On one of the most unforced college football errors in the history of unforced errors, a gaggle of Clemson Tigers ran the strangest formation on special teams you’re likely to see this week.
As South Carolina kicked off to Clemson in the second quarter of Saturday’s rivalry game, Tigers running back Will Shipley fielded the kick and then huddled together with a few of his teammates to brew some trickery.
Shipley handed the ball off to fellow running back Phil Mafah. Then, they all dispersed in an attempt to confuse the Gamecocks.
Like anyone who could see someone running with a ball, South Carolina wasn’t confused for long and quickly tackled Mafah. Rather than just go down with the ball, Mafah tried to make the hero play and tossed it out to a teammate to keep the play going.
There was only one problem, though. There were no Tigers near the ball. He tossed it into no man’s land, and South Carolina tight end Traevon Kenion recovered the fumble.
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 26, 2022
If you’re wondering what in the world just happened, you’re not alone.
Trick plays are fine if you’ve really practiced them, but Clemson looked like they’d drawn this one up on the sideline right before the kick.
What are we doing here Clemson?! pic.twitter.com/ElnQtVNwiY
— Collin Wilson (@_Collin1) November 26, 2022
South Carolina wound up scoring a touchdown on this turnover to get the game to 16-14, making it even more costly for Clemson.
We have a good feeling the Tigers might throw this one out of the playbook after this epic failure.
