I LOVE A COLD, WET ORANGE CRUSH

It was worth fighting the traffic. It was worth the cold and rain. It was worth losing my voice. It was even worth having my binoculars stolen. I found out later that two upset gamecocks fans sitting behind me swiped them off the bleachers when they inexplicably left early in the 2nd quarter. The Tigers mauled the gamecocks 31-14 on Saturday at Death Valley, winning their third straight game and becoming bowl eligible. It was the 10th victory in the last 12 games of the rivalry with SC.

There were so many highlights in this game, so many game changing plays on both sides of the ball. My defensive game ball goes to Andre' McDaniel: 11 tackles, a forced fumble and 0.5 tackle for loss. #2 was just all over the field, finding the ball and making big hits. The offensive game ball goes to the RB combo of Davis/Spiller: 183 yards rushing, 52 yards receiving. Davis had 3 TD's and crucial short yardage runs. Thunder and Lightning in the rain were fantastic.

Here is my Clemson Tigers highlight-reel list, key plays and big hits of the game:

1st QUARTER

13:23 C.J. Spiller 28 yard reception from Harper

9:01 Chris Chancellor intercepts a long throw from Smelley on 3rd and 20

6:41 Jacoby Ford runs for 21 yards

4:41 C.J. Spiller takes handoff, makes 5 different defenders miss, gains 39 yards to the 1

4:14 James Davis 1 yard TD run

3:19 Jamie Harper blocks Succop's punt which leads to a Buccholz FG

2:31 James Davis knocks CB Woodson out of the game after 11 yd. reception

2ND QUARTER

14:31 Just as Smelley gets an incomplete pass attempt off, Brandon Maye absolutely levels him

13:45 Chris Clemmons and Michael Hamlin converge on a Smelley pass and knock it down

13:34 After a Succop punt pins Clemson on its own 3, James Davis runs for 7 yards on 1st down

11:20 Clemson drive stalls deep in own territory but Jimmy Maners booms a 54 yard punt

10:32 Dorell Scott tackles RB Mike Davis for a loss

9:09 Chris Clemmons intercepts Smelley pass; DaQuan Bowers lays out TE Cook with a block

8:33 Cullen Harper is all but sacked, with both knees inches from the ground and somehow

throws a perfect spiral 27 yards to Jacoby Ford, who takes it in the rest of the way for TD

7:14 Chris Chancellor drills WR McKinley and sends him flying out of bounds after 21 yd. rec.

Gamecock players immediately call for trainers as McKinley looks badly hurt

5:42 Michael Hamlin picks off Smelley pass. TE Cook immediately goes to gamecock sideline

and expresses his frustration to coaches and Smelley

4:31 James Davis takes handoff, makes 2 defenders miss and rumbles in for 20 yd. TD. ESPN

cameras show gamecocks fans hiding their face or shaking head in amazement

3:15 Scotty Cooper puts a huge hit on RB Maddox after 2 yd. reception

:23 C.J. Spiller 39 yard kickoff return

:16 Aaron Kelly 42 yard pass reception

3RD QUARTER

13:24 Andre' McDaniel and Brandon Maye tackle WR McKinley for 5 yard loss

7:35 Aaron Kelly key 3rd down conversion on short pass from Harper to keep drive going

5:52 Tyler Grisham key 3rd down conversion on short pass from Harper to keep drive going

4:38 James Davis on 3rd and 2 picks up 5 yards for another key conversion to keep drive alive

3:38 James Davis 2 yard run for TD

1:44 Crezdon Butler blitzes from the left corner, sacks Smelley and forces fumble (SC recovers)

:37 Andre' McDaniel and Kavelle Connor hit RB Davis and force fumble (SC recovers)

4TH QUARTER

6:52 Andre' McDaniel breaks up Smelley pass

4:25 Chris Chancellor intercepts Smelley deep in gamecock territory

2:41 James Davis, on 3rd and 6 pinned back on Clemson 11 yd. line has 8 yard run to convert