Clemson-Virginia Post-Game Notes

Oct. 11, 2003

*This was Clemson’s first win over a ranked team since the 2001 victory over a ninth ranked Georgia Tech team in Atlanta. Ironically, that was also Clemson’s last overtime game. The Tigers defeated the Yellow Jackets 47-44 in overtime on a walk-off six-yard run by Woody Dantzler. Clemson had lost eight straight games to top 25 teams prior to today.

*Clemson is now 3-0 in overtime games in its history. The Tigers defeated Duke at Death Valley in 1997 by a 29-20 score, then downed Georgia Tech 47-44 in overtime in Atlanta in 2001.

*Clemson won the game on a four yard touchdown pass from Charlie Whitehurst to Kevin Youngblood. Two years earlier, Virginia had beaten Clemson 26-24 on a one-yard touchdown pass to Billy McMullen with one second left in regulation.

*This was just the fifth “walk-off” football victory in Clemson history. Each of the three overtime games, Clemson won the game with a score on the last play of the overtime period. David Treadwell had two game winning field goals on the last play of the game during his career. He accomplished that with a 36-yard field goal at Virginia Tech in 1985 and with a 46-yard field goal at Georgia in 1986. This was just the second walk-off victory for the Tigers in Clemson Memorial Stadium.

*Clemson had a season high 488 yards of total offense in today’s game. Virginia was 21st in the nation in scoring defense and 15th in pass efficiency defense heading into the game. Clemson also had a season high 194 yards rushing.

*Clemson had 29 first downs in today’s game, the same total the Tigers had two years ago in a 26-24 loss to the Cavaliers. The 29 first downs were the second most by the Tigers in a game this year (31 vs. Middle Tennessee), but tied for eighth most in a single game in Clemson history.

*Junior running back Yusef Kelly had a season high 88 yards in 25 attempts today. He had one rush for one yard in the five previous games prior to today. It was the most rushing yards in a game for Kelly since he had a career high 99 yards rushing against Ball State last year. The 25 carries tied Kelly’s career high. He had 25 carries against Louisiana Tech last year.

*Clemson is now 4-0 against teams with right handed quarterbacks and 0-2 against teams with left handed starting quarterbacks.

*Clemson ran 91 plays today, the most by a Clemson team since 2000 when the Tigers had 95 plays in a victory over NC State. Clemson had 46 rushes and 45 passes in today’s game. It was the sixth most plays in a single game in Clemson history.

*Clemson wore all orange for today’s game. It was Clemson’s first win in all orange uniforms since the 2000 NC State game.

*Clemson gained victory today without the services of four starters for much of the game. Khaleed Vaughn, starting defensive end, Eric Sampson, starting WHIP linebacker, and Airese Currie, starting wide receiver, did not dress for this game. J.J. Howard, Clemson starting defensive end, missed most of the game with a knee injury. Howard will be re-examined on Sunday, but the injury is believed to be serious. He will not play at NC State. Clemson holder Gene Pate suffered a broken leg while running down the hill with the team prior to the game. He is out for the season. Pate was already playing with a torn ACL. Cole Chason, Clemson’s starting punter, filled that role, the first time he has held in a Clemson game.

*Tye Hill had his first career interception in today’s game. He had his first career touchdown at Virginia last year on a 32-yard run.

*Kevin Youngblood had nine receptions today for 87 yards. Youngblood moved into eighth place on Clemson’s career reception list with the performance and now has 110 catches for his career.

*Tony Elliott’s 50-yard catch in the first period was the longest reception of his career.

*Derrick Hamilton’s 29-yard completion to Youngblood was his first career pass attempt. It was the first completion by a Clemson receiver since last year when Tony Elliott had a 37-yard completion to Youngblood at Florida State.

*Charlie Whitehurst completed 27-44 passes for 265 yards and two scores in today’s game. He has now completed at least 20 passes in five straight games and in eight of the 11 games he has started in his Clemson career. He is now 7-4 as a starter at Clemson. The 27 completions tied for his second highest total as a Clemson player. He had a record 34 completions at Duke last year and had 27 in a victory over South Carolina.

*Today was Clemson’s 200th ACC victory in history. Clemson is the first school to reach the 200 victory mark. It was just the third time Clemson has won an ACC game on the last play of the game.

*Virginia entered this game leading the ACC in rushing with an average of 184 yards per game. Clemson held the Cavaliers to 53 yards rushing on the day.

*Clemson gained 102 yards in 14 first down plays in the fourth quarter.

*Leroy Hill entered the game third in the nation in tackles for loss per game with 12 in five games. He enhanced that ranking with four tackles for loss today, giving him 16 for the season in just six games. In addition to those tackles for loss, he also had the stop on a third-and-one play in overtime for the Cavaliers.

*Roverback Jamaal Fudge had 17 tackles today to tie his career high of 17 set earlier this year against Middle Tennessee.

*Clemson is now 28-3-2 on homecoming games since 1971. It was the fourth straight win for the Tigers over a top 25 team on homecoming.

*Clemson is now 25-2-1 against Virginia in games played in October and November. *Aaron Hunt had six points today on one