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NEW ORLEANS — Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was on his again, reaching out desperately along with his proper hand to attempt to collect within the ball after it squirted by way of his arms as he was dragged right down to the Superdome turf.
The Heisman Trophy finalist couldn’t fairly get a grip on it earlier than it was ripped free and recovered by Ohio State.
And with that, Lawrence’s bid to complete a unprecedented faculty soccer profession along with his second nationwide championship in three seasons slipped away. The Tigers had been down three touchdowns, and the deficit grew bigger within the fourth quarter earlier than No. 3 Ohio State celebrated a 49-28 victory over No. 2 Clemson within the School Soccer Playoff semifinal on the Sugar Bowl on Friday night time.
“I missed a number of throws and put too many balls on the bottom,” stated Lawrence, who fumbled 3 times however solely misplaced one. “Clearly, it sucks to complete like this.”
For the second consecutive season, Lawrence and Clemson bought bounced from the CFP by being blown out within the Massive Simple. These are the one two losses in his 36 faculty begins.
Final season, Clemson misplaced 42-25 to LSU within the nationwide championship recreation on the identical subject, with Lawrence having one of many worst video games of his profession (18 of 37, 234 yards, no landing passes). This 12 months in New Orleans, like final 12 months, Lawrence scored the sport’s first landing on a keeper, however later misplaced a fumble whereas Clemson was attempting to shut a second-half deficit.
Lawrence performed higher general this 12 months, regardless of Clemson being with out offensive coordinator and play-caller Tony Elliott, who was in covid-19 protocol and didn’t make the journey to New Orleans. Lawrence completed 33 of 48 for 400 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
“I inform you what, man, Trevor Lawrence, I do know we didn’t win the sport, however you noticed all the pieces you could find out about that man tonight,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney stated. “I imply, he simply, he wished to play (till) the final second and provides it all the pieces he has. And that’s simply who he’s as an individual.”
The way in which Clemson’s protection struggled a lot of the recreation, giving up two landing passes longer than 50 yards, that wasn’t almost sufficient.
When it was over, Lawrence had been outshone by Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (22 of 28, 385 yards, six TDs).
“Clearly, they kicked our butt tonight,” Lawrence stated.
The season “didn’t finish the way in which we wished it to, but it surely was particular,” Lawrence continued. “We simply didn’t get it performed tonight for lots of causes. … In video games like this, you’ve simply bought to play properly all the way in which round and we didn’t do this.”
That received’t change something concerning the Heisman Trophy, as a result of the votes already had been in. Lawrence is certainly one of 4 finalists, together with Alabama QB Mac Jones, Crimson Tide receiver Davonta Smith and Florida QB Kyle Trask.
Time will inform if it impacts the considering in professional soccer entrance workplaces. Lawrence, for a lot of this season, has been the consensus projected prime decide within the 2021 NFL Draft assuming he passes up his senior 12 months at Clemson.
Nonetheless, he’ll be remembered as one of many faces of school soccer — on the sector and off — throughout a tumultuous junior 12 months.
Over the summer season, he was out entrance of social justice marches and requires the video games to proceed regardless of the covid-19 pandemic.
“There’s not a lot I’d return and alter,” Lawrence stated. “I’m happy with the person I’ve grow to be over the time I’ve been (at Clemson). … Yeah, it’s been a loopy 12 months.”
His stances earned him the respect of his friends throughout the nation, as did his play.
In three seasons, Lawrence has handed for 10,098 yards and 90 touchdowns, and has rushed for 943 yards and 18 TDs. He additionally went down in Clemson historical past because the QB for this system’s third nationwide championship group. He’s the winningest quarterback in Clemson historical past, and he led the Tigers to a few straight ACC titles
That may should suffice. In any case, not many have performed higher.
Swinney stated Lawrence and Clemson senior working again Travis Etienne go away behind “unimaginable legacies” and “set the usual” at Clemson whereas by no means anticipating “something extra from their teammates than they had been keen to offer.”
“Trevor Lawrence is a generational man. He’s going to be an incredible participant for a protracted, very long time,” Swinney added. “We’re all unhappy that it ended the way in which it ended tonight. And we wished to finish it in Miami with a victory (within the nationwide title recreation) and journey off into the sundown, however that wasn’t to be.”
Classes:
Sports activities | U.S./World Sports activities
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