Clemson 25, No. 17 Texas A 24

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Posted 12:53AM on Sunday, September 4, 2005

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Jad Dean's school record sixth field goal with two seconds left lifted Clemson over No. 17 Texas A on Saturday night. The Aggies (0-1) looked like they would get by after versatile star Reggie McNeal led a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that ended with his 31-yard touchdown pass to Chad Schroeder for a 24-22 lead. But the Tigers (1-0), playing the final quarter without starting quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, drove to Texas A 25 on eight straight carries by freshman tailback James Davis. After a time out by the Aggies, Dean struck the 42-yard field goal straight through the uprights to give the Tigers the victory. Dean was 6-of-6 on the night with field goals of 21, 21, 25, 18 and 44 yards before his game winner. The kicks broke the Clemson mark of five set three times by former all-Atlantic Coast Conference kicker Nelson Welch in 1991 against North Carolina State, 1992 against Maryland and 1994 against North Carolina. It also ended another amazing effort by McNeal, who had gained 307 yards of offense against Clemson during Texas A 27-6 victory at College Station a year ago. This time, McNeal finished with 100 yards rushing and threw for 110. Clemson's Davis gained 101 yards to lead the Tigers. The Tigers played without Whitehurst down the stretch after he was apparently knocked on the helmet as he slid during a 3-yard gain. Whitehurst left the field on his own and threw some warmup passes behind the Tigers bench. However, a team spokesman said the fifth-year senior was kept out because he was woozy from the hit. Backup Will Proctor led the Tigers on the winning drive. Early on, Clemson looked like it might have the same troubles with McNeal it had last season. He drove Texas A to Clemson's 13 and Courtney Lewis followed with a nifty run into the end zone. But a holding penalty called back the score and, two plays later, A settled for a field goal. McNeal had the Aggies on the move again the next time they got the ball. However, DeQawn Mobley dropped an open pass from receiver Jason Carter inside the Tigers 5-yard line. McNeal threw two incomplete passes, including one on fourth-and-6, to end that series. Instead, it was the Tigers who controlled things in the opening half with four drives of at least eight plays. Three of those resulted in field goals as Clemson took a 16-10 lead at the half. Clemson also got a 47-yard punt return TD from Chansi Stuckey, who broke left after catching the ball and leaped over punter Justin Brantly for the score. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)