No. 21 Auburn’s luck ended Saturday along with its 17-game winning streak as Clemson piled up 624 yards in beating the defending national champions 38-24. “It’s been a long time since we lost,” Auburn safety Demetruce McNeal said. “I guess it’s a new feeling for us all.”
And a new one for Clemson, which hadn’t opened 3-0 since 2007.
Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd led the way, completing 30 of 42 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns in his third start. While Clemson’s offense was rolling up yardage, its defense was shutting down an Auburn attack that had a knack for staging late-game rallies. That’s what happened a year ago when Auburn overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat Clemson 27-24 in overtime.
This time, it was Boyd picking apart Auburn’s defense, something Fairley, the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick, rarely let happen last season.
Auburn (2-1) took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before Boyd began hitting his targets over the final three periods. Clemson converted 10 straight third-down attempts during one stretch, sapping Auburn’s energy said defensive back Ryan White.
“We got to get off the field on third down,” White said. “That killed our spirit. You go on the road, that takes a lot of energy and you could see they rallied. They got the crowd into it and they couldn’t be stopped.”
Auburn may have a dynamic offense, but its was last in Southeastern Conference defense coming in and it showed at Death Valley. Clemson scored on five of six possessions at one point and its 624 yards was the most it ever totaled against an SEC opponent.
Trailing 38-24 in the fourth quarter, Auburn moved to Clemson’s 8-yard line. But Barrett Trotter was intercepted by Coty Sensabaugh to end the threat.
“We’re angry that we lost that game,” Trotter said. “That goes without saying.”
Michael Dyer led Auburn with 151 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Clemson players jumped around in celebration when the clock struck zero and fans swarmed the field. Coach Dabo Swinney told his players they had greatness in them but had to decide to show it.
“I couldn’t think of a better place to end the streak than Death Valley, South Carolina, baby,” he said.
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