field goal by B.T. Potter. 

The drive included two impressive plays back-to-back, a 23-yard pass from D.J. Uiagalelei to former high school teammate Beaux Collins and a 15-yard run up the middle by Kobe Pace through traffic.

Clemson 17, Syracuse 7

9:44 p.m.: Tigers take lead into fourth quarter

There was no scoring in the third quarter, so Clemson takes the lead into the fourth quarter. The Tigers managed 54 yards in the quarter, though a 17-yard loss on a bad snap hurts the total. 

Clemson's defense held Syracuse to 22 yards. The Orange's star running back, Sean Tucker, has managed only 49 yards rushing since gaining 79 in the first quarter.

After three quarters: Clemson 14, Syracuse 7

9:26 p.m.: One step forward, two steps back

The early minutes of the third quarter offered more examples of what is hindering Clemson in 2021.

The Tigers opened the half with three consecutive good plays -- a 12 yard pass from D.J. Uiagalelei to Justyn Ross, followed by two 7-yard runs by Kobe Pace -- to give them a first down at the Syracuse 49. 

On the next play, center Mason Trotter -- playing because starter Hunter Rayburn was unavailable -- snapped the ball high over Uiagalelei's head. The quarterback recovered the ball, but for a 17-yard loss that killed the drive.

On the Orange's ensuing possession, Clemson appeared to force Syracuse to a three-and-out, but safety Tyler Venables was called for roughing the passer as Garrett Schrader threw the ball away as he tried to avoid the pressure by rolling to the sideline. In television replays, Venables' contact appeared not to be that egregious, but the call extended the Orange's drive.

Clemson stopped the drive after another first down, but the yardage allowed Syracuse to punt deep into Clemson territory.

8:58 p.m.: Halftime glance shows some good, some struggle

Clemson's offense still isn't finding consistency, but its second quarter was an improvement on the first.

The Tigers finished the half with 180 yards total offense, and 147 yards were gained in the second quarter. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei finished 15-for-22 for 109 yards with a touchdown pass to Joseph Ngata. Kobe Pace, who rushed for 125 yards two weeks ago in the win against Boston College, had 38 yards on eight attempts in the first half.

Davis Allen, starting at tight end because Braden Galloway is unavailable, leads the team with six receptions for 25 yards. Justyn Ross, who limped off the field in the first quarter after rolling his ankle while try to plant for a catch, has four catches for 39 yards.

Clemson's defense has yielded 138 yards rushing -- including gains of 54 and 39 yards by ACC leader Sean Tucker -- but otherwise has held the Orange to 93 yards on 29 plays, 3.2 yards per p. 

8:46 p.m.: Clemson takes lead just before half

Our Scott Keepfer wrote during Clemson's week off that the days of blowout wins may be over for Clemson, and the Tigers have done little tonight to dispute that. 

Clemson took the lead back on a 1-yard touchdown run by Kobe Pace that completed a 13-play, 58-yard drive with 9 seconds left in the half, but that included some dramatic moments.

The biggest play was a 17-yard pass on fourth-and-five from punter Will Spiers to a leaping David Allen, who had four receptions during the  possession, to keep the drive alive. It included another leaping catch, this time by Justyn Ross from a pass by D.J. Uiagalelei. 

Halftime score: Clemson 14, Syracuse 7.

8:12 p.m.: Syracuse answers the score

Clemson took the lead on an 11-play, 87-yard drive. Syracuse responded with a 10-play, 90-yard drive for its own touchdown.

Quarterback Garrett Shrader got the score on a 2-yard run, but Sean Tucker, the ACC's leading rusher, was the catalyst. He rushed for a 39-yard gain on the play before the score and for 51 yards on the drive, giving him 126 yards on nine carries in the game.

Clemson 7, Syracuse 7

7:59 p.m.: Ngata got it

Clemson breaks through with a touchdown, thanks to a great leaping catch by Joseph Ngata.

Nagata snagged a pass in the right corner of the end zone on a 19-yard pass from D.J. Uiagalelei.

The play, with 9:06 remaining in the half, completed an 11-play, 87-yard drive, its first sustained possession of the game.

Prior to that drive, Clemson had 23 yards total offense.

Clemson 7, Syracuse 0 

7:52 p.m.: Booth stays on sideline

Andrew Booth, one of Clemson's top defensive backs, hasn't played tonight. Here's Scott Keepfer's report:

More:Clemson football cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. missing in action at Syracuse

7:43 p.m.: Ross returns 

Quick injury update: Justyn Ross, who limped off after rolling an ankle while attempting a catch, returned on Clemson's next series.

7:42 p.m.: Defense comes to Clemson's rescue

It's not going well for Clemson..

 As the first quarter ends, the Tigers' offense has 33 yards while Syracuse has 97, most coming on Sean Tucker's 54 yard run to the Clemson 19.

And wide receiver Justyn Ross is in the injury tent after rolling an ankle while trying to plan to make a catch.

But the defense comes to the rescue. On the following play, Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader -- a better runner than passer -- threw right into the arms of defensive back Tyler Venables at the 7.

End of quarter: Clemson 0, Syracuse 0.

6:09 p.m.: Clemson's offensive line to be shorthanded

About an hour before kickoff, Clemson announced that it would be without one of its key offensive linemen tonight: 

Ouch:Clemson football without starting center Hunter Rayburn for game at Syracuse