COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECAP

No. 2 Clemson erupts in 4th quarter against BC

The Sports Xchange

September 23, 2017 at 4:30 pm.

Sep 23, 2017; Clemson, SC, USA;  Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) runs 50 yards to score against Boston College during the 4th quarter at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Bart Boatwright/Greenville News via USA TODAY Sports

Sep 23, 2017; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) runs 50 yards to score against Boston College during the 4th quarter at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Bart Boatwright/Greenville News via USA TODAY Sports

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson scored four fourth-quarter touchdowns to break a 7-7 tie and defeat Boston College 34-7 on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

The No. 2-ranked Tigers improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

The Eagles (1-3, 0-2) tied the game on a 1-yard run by freshman running back AJ Dillon with 3:30 left in the third quarter, and it appeared the defending national champions were in for a down-to-the wire battle.

But sparked by junior quarterback Kelly Bryant and freshman running back Travis Etienne, Clemson reeled off 27 unanswered points to defeat the Eagles for a seventh consecutive season.

Both Bryant and Etienne posted the first 100-yard rushing games of their careers. Bryant had 106 yards on 22 carries and scored his sixth and seventh touchdowns of the season. Etienne added 113 yards on nine carries and scored on runs of 50 and 10 yards.

Clemson sophomore running back Tavien Feaster, making the first start of his career, had 73 yards on 20 carries.

Boston College’s Dillon had a career-high 18 carries for 57 yards, but the Eagles’ offense struggled against Clemson’s eighth-ranked defense. Boston College managed only 238 total yards; freshman quarterback Anthony Brown completed 14 of 30 passes for 133 yards.

Despite outgaining the Eagles 222-125 in the first half, Clemson led only 7-0 at the break. The Tigers’ lone score came on a 13-play, 94-yard drive midway through the second quarter that culminated with Bryant’s 11-yard touchdown run, his sixth of the season.

Bryant rushed for 40 yards on the drive and completed both his passing attempts.

Bryant added a 4-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter while running back Adam Choice had a 6-yard touchdown run.

NOTES: Clemson WR Ray-Ray McCloud was held to two receptions for minus-2 yards, one week after a seven-catch, career-high 115 yard game at Louisville. … Clemson WR Hunter Renfrow has nine third-down receptions this season, with seven of them resulting in first downs. … LB Kendall Joseph led Clemson with 12 tackles, including one for loss. … Boston College FS Lukas Denis had 13 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. … WR Jeff Smith led the Eagles’ receivers with four catches for 58 yards. … RB Jon Hilliman, among the ACC leaders with 203 yards entering the game, managed 33 yards on nine carries.

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