Recap: Clemson 54, Syracuse 0

Saturday, November 5

Clemson, SC

3:30 pm

Syracuse University

4-5 , 2-3

Clemson

9-0 , 6-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

Clemson

Photo by: Charles Wainwright

11/5/2016 6:48:00 PM | Football

Box Score Quotes Cuse TV: Dino Babers Press Conference Cuse TV: Amba Etta-Tawo Press Conference Cuse TV: Austin Wilson Press Conference Photos Notes

Etta-Tawo sets SU season records for receptions and yards

CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 3 Clemson (9-0, 6-0 ACC) showcased its firepower on both sides of the ball and ended Syracuse's (4-5, 2-3 ACC) two-game winning streak with a 54-0 shutout of the Orange before a crowd of 80,609 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Tigers rolled up 565 yards of total offense and got two touchdown passes from two different quarterbacks to remain unbeaten.

Orange redshirt senior receiver Amba Etta-Tawo continued his spectacular 2016 season against the Tigers, etching his name atop Syracuse's two most notable single-season receiving lists. Etta-Tawo finished the evening with nine catches for 84 yards to raise his season totals to 75 receptions for 1,158 yards, both new school records. He eclipsed the two previous marks in the third quarter, passing Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison's standard of 1,131 receiving yards on a 17-yard pass from Austin Wilson on the Orange's first second-half series. Etta-Tawo then broke Alec Lemon's record of 72 catches with a 5-yard grab late in the period.

Etta-Tawo's performance was one of the bright spots for the Orange against a Clemson team that scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions in the first half and entered the intermission with a commanding 30-0 lead. The Tigers produced scoring drives of 95, 85 and 86 yards during the stretch, the three longest scoring drives of their season to date.

Clemson got on the scoreboard on its first possession on the game with a 22-yard field goal from Greg Huegel. Star quarterback Deshaun Watson scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and threw touchdown passes of 65 yards to Deon Cain and 14 yards to Mike Williams in the second quarter to extend the Tiger advantage to 16-0 (Clemson missed the PAT after Cain's touchdown). After Watson left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter, Nick Schuessler replaced him and teamed with Artavis Scott for a 5-yard touchdown to round out the first-half scoring.

In the third quarter, Wayne Gallman capped Clemson's first drive of the second half with a 5-yard TD run that pushed the margin to 37-0.

Syracuse's best chance to score came later in the third quarter. A 49-yard run by Moe Neal put the ball deep in Tiger territory and SU advanced to the Clemson 14-yard line before being forced to settle for a Cole Murphy field-goal attempt. Murphy missed from 30 yards out with 4:31 remaining in the stanza.

On the ensuing possession, the hosts embarked on a 10-play, 80-yard scoring march capped by Cain's second touchdown reception, this time an 18-yarder from Schuessler. Huegel added a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and Clemson's defense closed out the scoring when safety Tanner Muse picked off a deflected pass and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown with 7:40 to go.

The Orange played most of the game without sophomore starting quarterback Eric Dungey, who left the game late in the first quarter with an injury. He was replaced by Wilson, who saw his first action of the campaign. Wilson finished the game 17-of-27 for 116 yards, each a career-best total. He also threw two interceptions.

Neal led all Syracuse ground-gainers with 64 yards on seven carries.

Syracuse had three defenders post double-digit tackle totals. Linebackers Paris Bennett (16), Zaire Franklin (14), and safety Daivon Ellison (13) combined for 43 of the Orange's 94 tackles Saturday.

For Clemson, Watson completed 13-of-16 passes for 169 yards and two scores and ran seven times for 39 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game. Schuessler was 11-for-17 for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Williams and Cain both went over 100 yards receiving for the Tigers. Williams made six catches for 106 yards and a score, while Cain finished with 125 yards on six receptions and two TDs.

Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome next Saturday, Nov. 12 to host ACC Atlantic Division rival North Carolina State at 12:30 p.m. on Military Appreciation Day. Tickets are available online, by phone (888-DOMETIX), at Destiny USA kiosks and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

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