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Clemson Football: 5 ‘firework’ finishes of the Dabo Swinney era

By Andrew Boardwine

CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 3: Fireworks go off at Memorial Stadium prior to the game between the Clemson Tigers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 3, 2015 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Smith/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 3: Fireworks go off at Memorial Stadium prior to the game between the Clemson Tigers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 3, 2015 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Clemson football team played an instant classic with the Louisville Cardinals in 2016.
The Clemson football team played an instant classic with the Louisville Cardinals in 2016. /

Five ‘firework finishes’ for Clemson football in the Dabo Swinney era

The Clemson football program has seen its fair share of games that finished with a major bang, and more times than not, it’s been the Tigers who have been out on top.

In the spirit of the Fourth of July holiday this weekend, we decided to take a look back at some of the most prominent games that ended with a big bang- or a ‘firework finish.’

Here are the five best firework finishes for Clemson football in the Dabo Swinney era.

5. Louisville (2016 season)

It’s the instant classic.

While most simply remember this game as the epic shootout between the Deshaun Watson-led Clemson Tigers and the Lamar Jackson-led Louisville Cardinals, many forget the ending.

Yes, both Watson and Jackson were magnificent. They both had big-time nights that proved that they were going to be stars at the next level.

But the ending of this game was absolutely something to beholden.

Though Louisville took an early 7-0 lead, Clemson came roaring back and took a 28-10 lead into halftime. Despite that halftime advantage, Louisville scored 16-straight points in the third quarter to cut the lead to 28-26 heading into the fourth quarter.

That’s when the fireworks broke out.

Louisville hit a field goal with 10:23 left in the game to take a 29-28 lead and then Lamar Jackson ran in a touchdown for the Cardinals to take a 36-28 lead with just 7:57 remaining. But the Tigers answered.

Artavis Scott returned the kickoff 77 yards to the Louisville 23-yard line and the Tigers punched it in two plays later to make the score 36-34. A defensive stop would set Deshaun Watson up with the ball with six minutes remaining and he answered the call by leading an 8-play, 85-yard drive to give Clemson a 42-36 lead.

But Lamar Jackson wasn’t done. Jackson drove down the field and Louisville faced a 4th-and-12 from the Tiger 14-yard line with less than 35 seconds remaining. Jackson completed the pass to James Quick, but it only went for 11 yards as he stepped out of bounds before getting to the line to gain. Clemson fans breathed a sigh of relief as the Tigers held on for a thrilling victory.

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