Top 5 Recent Clemson-Carolina Memories
By: Will Vandervort
#5. CORY BOYD'S FUMBLE - 2004
While most fans will remember Clemson's 29-7 win over South Carolina in 2004 as the year of the brawl, only a select few will likely recall Cory Boyd taunting the student section in Death Valley for nearly a minute right before he received the ball on the opening kickoff. After catching the ball near the goal line, Boyd advanced to the 9-yard line before he was blasted by linebacker David Dunham. The hit resulted in a fumble that was quickly recovered by Steven Jackson. It only took the Tigers two plays to score and move ahead 7-0 52 seconds into the game. Boyd finished the game with just five rushes for 19 yards but did score South Carolina's only touchdown on a 54 yard reception from Syvelle Newton.
#4. JOCK MCKISSIC INTERCEPTION RETURN - 2006
It's hard to imagine a bigger play than this one during the decade. With the game tied at 14-14 shortly before halftime and South Carolina driving deep in Clemson territory, Blake Mitchell stepped back to pass only to have his throw deflected at the line of scrimmage. The ball fell into the hands of 6-6 300 pound defensive tackle Jock McKissic. McKissic ran as fast as he could towards the other end zone, scoring just as South Carolina wide receiver Kenny McKinley attempted to tackle him on the goal line with eight seconds left in the first half. The play gave Clemson all the momentum in the world headed into halftime but it wouldn't be enough to get the win as the Gamecocks rallied from 14 down in the second half to beat the Tigers, 31-28.
#3. CHANSI STUCKEY TOUCHDOWN - 2003
South Carolina had hoped to redeem a fading 2003 season against the Tigers and were actually listed as slight favorites earlier in the week. Instead, the Gamecocks surrendered the most points ever in the rivalry since the Tigers 51-0 win in 1900 in 63-17 romp on national television. Then Clemson quarterback Chansi Stuckey rushed on the right side for 33-yard touchdown as the Tigers put the finishing touches the 46-point blowout on a cold November night. It would be the last in a series of long scoring plays for the Tigers that night, including a 36-yard Derrick Hamilton TD reception, an Airese Currie 28-yard touchdown reception, a 39-yard Ben Hall touchdown catch and a 27-yard scoring pass to Duane Coleman. (all from Charlie Whitehurst). Stuckey's touchdown run came before a nearly empty Williams-Brice.
Empty with the exception of the 10,000 Clemson fans still left in the stands.
#2. FIRST DOWN CHARLIE - 2005
Two years after the 63-17 drubbing, the Tigers returned to Columbia to face the 19th-ranked Gamecocks in Steve Spurrier's first taste of the Palmetto state rivalry. After the Tigers took a 13-9 lead with just under six minutes left in the game, Clemson took control of the ball needing only a first down to secure the win. Facing a third-and-9 at the 50 with time winding down, Charlie Whitehurst ran a quarterback draw for 10 yards to seal the deal. The win gave Whitehurst a perfect 4-0 record against South Carolina, making him the only quarterback to post four wins versus no defeats in the history of the rivalry. “I knew if I could just get past the line of scrimmage, I’d have a great chance to make the first down,” Whitehurst said afterwards. “The line did good and blocked every gap and it just worked out great.”
It worked out great for Clemson fans as well as the Tigers won their fourth in a row in the series.
#1. 1ST AND 35 - 2005
Before Whitehurst's run in 2005, trailing 9-6 in the fourth quarter and after two consecutive penalties, the Tigers were faced a first-and-35 from their own 22. It looked as though South Carolina was in control of the game until a series of plays changed everything. The first play was a nine-yard pass to tailback James Davis to set up a second-and-26 from the 31. Next came a 14-yard pass to Chansi Stuckey to make it third-and-12 at the 45. On third down, Whitehurst took the snap and hit Curtis Baham on an out route for a gain of 28 yards to spot it at the South Carolina 27. After a 23-yard burst by James Davis straight up the middle set the Tigers up with a first-and-goal from the four, it took three plays for Davis to score from two yards out to give Clemson a 13-9 lead. It would be a lead the Tigers would never relinquish and a drive Clemson fans will never forget.
#5. CORY BOYD'S FUMBLE - 2004While most fans will remember Clemson's 29-7 win over South Carolina in 2004 as the year of the brawl, only a select few will likely recall Cory Boyd taunting the student section in Death Valley for nearly a minute right before he received the ball on the opening kickoff. After catching the ball near the goal line, Boyd advanced to the 9-yard line before he was blasted by linebacker David Dunham. The hit resulted in a fumble that was quickly recovered by Steven Jackson. It only took the Tigers two plays to score and move ahead 7-0 52 seconds into the game. Boyd finished the game with just five rushes for 19 yards but did score South Carolina's only touchdown on a 54 yard reception from Syvelle Newton.
#4. JOCK MCKISSIC INTERCEPTION RETURN - 2006
It's hard to imagine a bigger play than this one during the decade. With the game tied at 14-14 shortly before halftime and South Carolina driving deep in Clemson territory, Blake Mitchell stepped back to pass only to have his throw deflected at the line of scrimmage. The ball fell into the hands of 6-6 300 pound defensive tackle Jock McKissic. McKissic ran as fast as he could towards the other end zone, scoring just as South Carolina wide receiver Kenny McKinley attempted to tackle him on the goal line with eight seconds left in the first half. The play gave Clemson all the momentum in the world headed into halftime but it wouldn't be enough to get the win as the Gamecocks rallied from 14 down in the second half to beat the Tigers, 31-28.
#3. CHANSI STUCKEY TOUCHDOWN - 2003
South Carolina had hoped to redeem a fading 2003 season against the Tigers and were actually listed as slight favorites earlier in the week. Instead, the Gamecocks surrendered the most points ever in the rivalry since the Tigers 51-0 win in 1900 in 63-17 romp on national television. Then Clemson quarterback Chansi Stuckey rushed on the right side for 33-yard touchdown as the Tigers put the finishing touches the 46-point blowout on a cold November night. It would be the last in a series of long scoring plays for the Tigers that night, including a 36-yard Derrick Hamilton TD reception, an Airese Currie 28-yard touchdown reception, a 39-yard Ben Hall touchdown catch and a 27-yard scoring pass to Duane Coleman. (all from Charlie Whitehurst). Stuckey's touchdown run came before a nearly empty Williams-Brice.
Empty with the exception of the 10,000 Clemson fans still left in the stands.
#2. FIRST DOWN CHARLIE - 2005
Two years after the 63-17 drubbing, the Tigers returned to Columbia to face the 19th-ranked Gamecocks in Steve Spurrier's first taste of the Palmetto state rivalry. After the Tigers took a 13-9 lead with just under six minutes left in the game, Clemson took control of the ball needing only a first down to secure the win. Facing a third-and-9 at the 50 with time winding down, Charlie Whitehurst ran a quarterback draw for 10 yards to seal the deal. The win gave Whitehurst a perfect 4-0 record against South Carolina, making him the only quarterback to post four wins versus no defeats in the history of the rivalry. “I knew if I could just get past the line of scrimmage, I’d have a great chance to make the first down,” Whitehurst said afterwards. “The line did good and blocked every gap and it just worked out great.”
It worked out great for Clemson fans as well as the Tigers won their fourth in a row in the series.
#1. 1ST AND 35 - 2005
Before Whitehurst's run in 2005, trailing 9-6 in the fourth quarter and after two consecutive penalties, the Tigers were faced a first-and-35 from their own 22. It looked as though South Carolina was in control of the game until a series of plays changed everything. The first play was a nine-yard pass to tailback James Davis to set up a second-and-26 from the 31. Next came a 14-yard pass to Chansi Stuckey to make it third-and-12 at the 45. On third down, Whitehurst took the snap and hit Curtis Baham on an out route for a gain of 28 yards to spot it at the South Carolina 27. After a 23-yard burst by James Davis straight up the middle set the Tigers up with a first-and-goal from the four, it took three plays for Davis to score from two yards out to give Clemson a 13-9 lead. It would be a lead the Tigers would never relinquish and a drive Clemson fans will never forget.
posted by Roy Philpott @ 7:14 PM
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