Best Clemson
Tiger Bowl Moment:
It’s been a quarter of a century since Clemson participated in one
of college football’s marquee bowl games. Back in 1982, the
Tigers played No. 4 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl with national
supremacy hinging on the outcome. Danny Ford’s underrated
defensive unit frustrated the star-studded Husker offense in a 22-15
win that gave the Tigers a perfect season and its only national
championship.
Best Auburn Tiger Bowl Moment: Over the years, the Tigers
have given their fans plenty to cheer about in the postseason. High
on the list of shining moments was the school's only Sugar Bowl win,
a 9-7 triumph over Michigan in 1984. In a classic defensive
struggle with the Wolverines, Auburn pulled out the game when Al Del
Greco split the uprights with under a minute left. The 11-1 Tigers
finished No. 2 in the polls behind a Miami team that upset unbeaten
Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.
Clemson's best win ...
Clemson 30 ... Maryland 17
Maryland scored first on a 35-yard Obi Egekeze field goal, but
then started screwing up with penalties and a fumble to lead to a
23-point Clemson run to put the game away. Mark Buchholz connected
on field goals from 35, 34 and 20 yards, while James Davis, who
combined with C.J. Spiller for 235 yards, ran for a one-yard score,
and Cullen Harper threw two touchdowns passes. The Terps didn't get
into the end zone until the fourth quarter on a two-yard Lance Ball
run and a one-yard score from Keon Lattimore. Clemson outgained
Maryland 428 yards to 314 and held on too the ball for 36:29. Player of the
game: Clemson RBs
James Davis and C.J. Spiller combined for 235 yards and a touchdown
on 45 carries Stat Leaders: Clemson - Passing: Cullen Harper,
20-26, 179 yds, 2 TD Rushing: James Davis, 29-129, 1 TD. Receiving: Aaron
Kelly, 5-54, 1 TD Maryland - Passing: Chris Turner, 19-31, 217
yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Lance Ball, 10-53, 1 TD. Receiving: Isaiah
Williams, 5-47
Clemson's worst performance ...
Georgia Tech 13 ... Clemson 3
Georgia Tech got a two-yard Tashard Choice touchdown run and
two Travis Bell field goals, but this game belonged to the defense, with
a little help from the poor play of the Clemson special teams. Clemson
PK Mark Buchholz missed four field goals, while the vaunted Tiger
running game was held to just 34 yards. The Tech defense came up with
six sacks, with Philip Wheeler combing up with 2.5, and kept the Tigers
off the board for almost 59 minutes after Buchholz hit a 48-yard field
goal just over a minute into the game. Player of the
game:
Georgia Tech RB Tashard Choice rushed 32 times for 145 yards and a
score. Stat Leaders: Clemson - Passing: Cullen Harper,
17-39, 194 yds, 1 INT Rushing: James Davis, 12-60. Receiving: Aaron Kelly, 6-53 Georgia Tech - Passing: Taylor Bennett, 7-15, 67
yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Tashard Choice, 32-145, 1 TD. Receiving: James
Johnson, 2-40
Auburn's best win ...
Auburn 20 ... Florida 17
Wes Byrum appeared to hit the game-winning 43-yard field goal
for Auburn, but Florida head coach Urban Meyer had called time
out just before the kick. No big deal. Byrum calmly nailed it
again, as the Tigers stunned the Gators. Auburn took a 17-3 lead
going into the fourth quarter, thanks to a 30-yard Byrum field
goal, and scoring runs from six yards out by Kodi Burns and
three yards out from Ben Tate. The Gators roared back in the
fourth with Tim Tebow connecting with Cornelius Ingram for a
six-yard touchdown pass, and barreling in from two yards out to
tie it up. Florida had one final drive, went three and out, and
Auburn went on its march to win the game. Player of
the game: Auburn QB
Brandon Cox completed 17 of 26 passes for 227 yards Stat Leaders: Florida - Passing: Tim Tebow,
20-27, 201 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Tim Tebow, 19-75, 1 TD. Receiving: Percy
Harvin, 7-119 Auburn - Passing: Brandon Cox, 17-26, 227
yds
Rushing: Ben Tate, 20-65, 1 TD. Receiving: Rod
Smith, 9-102
Auburn's worst performance ...
Mississippi State 19 ... Auburn 14
Mississippi State jumped out to a 13-0 lead on two Adam
Carlson field goals and a Derek Pegues interception return for a
touchdown, lost the lead late in the first half on a 28-yard Ben
Tate run and a one-yard score from Kodi Burns, and got the lead
back late in the fourth on a five-yard Christian Ducre touchdown
run. The MSU defense held on as the Tigers got down to the
Bulldog nine, but couldn't get into the end zone with a fourth
down pass falling incomplete. Auburn outgained MSU 323 yards to
213, but turned it over five times.
Player of
the game ...
Mississippi State DEs Titus Brown and Avery Hannibal only
combined for two tackles, but Brown's was a sack, with the two
combining for eight quarterback hurries. Stat Leaders: Auburn - Passing: Kodi Burns,
8-12, 65 yds, 1 INT Rushing: Bem Tate. 15-91, 1 TD Receiving:
Rod Smith, 4-78 Mississippi State - Passing: Michael Henig,
1-3, 16 yds
Rushing: Anthony Dixon, 29-103 Receiving: Aubrey Bell,
1-16
2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl
Georgia 31 ... Virginia Tech 24
In a tale of two halves, Virginia Tech appeared on its way to
a blowout win after getting out to a 21-3 halftime lead with three second
quarter touchdowns on two one-yard runs from Branden Ore and a 53-yard scoring
pass from receiver Eddie Royal to Sam Wheeler. The nation's number one defense
appeared ready to put the clamps down, but after Georgia's Brandon Coutu hit a
51-yard field goal late in the third quarter, the Dawgs successfully came up
with an onside kick that changed the tone of the game. The offense, which had
struggled against the swarming Hokie D, suddenly got hot going 52 yards in six
plays closing with a six-yard pass to Martrez Milner. Georgia went on a 28-point
run tying the game on a two-point conversion throw to Milner after a three-yard
Kregg Lumpkin run, and put the game away on a fourth-and-goal one-yard score
from Brannon Southerland to capitalize on one of Tech's four turnovers. Virginia
Tech got close with a 28-yard Brandon Pace field goal, but couldn't get close
starting its final drive too deep in its own territory. Each team only managed
nine first downs and combined for 389 yards. Player of the game
...
Georgia QB Matthew Stafford completed nine of 21 passes for 129 yards
and a touchdown with an interception Stat Leaders: Georgia - Passing: Matthew Stafford,
9-21, 129 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing: Kregg Lumpkin, 12-39, 1 TD Receiving:
Martrez Milner, 3-49, 1 TD Virginia Tech - Passing: Sean Glennon, 13-26, 94
yds, 3 INT
Rushing: Branden Ore, 20-42, 2 TD Receiving:
Eddie Royal, 4-45
