Sweet Dreams
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- No team had ever beaten three top-15 teams in September until Clemson left Blacksburg, Virginia shortly after September ended.
Clemson’s defense forced three turnovers and Kelly Bryant shined as the Tigers sent Virginia Tech fans to bed with nightmares of a dominant performance in all phases.
The Clemson Tigers defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 31-17 in front of a sold-out Lane Stadium silencing the crowd, and anyone else who doubted them, in the process.
Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant proved again that he could rise to the occasion and lead Clemson’s offense. He was as poised as they come from the very beginning of the game. Bryant was 12-for-21 throwing the ball for 186 yards and a touchdown.
Hokie fans would be dreaming if they thought “Enter Sandman” was going to rattle battle-tested Bryant.
His ability to run gave Clemson’s offense another dimension that Virginia Tech couldn’t seem to slow down. Bryant was Clemson’s leading rusher as well with 19 carries for 94 yards.
With questions about how Bryant would handle the environment all week, he answered every one of them with his performance.
“Nobody wanted to give Bryant any credit after Louisville” co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said after the game. “Before Louisville, it was supposed to be the biggest atmosphere and all that and he went in and got it done. This week, it was those same types of questions. He doesn’t look like a first-year starter.”
Bryant’s 94 yards rushing single-handedly outrushed the Hokies’ 90 total yards on the ground. That’s a testament to Clemson’s defense in the trenches and Bryant’s running ability.
The defense came out gobbling up the Hokies all night long. Their speed, strength and overall athleticism was too much for Virginia Tech to handle.
“Defensively, we were relentless. We played fast, we tackled well and obviously those turnovers were huge,” head coach Dabo Swinney said.
The battle-tested Tigers seemed like the better team from the opening kickoff in all aspects of the game as they went wire-to-wire. The game never got any closer than 14 points after halftime.
Clemson’s offense wanted to take the crowd out early and was able to secure early momentum thanks to a quick three-and-out on Virginia Tech’s first drive.
On third-and-nine, Bryant hit Ray-Ray McCloud for a 27-yard completion. Tavien Feaster nicely stuck his nose on a blitzing Hokie that gave Bryant the time and space to make the play. Clemson was able to get three points on their opening drive thanks to that play.
On Clemson’s next drive, it was Feaster again making the big play. This time, it resulted in points.
Bryant found a wide-open Feaster in the flat and number 28 was gone for a 60-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 10-0 lead. Virginia Tech busted the coverage, which allowed Feaster to get free from the defense.
Clemson’s defense set the tone early for the game by not allowing the Hokies to get a first down until the end of the first quarter. Clemson forced four of Virginia Tech’s first five drives into three-and-outs.
Virginia Tech was 2-for-8 on third down conversions in the first half and weren’t able to get into a rhythm offensively. Meanwhile, Clemson’s offense had all the momentum.
To end the half, Clemson marched down the field in six plays to score after two tremendous catch-and-runs from Deon Cain set up a C.J. Fuller touchdown run.
After a fumble on Virginia Tech’s first possession of the second half, Bryant went back to work and really started to take the life out of Virginia Tech.
Bryant led a 10-play drive for 51 yards right down Virginia Tech’s throat to take a commanding 24-3 lead. Bryant ran the ball on eight of those 10 plays and had 42 of Clemson’s 51 yards on the drive. Virginia Tech had rushed for 46 yards the entire first half.
“He was the difference in the ballgame. I was impressed by his athletic ability,” Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said.
Justin Fuente started throwing the kitchen sink at Clemson midway through the third quarter to generate some life in his offense. Austin Bryant took the wind out of Virginia Tech’s sails on a fourth-down stop when he stuffed a wide receiver screen while covering the flat.
Virginia Tech’s Greg Stroman tried to bring the Hokies back to life with his punt return late in the third quarter that set up a touchdown to make it a 14-point game again.
When momentum felt like it was all Virginia Tech’s way, Dorian O’Daniel took a tipped pass back for a touchdown to put a cap on Clemson’s night.
This was O’Daniel’s second pick-six of the season, which has not happened since 1990.
If that play didn’t finish the job, then Bryant’s incredible one-handed interception did. Even freshman quarterback Josh Jackson couldn’t keep himself from shaking his head at Clemson’s athleticism on defense walking back to the sideline.
After another dominant performance, Clemson’s “biggest game is the next game” mentality continues as they face a good Wake Forest team.
But you just can’t help but marvel at Clemson’s accomplishments after this brutal September schedule. The Tigers took it one game at a time and continue to control their own destiny.
Most people thought that this team would be sitting at 3-2 or 4-1, but not many believed that 5-0 and arguably being the best team in the country was possible.
Not many except Dabo Swinney.
“We are battle-tested, we got good depth and we have the right mindset,” Swinney said on what he has learned about his team after September. “They got what it takes. Now, they have to continue to do what it takes.”
In an environment that’s known for giving teams nightmares and “sleeping with one eye open,” Clemson was able to rest on its laurels after all was said and done.
The Tigers are now able to enjoy their win and sleep comfortably for the night now that it is officially October.
Tonight, there were no nightmares.
Only sweet dreams.