Tigers weather storm, Eagles

CLEMSON — Clemson has already showcased its offensive speed and defensive power. Now, the Tigers have unveiled a big-time finisher in kicker Richard Jackson.

Jackson had a school-record tying six field goals as Clemson’s defense held Boston College to 55 yards in a 25-7 victory Saturday.

“Stella found her groove; Richard Jackson’s found his groove,” coach Dabo Swinney said.

Jackson connected on all his kicks on day when Clemson’s offense struggled to find the end zone through two second-half rain delays.

He hit field goals of 23, 33, 32, 52, 42 and 35 yards. He’s gone 8-of-8 the past two games and has nailed one of at least 50 yards in each.

“It’s just confidence,” Jackson said.

It was a long time coming.

Jackson signed with Clemson (2-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) as a YouTube sensation, his 64-yard field goal as a senior at Riverside High establishing a South Carolina prep record.

But he struggled, causing his coaches to lose faith.

“I had bought him a bus ticket out of here,” Swinney said. “He wasn’t doing things right.”

Jackson, his rhythm and self-worth crumbling, thought about finding a new school. Instead, he decided he would work as hard as possible and win his place on the team.

“It’s an honor to do what I’m doing,” he said.

C.J. Spiller, meanwhile, did what he typically does, finishing with 219 all-purpose yards, including a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown — his first.

It was the fifth way Spiller has accounted for a score with the Tigers after collecting touchdowns via rush, catch, kickoff return and, last year against Virginia, throwing on a halfback pass. Spiller has 15 touchdowns of 50 or more yards in his career.

A foot injury kept him out after the second of two rain delays that stretched the game to nearly five hours. But Spiller insisted he’d play in next week’s game against 15th-ranked TCU at Death Valley.

After crisp wins against Northeastern (54-0) and Kent State (34-7) its first two weeks, Boston College (2-1, 0-1) could get little through Clemson’s defense.

“They manhandled us, and I would like to think we are better than that,” said first-year Eagles coach Frank Spaziani.

The Tigers’ defense held the Eagles to just one first down — and that came by penalty — in the first 43 minutes.

Montel Harris, the ACC’s third-leading rusher at more than 90 yards a game coming in, managed 4 yards on seven first-half carries.

Boston College juggled starting quarterbacks Justin Tuggle and David Shinskie without much effect. When the Eagles jogged off the field at halftime, they had minus 2 yards of offense.

“We showed them what defense is,” smiled Clemson defensive end Ricky Sapp.

About the only break the Eagles got this trip was when officials halted the game in the third because of lightning near Memorial Stadium.

Boston College got its only points once the game resumed, a 13-yard pass from Tuggle to Justin Jarvis. The Eagles were offsides on the following onsides kick try.

Officials stopped the game a second time moments later.

The teams returned to a few thousand poncho-clad fans out of the 77,000 who showed up at lunchtime to watch.

That didn’t bother Jackson, who finished his record performance to match Jad Dean’s record six field goals set against Texas A&M in 2005.

Boston College 0 0 0 7 — 7
Clemson 7 9 3 6 — 25
First Quarter
Clem — Spiller 77 punt return (Jackson kick), 11:33.
Second Quarter
Clem — FG Jackson 23, 10:48.
Clem — FG Jackson 33, 7:46.
Clem — FG Jackson 32, 1:57.
Third Quarter
Clem — FG Jackson 52, 9:16.
Fourth Quarter
BC — Jarvis 13 pass from Tuggle (Aponavicius kick), 13:56.
Clem — FG Jackson 42, 10:56.
Clem — FG Jackson 35, 2:01.
A — 77,000.
BC Clem
First downs 4 15
Rushes-yards 28-29 50-151
Passing 25 102
Comp-Att-Int 5-21-3 14-28-2
Return Yards 27 149
Punts-Avg. 10-39.1 5-44.8
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1
Penalties-Yards 3-22 5-46
Time of Possession 25:49 34:11
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Boston College, Tuggle 5-21, Harris 12-13, Haden 7-7, Smith 1-1, Team 1-(-1), Shinskie 2-(-12). Clemson, Spiller 17-77, Ellington 9-45, J.Ford 2-17, Harper 13-17, Parker 4-9, Jones 1-(-2), Korn 2-(-6), Team 2-(-6).
PASSING — Boston College, Tuggle 4-20-3-23, Shinskie 1-1-0-2. Clemson, Parker 13-27-2-103, Korn 1-1-0-(-1).
RECEIVING — Boston College, Anderson 2-10, Jarvis 1-13, Pantale 1-9, Harris 1-(-7). Clemson, J.Ford 6-36, Palmer 3-21, Jones 1-26, Ellington 1-8, Ashe 1-6, Harper 1-3, Spiller 1-2