Ohio State
13-1
Clemson **
14-0
Buckeyes Battle Clemson to the End in CFP Classic
12/29/2019 12:21:03 AM | Football
In one of the most-hyped semifinals of the college football era, Ohio State and Clemson certainly did not disappoint. The Buckeyes, who dropped a lopsided national semi to the Tigers in 2016, matched the defending national champs toe-for-toe for 60 minutes.
Ohio State ultimately dropped a 29-23 contest Clemson, decided in the waning moments with an interception in the endzone after driving deep into Clemson territory.
The Buckeyes jumped out early to a 16-0 lead behind the legs of All-American running back J.K. Dobbins who rushed for 174 yards on the game including a 68-yard TD scamper that put the Buckeyes up 10-0 in the first quarter. Justin Fields, Ohio State’s Heisman trophy finalist, threw for 320 yards on a career-high 46 attempts.
Ohio State completes the 2019 season at 13-1, the champions of the Big Ten for the third straight year.
Ohio State took the games’ opening kickoff and drove 71 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a 21-yard field goal from Blake Haubeil. Fields completed six of seven passes on the drive for 64 yards, including a 22-yarder to Garrett Wilson along the sideline to set the Buckeyes up in the red zone.
WHAT. A. CATCH. #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/J4XFLt98gv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 29, 2019
On the first play of Ohio State’s second drive, Dobbins went untouched for a 68-yard touchdown. Haubeil’s extra point gave Ohio State a 10-0 lead. It was Dobbins’ fourth run of 60 or more yards this season.
For the quarter, Ohio State outgained Clemson 222-77 as Dobbins ended the quarter with a 64-yard run. On the play, he broke Eddie George’s record for single-season rushing yards.
Audio highlight
Haubeil kicked two second-quarter field goals for the Buckeyes, one from 22 yards and another from 33 yards, to give the Buckeyes a 16-0 lead. Clemson would respond, however, with an eight-yard Travis Etienne touchdown at the 2:45 mark of the quarter and Trevor Lawrence’s 67-yard run. The extra point pulled the Tigers to within two, 16-14, at the break.
Dobbins rushed nine times for 144 yards and one touchdown in the opening half while Fields completed 12 of 22 passes for 126 yards. His top target was Wilson, who caught three passes for 39 yards. On defense, Malik Harrison and Jeff Okudah both had four tackles.
Clemson took its first lead of the game on a 53-yard Lawrence-to-Etienne screen pass. The extra point gave the Tigers a 21-16 edge. It was the first pass play this year against the Buckeye defense that went for 50 or more yards.
Neither team would score again in the quarter, as the Buckeyes held Clemson without any points on its final two possessions. Baron Browning sacked Lawrence on a third down on Clemson’s final possession of the quarter.
The Buckeyes had 366 yards of total offense through three quarters – 188 through the air, 178 on the ground. Dobbins totaled 149 yards on 11 carries (13.5 yards/rush).
With their backs against the wall and several key players gutting through the game, Ohio State turned in its best drive of the game to regain the lead it lost early in the second half. Fields capped a 13-play, 84-yard drive that spanned 4:52 with a 23-yard strike to Olave in the middle of the endzone.
Ohio State takes the lead back in the 4th quarter #CFBPla?yoff pic.twitter.com/jaZ6iP3qfI
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 29, 2019
The Buckeyes turned in another solid drive in the waning moments of the final quarter before pinning the Tigers deep in their own territory. Clemson quickly turned the tables and drove 94 yards in the matter of 1:18 to retake the lead 29-23 following a 34-yard TD catch by Etienne and a 2-point conversion to Tee Higgins.
On the ensuing possession, Ohio State moved right down the field deep inside Clemson territory until Fields’ second interception in the Tiger endzone essentially ended the game.
Team Stats
CLEM 0, OSU 3
OSU - Haubeil, Blake 21 yd field goal 10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:57
CLEM 0, OSU 10
OSU - Dobbins, J.K. 68 yd run (Haubeil, Blake kick), 1 plays, 68 yards, TOP 0:09
CLEM 0, OSU 13
OSU - Haubeil, Blake 22 yd field goal 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:42
CLEM 0, OSU 16
OSU - Haubeil, Blake 33 yd field goal 14 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:55
CLEM 7, OSU 16
CLEM - ETIENNE 8 yd run (POTTER kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:35
CLEM 14, OSU 16
CLEM - LAWRENCE 67 yd run (POTTER kick), 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 0:45
CLEM 21, OSU 16
CLEM - ETIENNE 53 yd pass from LAWRENCE (POTTER kick) 7 plays, 99 yards, TOP 2:45
CLEM 21, OSU 23
OSU - Olave, Chris 23 yd pass from Fields, Justin (Haubeil, Blake kick) 13 plays, 84 yards, TOP 4:52
CLEM 29, OSU 23
CLEM - ETIENNE 34 yd pass from LAWRENCE (HIGGINS pass) 4 plays, 94 yards, TOP 1:18
