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BOISE, Idaho (Ticker) -- The snow and freezing temperatures were no problem for Woodrow Dantzler. The senior overcame the elements to tie a school record with four touchdown passes in his final college game as Clemson salvaged a disappointing season with a 49-24 rout of Louisiana Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl. Dantzler tossed TD passes of five yards to tight end Ben Hall and 62 yards to Bernard Rambert in the third quarter, when the Tigers (7-5) broke open the contest with 28 unanswered points. Clemson snapped a five-game bowl losing streak, posting its first postseason win since a 14-13 victory over Kentucky in the 1993 Peach Bowl. Coach Tommy Bowden lost his first two two bowl appearances with the Tigers. Clemson had expected to go to the Tangerine Bowl, but after losing three of their last four games, it was fortunate to go to any bowl. Instead of sunny Florida, Clemson was sent to frigid Boise for New Year's Eve, where close to four inches of snow fell Monday until stopping in the third quarter. Louisiana Tech (7-5), which won the Western Athletic Conference in its first year in the league, gave Clemson a battle in the first half and only trailed, 14-10, at the intermission. But the Bulldogs were snowed under in the third period, when the Tigers scored on all four of their possessions. After going up, 28-10, on Dantzler's TD strikes to Hall and Rambert, the Tigers cashed in a pair of interceptions to put away the contest with two touchdowns in just over two minutes. Cornerback Brian Mance's interception led to Rambert's 21-yard TD scamper with 6:36 left in the period. Safety Charles Hafley picked off a deflected pass on Louisiana Tech's next possession and wide receiver Airese Currie's 19-yard TD run up the middle gave Clemson a 42-10 cushion with 4:34 remaining in the quarter. Dantzler, who this year became the first player in NCAA Division I history to reach 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in the season, completed 15-of-23 passes for 218 yards. He also rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries. Willie Simmons replaced Dantzler in the fourth quarter and tossed a 57-yard TD pass to Derrick Hamilton with 9:24 left, extending Clemson's advantage to 49-10. Luke McCown, who engineered two late scoring in the final seven minutes, completed 24-of-51 for 323 yards with three interceptions and a touchdown for Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs built leads of 3-0 and 7-3 in the first half but each time Danztler answered with TD passes. His 10-yard TD strike to Matt Bailey gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead with 5:48 left in the first quarter. McCown scrambled for an 11-yard TD to give the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead 7:09 into the second period. The Tigers needed just 57 seconds to answer, taking the lead for good on Danztler's 53-yard TD pass to Roscoe Crosby. Danztler got help from his receivers and Crosby and Rambert caught screen passes at the line of scrimmage and broke numerous tackle on their way to the end zone. The Bulldogs were guilty of poor tackling in the second half, when they were physically worn by down the Tigers. Rambert rushed for 101 yards and also caught three passes for 77 yards. Louisiana Tech was making its first postseason appearance since tying Maryland, 34-34, in the 1990 Independence Bowl. |
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