BEST OF TIGER FOOTBALL 2008- PART II

BEST KICKOFF RETURN
C.J. Spiller's 64 yard kickoff return against BC. With about nine minutes to go in the 4th quarter, BC had just scored a TD and taken a 21-17 lead after Clemson led 17-0 at halftime. It seemed as though history might repeat itself with Clemson having lost the last three close games against BC. On the ensuing kickoff return, Spiller carved and diced his way through defenders for 64 yards, all the way to the Eagles 15 yard line, giving the offense great field position. Four plays later, the Tigers found the end zone, regained the lead and went on to win 27-21. Check the 3 minute mark in the following clip:

Honorable mention: C.J. Spiller's 96 yard kickoff return against Alabama at the beginning of the second half in the Georgia Dome finally gave Tigers fans something to cheer about in this otherwise dismal game. While it had no effect on the final outcome, 34-10 looks much better than 34-3 on the scoreboard and it was a fantastic play.


BEST TRICK PLAY- TIE
1. C.J. Spiller pass to Tyler Grisham vs. UVA. Dabo Swinney had made it clear on day one that he was going to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers. Of course, C.J. Spiller fits the bill and had been on a roll over the past few games after having to sit out the Ga. Tech game. So, when Clemson visited Charlottesville, VA. you can rest assured that the Cavs defensive mindset was to limit his big plays as much as possible. With the game scoreless in the 1st quarter, Clemson had driven to the UVA 15 yard line and had 1st and 5 after a Cavs penalty. Harper pitched the ball to Spiller in the backfield as he ran right. There were literally nine UVA players all pursuing Spiller toward the sideline, with one DB in man coverage on the receiver lined up on the opposite sideline. This left Grisham completely uncovered in the corner of the end zone and Spiller lofted a perfect pass to put the Tigers up by 7 after the extra point. Once again, the Tigers had momentum on their side and never looked back, winning 13-3.
2. Cullen Harper pass to Jacoby Ford vs. SC. I watched this play unfold and had no idea it was a trick play until the following day when I read about it in the news. The play was called "cock-a-doodle-doo" and was designed to have WR Jacoby Ford appear to come off the field with two other players after a one yard run by Spiller on 1st down. However, the trick was that he was going to actually remain on the field of play as an eligible receiver. Ford jogged towards the sideline with the two other players, bent down just on the edge of the field and pretended to tie his shoes while supposedly getting chewed out by receivers coach Jeff Scott. It worked. SC did not catch on that Ford was the 11th Tiger player on the field and left him uncovered. What really made this play even more special was the fact that Harper was in the grasp of a SC defender with both knees just inches from the ground about to be sacked and still made the throw 27 yards downfield.

BEST PUNT
Jimmy Maners vs. SC. Yes, this is a weird category and once again, this play happened during the SC game. However, Jimmy Maners, who averages about 40 yards per kick, came through in a clutch situation and I believe it is worth mentioning. Clemson held a 10-0 lead early in the 2nd quarter but SC drove the ball into Tigers territory, eventually stalling on the Clemson 40 yard line after failing to convert on 3rd down. SC punter Lanning pinned Clemson deep in their own territory, with the Tigers taking over on their own 3 yard line. After James Davis gave them a little breathing room with a 7 yard rush on 1st down, Harper was sacked on consecutive plays and Clemson was pushed back to their own 6, forcing 4th down. With Maners standing at the back of his own end zone, he unleashed a booming 54 yarder that pushed the gamecocks back to their own 40 yard line and had fans, players and coaches alike applauding.

BEST FG
Mark Buccholz vs. BC. Buccholz did not have the opportunity to kick a FG for a win in a game 2008 as he had done in 2007 against SC. The most crucial field goal was actually one to double the Tigers' 3 point lead over BC late in the game. Clemson held a 17 point lead up until about the 10 minute mark in the 3rd quarter, watched it all slip away as they went down 21-17 in the 4th, only to come back and regain the lead 24-21. Knowing the history of this series, 3 points did not seem like enough of a lead when kicking the ball back to BC after the go-ahead TD. All BC needed was a FG to tie and a TD/PAT to go ahead by 4, the latter scenario forcing the Tigers to score a TD to win with very little time left. However, the Eagles fumbled and Clemson recovered. Clemson's drive stalled but Buchholz lined up for a 43 yard FG to put CU up by six. It was good and now the tables were turned in that BC had to score a TD/PAT to win. Clemson went on to stop BC's next drive and run out the clock.

BEST INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE EFFORT- TIE
1. DeAndre' McDaniel vs. SC. McDaniel had his most impressive overall game of the season against, of course, the gamecocks. #2 was all over the field in this game, making 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and forced a fumble.
2. Kavelle Connor vs. UVA. Connor ended up as the Tigers' leading tackler on the team after the final regular season game but really had a dominant performance against the Cavaliers. Kavelle had 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery after the big hit by Byron Maxwell on Cavs FB Rashawn Jackson