Saturday, November 22nd, 12:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Scott Stadium (61,500) -- Charlottesville, Virginia.
Television:Raycom. Home Record: Clemson 4-2, Virginia 4-2. Away Record:
Clemson 1-2, Virginia 1-3. Neutral Record: Clemson 0-1, Virginia 0-0.
Conference Record: Clemson 3-4, Virginia 3-3. Series Record: Clemson leads,
35-8-1.
GAME NOTES: The Clemson Tigers will wrap up their ACC slate this weekend, as
they take on the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. The Tigers entered the
season as ACC favorites, but they have failed to live up to expectations and
come into this game just 3-4 within the league. One of those league wins
however, came last weekend, a 31-7 triumph over Duke. It was the second
victory in the past three outings for the Tigers, who are now an even 2-2
under interim coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson, which is 5-5 overall, will wrap up
its regular season campaign against South Carolina on November 29th. As for
Virginia, it was idle this past weekend following a 28-17 setback at Wake
Forest on November 8th. The loss was the second in row for the Cavs, who had
won four straight prior to the recent struggles. Virginia sits at an even 5-5
overall and 3-3 within the league and this will be its last home game of the
season. The Cavs won the last meeting with Clemson, 30-10, in 2004, but the
Tigers still hold a 35-8-1 advantage in the head-to-head series.
The Tigers are averaging 120.6 rushing ypg and 229.1 passing ypg this season,
but they have slowed themselves down with turnovers, committing 24. Last
weekend, Clemson didn't commit a single turnover and it rolled up 466 total
yards of offense in a 31-7 win over Duke. C.J. Spiller turned in quite a
performance, as he rushed for 71 yards and a score, while also catching seven
passes for 108 yards and another touchdown. The versatile back has really come
on strong and he ranks second on the team with 506 yards and seven touchdowns
on the ground. He has also been a factor in the passing game, racking up 25
catches for 379 yards and three more scores. James Davis is the team's top
rusher with 569 yards and eight touchdowns and he was also a factor in the win
over Duke, posting 43 yards and two scores on nine carries. Quarterback Cullen
Harper enjoyed a solid performance last weekend as well, throwing for 292
yards and a touchdown on 20-of-26 tosses. Harper hasn't lived up to
expectations, but he has played better of late and has now thrown for 2,075
yards on the year. His main target is Aaron Kelly, who paces the team with 52
catches, 542 yards and three touchdowns. Last weekend, Kelly hauled in 10
passes for 96 yards in a winning effort.
Clemson has done a good job on the defensive side of the ball, as it is
holding foes to a mere 18.2 ppg and 304.4 total ypg. The defense has been
especially strong against the pass, limiting teams to just 163.5 ypg. The
Tigers have also picked off 11 tosses while allowing just 10 passing
touchdowns. Last weekend, Clemson put forth a stout effort on defense, as it
limited Duke to just 168 total yards. The defense gave up just 85 of those
yards through the air, while coming up with two interceptions and three sacks.
Brandon Maye and Kavell Conner each had eight stops and sack in the win, and
Michael Hamlin also finished with eight tackles to go with an interception. On
the year, Conner tops the roster with 79 tackles, while Hamlin ranks second
with 75. Hamlin also has a team-high four interceptions to his credit.
The Cavs don't possess all that explosive of an offense, as they are producing
just 17.6 ppg and 315.8 total ypg on the year. The team has really struggled
to find success on the ground, rushing for just 95.7 ypg. Turnovers have also
been an issue for Virginia, which has committed 25 on the year. In its last
game, Virginia posted just 307 total yards and turned the ball over four times
in a 28-17 loss at Wake Forest. Quarterback Marc Verica threw for 279 yards
and a pair of touchdowns in the loss, but he was also picked off three times.
That has been the case all season for Verica, as he has tossed 12
interceptions against just eight touchdowns. He however, has been effective in
completing 64.5 percent of his tosses for 200.0 passing ypg. Kevin Ogletree
has been his favorite outlet, plucking 50 passes for 640 yards and five
touchdowns. He made six catches for 95 yards and a score in the loss to Wake
Forest. In the backfield, Cedric Peerman leads the way with 662 yards and
seven touchdowns and he is averaging a solid 5.4 yards per carry.
Defensively, Virginia has done a decent job this season and is allowing 23.0
ppg and 341.5 total ypg. The unit has struggled a bit against the run (152.3
ypg), but has done well in holding opponents to just 189.2 passing ypg.
Getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been a strength of this unit,
which has racked up 28 sacks. In their loss to Wake Forest, the Cavs' defense
was rather strong, giving up just 273 total yards. The unit recorded three
sacks in that loss, while registered one turnover. Antonio Appleby led the
team in defeat with 13 stops, while Jon Copper had 10 tackles and a sack.
Clint Sintim also had a sack, bringing his total to 11 for the season.
The Tigers have played well over recent weeks and with another solid effort on
both sides of the ball they should be able to continue that trend this
weekend.