Clemson secured its second consecutive road win Saturday, defeating Syracuse 18-13 despite failing to score an offensive touchdown. The Tigers leaned heavily on their defense and Nolan Hauser’s right leg, with Jahiem Lawson delivering several of the afternoon’s biggest plays.
The redshirt senior helped Clemson reach bowl eligibility with a performance that went well beyond scoring the team’s only touchdown. Lawson made his presence felt on Syracuse’s opening possession, recording a sack that forced the Orange into a long third down.
His biggest contribution came when he recovered a lateral pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. With Clemson struggling to finish drives offensively, Lawson’s score provided a much-needed boost.
He later disrupted
another scoring opportunity, tipping a pass into Ashton Hampton’s hands for a red-zone interception. That takeaway helped the Tigers protect their lead in a game that left little room for mistakes.
What Syracuse coach Fran Brown said about Clemson football after loss
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Lawson has spent his entire college career at Clemson, steadily developing into a more impactful defender since the start of his junior season. Saturday offered one of the clearest examples of that progress, as his ability to pressure the quarterback, create turnovers and capitalize on opportunities helped carry the Tigers to victory.
With his final season entering its closing stretch, Lawson is giving Clemson plenty of reasons to keep counting on him.
Other Players Who Stood Out
- Jeremiah Alexander; PFF MVP with a grade of 81.9, took up a lot of space in the middle of the field
- Ashton Hampton; typical Ashton Hampton game, meaning he played like one of the best corners in college football
- Amare Adams; took up double teams a majority of the time when in, got his second career sack
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Game Ball: Who stood out on defense in Clemson vs Syracuse
