Throwback Thursday: Clemson vs. LSU

Today, we take a throwback Thursday look back at the Clemson Tiger bowl game against the LSU Tigers back on December 31, 2012.

On New Years’ Eve of 2012, I can clearly remember where I was. I was in Atlanta, Georgia about to watch my Clemson Tigers take on the LSU Tigers in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. No one was giving Clemson a chance. I was told I was making a wasted trip going to Atlanta and Clemson would be lucky to even stay in the game against a “more powerful, talented, and deeper” LSU team.

Clemson was coming off a disappointing loss to rival South Carolina and LSU was ranked number-nine in the nation. As the battle of Tigers began, we ended the first quarter with a 7-7 tie. Things began to look bleak for Clemson fans when LSU scored a touchdown and a field goal in the third quarter to take a 24-13 lead. The touchdown came off a 57-yard run from LSU’s Jeremy Hill on the first play of the third quarter.

As the fourth quarter began, it was almost a forgone conclusion that LSU had taken control of the game and were going to cruise to victory. With 9:26 remaining in the final quarter, Chandler Catanzaro hit a 26 yard field goal to cut the lead to 24-16. With only 2:47 remaining, DeAndre Hopkins caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tajh Boyd to make the score 24-22.

Things began to get interesting as the Clemson defense took the field with just over two minutes remaining. Coach Les Miles made the decision to pass the ball instead of try to run out the clock and Clemson forced a punt with just 1:39 left in the game.

Tajh Boyd and the Clemson offense took over on their own 20 when two incomplete passes and a sack for a loss six yards to the Clemson 14. This left the Tigers one final chance to get a first down on 4th and 16 to set up what would be one of the most remembered plays in recent Clemson football history.

Boyd took the snap out of the shotgun and scanned the field. He threw a floater pass in between three LSU defenders to hit DeAndre Hopkins on a diving 26-yard pass. This play set up a methodical drive that ended with a Chandler Catanzaro made field goal as time expired.

Tajh Boyd finished the night with 346 yards passing and two touchdowns. He earned MVP honors after valiantly fighting back and taking hit after hit all night long. DeAndre Hopkins was his favorite target and also deserved MVP honors as he finished the game 191 receiving yards and both of the receiving touchdowns.

This concluded a program-establishing win that began to change the national perspective on the Clemson football program as the words “We too Deep” rang throughout Clemson nation, Atlanta, Georgia, and America that night.

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