Sophomore Will Shipley let his mother know, when he was growing up, that there was one thing he enjoyed the most about football and that was scoring touchdowns.
Shipley’s done just that many times for Clemson this season in his fast start. He added a pair on Saturday night, along with a career-high 139 yards on the ground, in the No. 5 ranked Tigers’ 48-20 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
“My favorite thing in the world is getting in the end zone,” Shipley said. “So any time that gets to happen, there’s a huge smile on my face.”
Shipley has accumulated six touchdowns this season, two in each contest. Clemson said, according to its records since 1950, he is the first Tiger to have multiple touchdowns in the first three games of the season.
Clemson was in desperate need of Shipley’s power and allusiveness, to pull away from the Bulldogs (1-2) in the second half, for its ninth straight win, and 36th consecutive at Memorial Stadium over the past seven seasons.
“We’re not a great team yet. Again, great teams don’t do some of the things we did tonight,” Swinney said. “But, man, these guys compete.”
Clemson has started their season 3-0 for the seventh time in eight years after responding from a subpar first 30 minutes of action.
“I think we’ve got a bunch of guys who want to work and get better throughout the year,” Shipley said. “So, yeah, I’m very comfortable with where the offense is right now.”
However, it took until the second half for the offense to find its rhythm.
The Tigers linebacker, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., intercepted quarterback Parker McNeil on the Tech 32-yard line and Shipley ran the next snap into the end zone. Tigers’ cornerback Malcolm Greene picked off McNeil on the next drive, after the Bulldogs reached the red area.
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei advanced Clemson 90 yards in 14 plays, finishing on backup running back Phil Mafah’s 4-yard touchdown run.
Trailing by three touchdowns, 27-6, Tech and rookie head coach Sonny Cumbie went for it on fourth-and-2 at its own 33-yardline. Running back Marquis Crosby lost a yard as he was knocked back by defensive end Justin Mascoll and linebacker Wade Woodaz.
Uiagalelei connected with wide receiver Beaux Collins for a 32-yard touchdown pass on the next play to give Clemson a four-touchdown lead.
Louisiana Tech’s Cumbie acknowledged that going fourth down deep in his own territory was an unorthodox move. But Clemson had all the momentum, scoring two touchdowns in the previous eight minutes and he did not want to put his defense in harm’s way.
“I think our players are fighting,” Cumbie said. “We’ve just got to be a little smarter in our execution.”
The Tigers, down two starters in their secondary and two on the defensive front seven, could not generate any pressure on McNeil in the first half or any sustainable coverage on his pass catchers in the “Air Raid” attack.
McNeil finished the game 23 of 42 passing for 311 yards. Clemson’s Uiagalelei passed for 221 and two touchdowns. He scampered for an additional 62 yards.
The Bulldogs dropped to 0-4 all-time against Clemson yet gave the top-five Tigers several tense moments. Louisiana Tech scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 34-20. The effort could mean big things when they start conference play. Plus, the program gets to take home $1.1 million for coming to Death Valley.
The Tigers still have plenty to work on. Their receivers had difficulty getting open, especially in the first half. But Clemson will be in most games with the combination of Shipley and Uiagalelei controlling things on the ground.
Clemson had a moment of silence for 15-year-old Ella Bresee, the sister of starting defensive tackle Bryan, who died of brain cancer earlier this week. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney coached in his “Ella Strong” T-shirt in honor of the teenager. Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie wore a similar T-shirt during pregame. Bryan Bresee was with his family in Maryland and did not play Saturday night. Each Louisiana Tech player wrote a letter of condolence to the Bresee family, which Swinney called a “beautiful thing.”
Clemson was without a trio of other defensive starters due to injuries. Tackle Tyler Davis missed his second straight game as a precaution, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. Also out with injuries were safety Andrew Mukuba and cornerback Nate Wiggins.
Louisiana Tech wraps up its non-conference schedule at South Alabama next Saturday night.
Clemson jumps back into ACC competition at No. 19 Wake Forest next Saturday.
