Clemson kicker Chandler Catanzaro (39) is hoisted into the air after he kicked the winning 37-yard field goal against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl late Monday night. John Bazemore/Associated Press
Clemson kicker Chandler Catanzaro (39) is hoisted into the air after he kicked the winning 37-yard field goal against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl late Monday night.
ATLANTA — Chandler Catanzaro was not about to let a blocked extra point earlier in the game get in the way of his last-second, game-winning field goal.
Catanzaro kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give No. 14 Clemson a wild 25-24 victory over No. 9 Louisiana State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Monday night.
“I was ready when the opportunity came to me,” Catanzaro said. “It was next-kick mentality. I was so thankful for the opportunity.”
Catanzaro, a former walk-on, made 16 of 17 field goals in the regular season.
The kick gave Clemson its first 11-win season since its 1981 national championship team.
Trailing 24-22, Clemson (11-2) took possession on its 20 with 1:39 remaining. Tajh Boyd passed to DeAndre Hopkins for 26 yards on a fourth-and-16 play during the decisive 10-play drive.
Boyd completed 36 of 50 passes for 346 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He set career highs for attempts and completions.
“Tajh Boyd was phenomenal,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “I did not expect the heroic, if you will, efforts that he had.”
Hopkins finished with 13 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
Source: http://jacksonville.com
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