Clemson’s defense MIA in Miami, routed 70-33 in Orange Bowl

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This year’s Orange Bowl followed the current trend of high-scoring bowl games, but unfortunately for Clemson it was a one-sided affair.

On Wednesday night, the Tiger offense was the antithesis of what it’s been all season, losing 70-33 to West Virginia (10-3, 5-2 Big East) in Miami. Clemson’s (10-4, 6-2 ACC) defense gave up 589 yards of total offense, over 200 yards more than its season average (328.8).

Despite the lopsided outcome, Clemson was somewhat in control early, leading 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. But after a West Virginia touchdown made it 24-17, the Tigers’ quick trip back down field into West Virginia’s red zone turned disastrous.

Thanks to some big runs from running back Andre Ellington (10 carries, 116 yards, 1 TD), Clemson quickly marched back down the field to the Mountaineers’ 1-yard line, setting the stage for one of the biggest momentum-changing plays in this year’s postseason. As Ellington rushed towards the pile of defenders, he was stopped just inches shy of the goal line, leaving enough time for West Virginia’s Darwin Cook to strip him of the football. Cook recovered the fumble and returned it for a 99-yard touchdown.

Down 28-17, Clemson was momentarily able to stop the bleeding with a field goal, but the Mountaineers marched right back down the field, scoring another touchdown to bring their lead to 35-20 with less than 3 minutes to go in the first half.

Tajh Boyd (24-46, 250 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 3 sacks) looked lost against West Virginia’s 3-5-3 defensive scheme, and he threw an interception on his second pass attempt after Clemson took possession. The Mountaineers didn’t waste the scoring opportunity, snagging another touchdown just seconds later, extending their lead to 42-20.

The Tigers were relatively mistake free this season, turning the ball over on average just 1.2 times per game. But a fumble by Boyd proved costly, as West Virginia was able to tack on one more score before halftime, improving its lead to 49-20. Thanks to the Tigers’ mistakes, the Mountaineers went to the locker room with a 35-point second quarter (5 TDs) and the Orange Bowl record for points in a half.

The story didn’t change in the second half.

West Virginia began the third quarter with back-to-back scoring drives, breaking Alabama’s 59-year-old Orange Bowl record for most points scored in a game (61, 1953) to put the game out of reach at 63-20.

The Tigers scored some garbage time touchdowns against substituted defensive players, but their defensive stars, defensive end Andre Branch and corner back Bashaud Breeland, were nowhere to be found. The Mountaineers took advantage of their no-show performance, scoring one final time, bringing the score to 70-33.

Clemson’s defense previously allowed 45 points to Maryland earlier this year, its season high until Wednesday night. The Tigers’ dismal performance basically handed West Virginia the record for the most points by a single team in Orange Bowl history, and the lack of offense helped the Mountaineers make it the second-most lopsided loss (37 points) in the bowl’s history as well (1^st-55 points, Alabama vs. Syracuse, 1953).  The combined score of 103 points is also an Orange Bowl record for the most points scored by two teams.

Going forward into next season, Clemson should be in pretty good shape. Despite the glaring loss, it still won the ACC and qualified for a BCS bowl, the school’s first since the system was adopted by the NCAA in 1998. That’s always a good line to throw out on the recruiting trail. And although they’ll lose Andre Ellington to graduation, Watkins and Boyd are a fearsome tandem. The pair shouldn’t have any trouble vying for another Atlantic Division crown next year.

Along with Virginia Tech’s (11-3, 7-1) loss in the Sugar Bowl, Clemson’s defeat drops the ACC to 2-13 all-time in BCS bowl games. Overall, the ACC was 2-6 in this year’s postseason.

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