COLUMBIA - Make it a clean sweep for Charlie Whitehurst.
On a night when Clemson and South Carolina both struggled for points, the senior quarterback made the clutch plays to lead the Tigers to a 13-9 win over the No. 19 Gamecocks before 83,368 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The victory was the fourth in a row for Whitehurst and the Tigers (7-4) over their in-state rival and made him the first starting quarterback in the 103-year history of the series to be on the winning side for all four years of his eligibility.
"It was one of the best feelings of my life, you know it's over, it's four in a row, it's just awesome,'' Whitehurst said.
Whitehurst torched the Gamecocks for 302 yards and four touchdowns two years ago in Columbia as the Tigers rolled to a lopsided 63-17 win.
He didn't approach those numbers Saturday night, but made several key throws to keep Clemson drives alive.
None were bigger than the three passes he completed in a row to get the Tigers out of a first-and-35 from their own 22-yard line. The final pass to Curtis Baham covered 28 yards and put Clemson on the South Carolina 27. Three plays later, James Davis bulled his way into the end zone from 2 yards out for the game's only touchdown and a 13-9 lead.
"Charlie made a money throw, I caught it and was able to make a play,'' Baham said of his third-down reception.
After holding South Carolina (7-4) on the ensuing possession, Whitehurst ran 10 yards up the middle to get the Tigers a first down and Clemson ran out the clock for the win.
"It was a quarterback draw,'' Whitehurst said of the play. "I think I made it by about one yard, and it was a great call and a great pickup.''
His coach wasn't surprised that he finished off the sweep with a big play.
"When the game is on the line, Charlie Whitehurst knows how to respond,'' Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said. "There were some great catches by the receivers, and there were some great throws and protection by the line.''
First-year South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier had led the Gamecocks to five consecutive victories, including wins over Tennessee and Florida, but couldn't complete the "Orange Crush" trifecta with a win over Clemson.
The Gamecocks wasted a prime opportunity to get in the end zone when Clemson's Chansi Stuckey misplayed a punt. The fumble was recovered by South Carolina's Tremaine Tyler on the Tigers' 10-yard line, but the Gamecocks lost yardage and had to settle for Josh Brown's third field goal of the night for a 9-6 lead.
"We played OK. But in a close game, some of those misfires can come back and cost you,'' Spurrier said. "Give Clemson credit. I guess they made one more play than we did.''
Whiteurst's play was rivaled by Davis, who rushed for a game high 145 yards on 27 carries. The freshman from Atlanta said he told coaches to turn the game over to him in the second half.
"I told coach, give me the ball and let's get a drive going and it'll open up the pass,'' Davis said.
South Carolina entered Saturday with slim hopes of winning its first Southeastern Conference East title. But Georgia made quick work of Kentucky in a 45-13 rout to secure the berth in the conference championship game in Atlanta.
The day didn't get any better as the Gamecocks squandered a chance to break its string of losses to the Tigers.
Clemson's success on third-and-long plays was the difference in the game, a hoarse Spurrier said.
"We don't play very good zone defense. Our players don't see the ball real well,'' he said. "That's been a sore point all year. Not scoring in the red zone hurt us, too.''
Lackluster play marked the first three quarters as South Carolina led 6-3 at halftime.
Brown connected on a pair of field goals, from 23 and 43 yards, to put the Gamecocks ahead 6-0.
Clemson responded with a 49-yard field goal by Jad Dean, his career best, to cut the margin to three just before the half. He kicked anothe field goal, this one from 23 yards, to tie the score in the third quarter.
A year ago, the two schools made national news with an ugly brawl that erupted in the fourth quarter of Clemson's 29-7 win. A shoving match gave way to punches and players from both sides rushed into the melee. The fight spread over much of the field before officials and police could restore order.
The aftermath wasn't any prettier: six players from each team were suspended for one game, and both schools forfeited their slots to play in bowl games.
But civility marked Saturday's game as the two teams shook hands on the field after the opening coin toss.
Now, with both schools eligible for bowls, the only question is where the two teams will land.
"It's been a wonderful year,'' Spurrier said. "We'll get ready to go to the bowl game and go from there.''
Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.
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