Recap: Clemson vs. So Carolina
Sports Network | November 29, 2008
Clemson, SC (Sports Network) - James Davis ran for 91 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Clemson Tigers to a 31-14 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in non-conference action at Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Also having a strong game for the Tigers (7-5) was Cullen Harper who completed 12-of-17 passing for 199 yards and a score.
The Gamecocks (7-5) were led by Chris Smelley who converted 22-of-47 in the pocket for 212 yards and two scores, but he was also intercepted four times in the losing effort.
Clemson ripped off 24 unanswered points to begin the afternoon, starting with a one-yard TD run by Davis at the 4:14 mark of the first quarter. Kicker Mark Buchholz knocked through a 22-yard field goal late in the frame to give the home team a 10-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Harper then connected with Jacoby Ford on a 50-yard scoring strike for the Tigers, followed by a 20-yard scamper into the end zone by Davis to make the score 24-0.
USC finally landed on the scoreboard when Smelley and Patrick DiMarco combined on a 16-yard pass play with just 31 seconds remaining in the first half.
Trailing by a score of 24-7, the Gamecocks put up another touchdown early in the third when Smelley and Weslye Saunders combined on a 23-yard play to cut the deficit to 24-14.
With just under four minutes to play in the third Davis notched his third TD of the day, this time on a two-yard run, to provide Clemson with the 17-point cushion.
The Tigers ran nine fewer plays than the visitors, yet still produced 383 yards of offense, compared to 304 for South Carolina.
