Thursday, December 31, 2015

Clemson DE Shaq Lawson leaves Orange Bowl (knee)

(AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)If Clemson is going to beat Oklahoma and move on to the national title game, it will have to do so without one of its best players.
In the first quarter of the Orange Bowl, Clemson junior defensive end Shaq Lawson left the game with an apparent knee injury. Lawson, an All-American, was shown on the sideline with an icepack on his knee and a towel over his head. He did not have his helmet with him – a telltale sign of a player who likely will not return to a game.
Watson has been ruled out for the second half.
Lawson led the nation with 21.5 tackles for loss and had 9.5 sacks on the season. He left the game after sacking Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. Lawson briefly left the field on the defense’s first drive, but returned for the second drive. He hasn’t seen the field since.
Oklahoma also lost one of its top defensive players to injury in the first half. Linebacker Jordan Evans has been ruled out for the second half due to a right shoulder injury.
Evans is second on the Sooners this season with 93 tackles. He also has 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Oklahoma leads 17-16 at halftime. The winner will play either Alabama or Michigan State in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

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