On This Date: 1990 (15)Clemson- 24 South Carolina- 15

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Posted: Nov 17, 2020, 8:36 AM

Rudy Harris Paces No. 15 Tigers over Gamecocks in Death Valley

November 17, 1990

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Rudy Harris ran for two touchdowns and Tony Kennedy added a key fourth-quarter score Saturday to power No. 15 Clemson past cross-state rival South Carolina 24-15.

Chris Gardocki made his final punt in Death Valley memorable when he had a 78-yard boot in the fourth quarter to give South Carolina bad field position and clinch the victory. It remains the third longest punt in Clemson history.

The Clemson defense allowed its first touchdown at Memorial Stadium this season, but the Tigers, 9-2, managed to turn back a late Gamecock rally before 84,500 fans.

Mike Dingle scored on a 4-yard run to bring the Gamecocks, 5-5, within 17-15 with 10:28 left in the game. The touchdown came after Clemson failed to recover a kickoff, allowing South Carolina's Bru Pender to cover the ball at the Clemson 12 yard line.

Bobbie Fuller threw incomplete on a two-point conversion try that would have tied the game, however, and Kennedy's 1-yard TD plunge on Clemson's next possession put the game away.

South Carolina blocked a punt with 5:06 left in the first quarter and scored on a 22-yard field goal by Collin Mackie three plays later to go up 3-0.

The Tigers came back with consecutive scoring drives of 74 yards and 33 yards. Harris completed a 12-play, 74-yard drive ith a 1-yard touchdown run with 12:46 left in the first half.

After Robert O'Neal returned a South Carolina punt to the Gamecock 33 yard line, Harris completed a three-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown run with 8:51 left in the first half to put Clemson up 14-3.

Mackie kicked a 42-yard field goal with 6:36 left in the first half to bring the Gamecocks within 14-6. Mackie and Gardocki traded field goals in the third quarter to make it 17-6 going into the final quarter.

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