COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 18 -- Emory Smith rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, including a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter to cap a four-TD burst, to lead No. 24 Clemson to a 38-17 triumph over South Carolina. Clemson (8-3) closed out the regular season with its fifth straight win.
The Tigers, who entered the game with the nation's 13th-ranked scoring defense, have outscored their opponents 130-47 during the streak. Clemson trailed 17-10 in the late in the third quarter, but began its comeback as Nealon Greene connected with Antwuan Wyatt on a 56-yard scoring strike with 3:23 left in the third quarter. The Tigers than took the lead 3:26 into final quarter as Raymond Priester scored from 6 yards out. Greene ran in from 3 yards to extend the lead to 31-17 before Smith, who carried 12 times, scored from 1 yard away. Greene completed 9 of 13 passes for 171 yards for Clemson, which outgained South Carolina, 494 yards to 443. The Tigers, who came in with the nation's fourth-ranked rushing offense in the nation at 259.5 yards per game, gained 323 yards on 60 carries. Steve Taneyhill completed 28 of 43 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns to lead South Carolina (4-6-1). Taneyhill gave the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Monte Means. He later hit Thomas Pritchard with a 4-yard toss for a 17-10 advantage in the third quarter. Zola Davis caught seven passes for 115 yards and Means had 64 yards on six catches for South Carolina.
