Clemson stymies Jackson in rout
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner passes for 317 yards but is sacked four times.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Clemson held 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson in check for most of the game, quarterback counterpart Kelly Bryant accounted for three touchdowns, and the third-ranked Tigers routed No. 14 Louisville 47-21 on Saturday night in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown.
Jackson passed for 317 yards and three touchdowns, but most of that came with things already in hand for Clemson (3-0, 1-0 ACC).
Dorian O’Daniel returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown and a 26-7 third-quarter lead, and the Tigers sacked Jackson four times.
Bryant, meanwhile, won the quarterback battle with touchdown runs of eight yards and one yard sandwiched around a 79-yard scoring pass to wide-open Ray-Ray McCloud in the second quarter.
Jackson had touchdown passes of 11 yards to Charles Standberry, 36 yards to Jaylen Smith and eight to Dez Fitzpatrick. But the junior struggled to throw and run all night for Louisville (2-1, 1-1 ACC). The Cardinals were outgained 613-433, saving face somewhat with a 14point fourth quarter.
After three wins over the Cardinals by 15 combined points, the Tigers left no doubt this time. Questions about the offense after a 14-6 win over Auburn were effectively answered with their second 40-point effort in three games, this against a ranked opponent.
Bryant had time to find receivers that were frequently open, particularly on the long touchdown against busted coverage that sapped all the energy from the hostile environment dressed in black. The defense yielded 433 yards, but it didn’t matter after doing its best work in the first three quarters.
A game-tying drive in the first quarter was the Cardinals’ only bright spot on a night nothing worked.