Career day boosts Spiller Heisman case

CLEMSON — In a wide-open Heisman Trophy race, C.J. Spiller made the most of what might be his final national spotlight game

On Saturday night before ESPN television cameras, Spiller rushed for a career-high 165 yards on 22 carries and added three catches for 67 yards.

He set a career best all-purpose mark with 312 yards, topping the mark he set at Miami two weeks ago (310).

Spiller reeled in a 58-yard touchdown catch to give Clemson a lead early in the third quarter. He became Clemson's all-time receptions leader among running backs with his first grab of the night — the 106th of his career.

The touchdown catch was Spiller's eighth score of 50 yards or more this season and the 20th of his career.

Spiller and Jacoby Ford also became the all-time leading duo in all-purpose yardage, reaching 10,283 combined yards for their careers. They topped the San Diego State combo of Marshall Faulk and Darnay Scott.

Andrews honored

In the Clemson locker room before kickoff, Clemson coaches Dabo Swinney, Kevin Steele and Brad Scott presented a helmet signed by the Clemson staff to longtime Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who announced earlier this week he will retire at the end of the season.

Steele and Scott have ties to Florida State as former FSU assistants, and Andrews has ties to Clemson, where he was the defensive coordinator from 1977-80.

Andrews helped the Tigers return to national prominence. Prior to joining the Tigers staff in 1977, Clemson had not been to a bowl game in 18 seasons.

Shaky footing

Clemson hadn't missed an extra point since 2006 Music City Bowl — 116 in a row — until Richard Jackson yanked a try wide right following Clemson's first touchdown.

Jackson was bailed out by a Spiller two-point conversion run following Clemson's second touchdown, but pushed a game-tying field goal wide right from 38 yards in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Jackson missed wide left from 26 yards out.

Might there be a kicking controversy brewing in Clemson?

Probably not. Swinney pulled Jackson for Spencer Benton, who missed the extra point following Andre Ellington's 9-yard touchdown to give Clemson a 27-24 lead with 9:37 to play.

Mc-Interception

Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel tied the Clemson single-season interception mark in spectacular fashion, picking off his eighth pass of the year with a little over four minutes to go, setting up Spiller's 5-yard, game-sealing touchdown run. On the return, McDaniel pointed at Ponder, approaching to make a tackle, and leveled the FSU quarterback with a shoulder.

Fringe benefits

Winning the U.S. Open has its perks.

Former Clemson golfer Lucas Glover ran down the hill with the Tigers prior to kickoff Saturday night.

The Greenville native won the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage (N.Y.), topping Phil Mickelson and David Duval by two strokes. He also finished fifth at the PGA Championship.

Lucas Glover is 10 years younger than Dabo Swinney, but Clemson's coach beat Glover running down the hill.

Maxwell vs. Ponder

Christian Ponder entered as the top passer in the ACC with just three interceptions, but North Charleston's own Byron Maxwell intercepted a Ponder pass in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Maxwell also broke up a deep pass intended for Jarmon Fortson.

Parker sets marks

Kyle Parker's first-quarter touchdown throw to Dwayne Allen was his 11th of the season. It broke Charlie Whitehurst's record for a freshman (10) set in 2002. Parker also surpassed Whitehurst's freshman passing mark of 1,154 yards set in the same season.

Extra points

Clemson starting corner Chris Chancellor suffered a lower leg injury and did not return to the game ... Swinney said he'd be disappointed if Saturday's game wasn't sold out. The announced attendance was 77,000, nearly 5,000 short of a sellout (81,301). ... For the first time this season it didn't rain at Memorial Stadium, ending a six-game streak of precipitation, a stadium record.