Clemson wins highest-scoring Palmetto Bowl 56-35

(WCSC/AP) - Trevor Lawrence threw for a career-high 393 yards, Adam Choice rushed for three touchdowns and No. 2 Clemson capped a perfect regular season with a 56-35 victory over South Carolina on Saturday night for its fifth consecutive rivalry win.

The Tigers reached 12-0 for the second time in four seasons and for the third time in program history, starting with its 1981 national title season.

Clemson (CFP No. 2) kept pace for another title run with their latest success over the Gamecocks (6-5), its longest since winning seven in a row from 1934-40.

Jake Bentley had career highs with 510 yards - the second most ever allowed by Clemson - and five TDs for South Carolina. The Tigers had not given up that many points in 28 games since a 42-35 win over Virginia Tech in the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

The Tigers will try for their fourth straight ACC title when they take on No. 24 Pitt in the championship game at Charlotte, North Carolina.

LISTEN: @MattGladwell3 asks #Clemson defensive lineman Austin Bryant his thoughts on the Tigers winning their fifth straight in the #PalmettoBowl pic.twitter.com/4AUAJdcgx8
— Chris (@ChrisObarski) November 25, 2018

Not that South Carolina didn't throw a scare into the Tigers - or give defensive coordinator Brent Venables something to yell about leading into the ACC title game.

South Carolina, which had lost the last two rivalry games by a combined 90-17 score, was supposed to have little chance to hang with Clemson.

But it was the Gamecocks who struck first and kept on going. Bentley threw for 302 yards and three TDs in the opening half, including scoring throws of 67 yards to Kiel Pollard and 75 yards to Deebo Samuel to stick within 28-21 at the break.

Clemson's offense was relentless early on with four touchdowns on its first four possessions, two rushing scores by Choice and another on a 1-yard leap into the end zone by 315-pound Christian Wilkins.

Wilkins came up flexing in celebration, then struck the Heisman pose - which drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and ire of coach Dabo Swinney who got in Wilkins face for a minute or two on the sidelines.

It was far from the only bit of bravado by the Tigers. After Lawrence's 22-yard TD pass to Tee Higgins to put Clemson ahead for the first time 14-7, the freshman quarterback stared down the South Carolina sideline. But that's common in a heated rivalry where some in the home crowd booed the Gamecocks' band at halftime.

Choice had scoring runs of 1, 2 and 13 yards. His last one gave Clemson 41 rushing TDs this season to set the program single-year mark.

Travis Etienne ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns (the last with 39 seconds left) to give him 19 to set that single-season record.

Samuel had 10 catches for 210 yards and three touchdowns while Gamecocks receiver Shi Smith had nine grabs for 109 yards and a score.

The teams played offense like they were in the Big 12 combining for 1,344 yards - 744 by Clemson and 600 by South Carolina.

THE TAKEAWAY

South Carolina: The Gamecocks were down three starters on the defensive line and had little hope of putting pressure on Clemson's offense. They'll need to find some healthy bodies quick with a hurricane-canceled makeup game with Akron ahead next week.

Clemson: The Tigers hadn't allowed more than 16 points in any of their past six games. Yet, South Carolina put up the most points in a game against them this season. Clemson will have to shore up the secondary if it hopes to slow down Alabama and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa should it get the chance in the playoffs.

UP NEXT

South Carolina plays Akron at home next Saturday as a makeup game for one cancelled in September due to Hurricane Florence.

Clemson faces No. 24 Pitt in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte, North Carolina

Both Adam Choice and Deebo Samuel scored their third touchdowns of the game in the third quarter as Clemson now leads 49-28 in the Palmetto Bowl.

Tavien Feaster becomes the fourth Clemson rusher to score a TD as the Tigers increase their lead to 42-21 against South Carolina in the Palmetto Bowl.

Travis Etienne scored from two yards to increase Clemson’s lead to 35-21 against South Carolina in the third quarter of the Palmetto Bowl.

HALFTIME

Clemson and South Carolina have combined for 709 yards of total offense in the first half of the Palmetto Bowl. The second-ranked Tigers lead the Gamecocks 28-21.

Jake Bentley has thrown for 302 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. The Gamecock passing attack is gashing the Tigers secondary.

Clemson meanwhile is more balanced. The Tigers have 217 passing yards and 178 on the ground. Trevor Lawrence has been efficient running the offense. The freshman is 16-of-22 for 217 yards with a 22-yard touchdown strike to Tee Higgins.

Jake Bentley’s third touchdown pass of the first half found Deebo Samuel on a 75-yard strike. South Carolina trails Clemson 28-21 in the Palmetto Bowl.

Adam Choice scored his second touchdown of the first half as the Tigers now lead 28-14 against the Gamecocks in the Palmetto Bowl.

Jake Bentley found Kiel Pollard for a 67-yard touchdown as South Carolina drew back within a score of Clemson at 21-14 in the second quarter of the Palmetto Bowl

Clemson defensive end Christian Wilkins scored on a pitch on a 4th and goal to extend the Tigers lead to 21-7 in the Palmetto Bowl.

Trevor Lawrence connected with Tee Higgins on a 22-yard touchdown as Clemson leads South Carolina 14-7 in the second quarter of the Palmetto Bowl.

Adam Choice scored from a yard out as Clemson answered Carolina’s score in the Palmetto Bowl

Jake Bentley threw across the middle to Deebo Samuel for a 9-yard touchdown in the first possession of the game as South Carolina leads Clemson 7-0 in the first quarter.