Keepfer: Clemson QB Stoudt shows moxie in win over BC

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Hats off to Cole Stoudt.

Actually, hats ON might be more accurate.

There he was Saturday night, sporting the replica leather helmet reserved exclusively for the Most Valuable Player in the annual Clemson-Boston College game.

He wore it well.

"You kind of look like George Clooney in that Leatherheads movie," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told Stoudt.

More importantly, Stoudt looked like a player who can play the part of a quarterback capable of leading Clemson to victories over the next few weeks, and that revelation should be good news for a Clemson fan base that largely began to question the season's prospects once starter Deshaun Watson hit the injured list last Saturday.

Stoudt hasn't been remarkable, but he's certainly been workmanlike in guiding the Tigers to victories against Louisville and Boston College.

With games upcoming against Syracuse and Wake Forest, chances are that the Tigers will take a four-game winning streak to Atlanta when they face Georgia Tech on Nov. 15, particularly if Stoudt continues to play like he did Saturday.

In a game certainly not bereft of ugliness, Stoudt stayed the course, grinding as best a quarterback can do. He had some overthrows and threw behind a receiver a time or two, and was saved from a couple of interceptions by receivers-turned-defensive backs, but he also threaded the needle more of than not and managed to deliver on some big plays when they were most needed.

On the Tigers' three scoring drives he completed 9 of 13 passes for 135 yards; eight of Stoudt's completions came on third down and six of the eight resulted in first down yardage.

"He needed that, for him and for this football team," offensive coordinator Chad Morris said.

Stoudt did manage to practice last week, so some improvement in his game was apparent. But his left shoulder remains sore, which prompted a painkilling shot before the game and another "half shot" at halftime to get him through.

Still, by night's end, he had completed a career-high 29 of 45 passes for 285 yards, the second-highest yardage total of his career, and perhaps more importantly continued to elevate his status in the eyes of his teammates.

"Cole was outstanding, man," running back C.J. Davidson said. "He showed leadership. He fights through adversity and I admire him for that."

Saturday night's game was a leather helmet-type of game — a throwback affair in which defenses and hard hits prevailed. Offense was incidental for much of the game, but the importance of every points was underscored once again when Boston College was forced to go for a touchdown rather than a game-tying field goal on its final drive.

And just like last week against Louisville, it came down to a nail-biting, squirm-in-your-seat finish.

When a heavy rain began to fall in the fourth quarter, it was just another small bit of adversity for a guy who's dealt successfully with his share.

"I didn't think about the shoulder or the rain," Stoudt said. "I've played in situations like that in high school when it was cloudy, cold, rainy, windy, but it's a fun situation.

"It's tough, but it's exciting, too – that's why we play football."

Say what you will about Stoudt, but the guy's got some moxie.

Just when you think he's done and you've written him off, he comes back.

He's kind of like the neighborhood cat who goes on hiatus for a while, then shows up again at the back porch when you least expect it.

Two weeks after being supplanted as Clemson's starting quarterback, there he was Saturday night, showing up again and making yet another statement that he's not finished yet and that the Tigers can win games — tough games on the road, no less — with him at the helm.

So yes, a tip of the hat — or better yet, a leather helmet — is in order for Cole Stoudt.