CFN's 2007 Annual Ultimate
College Football Playoff
South Division - Finals
No. 4 Clemson 28 ... No.
3 UCLA 14
Clemson pounded and pounded and pounded some more with the running game,
and eventually, the dam broke.
C.J. Spiller, kept in check on his first 18 carries, finally found a
sliver of daylight and broke open a 14-14 tie with an 81-yard touchdown
run with :39 to play in the third quarter. Spiller added a 22-yard
touchdown dash in the fourth, and the Tiger defense held on forcing two
turnovers on UCLA's final two drives.
UCLA started off the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Marcus
Everett, but penalties, two missed field goals and mismanagement of the
clock at the end of the first half overshadowed a good start from QB Ben
Olson, who completed 12 of 15 passes for 211 yards and a score.
Clemson was able to tie it on a one-yard James Davis touchdown run, set
up by a 55-yard catch and run from Aaron Kelly. Davis was the Tiger
offense throughout the first half, rushing for 78 yards and a score,
while Spiller was able to manage just 23 yards and the passing game
failed to consistently connect.
UCLA appeared on the verge of taking the lead after Chris Markey tore
off a 43-yard run to get down to the Clemson 15 with :29 seconds to
play, but Olson was sacked, then botched the snap on the next play, and
with no timeouts left, failed to spike the ball in time to get the field
goal unit on the field.
"That was a strange first half for both teams," said
Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden. "They totally dominated
us, but we had a few good plays and somehow we were able to get
into the locker room tied."
Clemson's offensive line took over the second
half, as Davis was able to convert on third and short after
third and short, eating up the clock and the time of possession
while taking a 14-7 lead on a one-yard Cullen Harper sneak.
UCLA came up with its best drive of the game early in the fourth
quarter on a 12-play, 79-yard drive that took off just over six
minutes and finished up with one-yard Markey run. And then
Clemson's ground game took over, running off most of the
remaining time.
"They pounded the ball well on us," said UCLA head
coach Karl Dorrell. "Their backs turned out to be too
terrific and way too effective. We didn't wear down; they just
executed."
Markey ended up running for 158 yards and a touchdown, but was
overshadowed by the big games from Spuller and Davis. Olson
struggled in the second half connecting on just six of 16
passes.
Clemson ended up rushing for 311 yards net, while QB Cullen
Harper completed just seven of 14 passes for 103 yards.
Player
of the Game - Clemson RB James Davis ran 29 times for 178
yards and a touchdown, and C.J. Spiller ran 20 times for 159
yards and two touchdowns
Fun Stat - Time of possession: Clemson 40:23 - UCLA
18:37
South Champion - Clemson Tigers
