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AUBURN, Ala. -- Clemsons Dabo Swinney kept his kicker on the sideline and put the game in star quarterback Deshaun Watsons hands.The decision worked in the second-ranked Tigers 19-13 win over Auburn on Saturday night, but not without a few more anxious moments in an opener filled with them.Swinney opted to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the 17 instead of kicking a field goal, and Wayne Gallman was stopped short by Tray Matthews -- a failed call that could have backfired.We just didnt want to take a shot at the field goal right there, he said. We felt like as good as we had played defensively, with them having no timeouts, it was going to be very difficult for them to go score.Greg Huegels extra-point attempt earlier in the quarter had hit the upright. Gallman had been knocked out of bounds on the previous play, stopping the clock to help leave Auburn more time.Unbelievable, Swinney said. And now were fighting for our life there at the end.Watson passed for 248 yards, including 174 to Mike Williams in his return from a neck injury in last seasons opener. Gallman carried 30 times for 123 yards.Clemson dominated the stat sheet in the first half -- with a 233-38 advantage in total yards -- but led only 10-3 and both scores came after defensive penalties on third-down plays.That is one of the best teams in college football, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. Holding those guys to 19 points was really unbelievable as far as the effort.Clemson struggled to put the opener away even though Auburn produced little offense for much of the game while swapping three quarterbacks in and out. Finally, Watson hit former walk-on receiver Hunter Renfrow in the back of the end zone on third and goal from the 16 with 9:59 left in the fourth quarter.That was a lifetime in this game.Ben Boulwares subsequent goal line interception only provided a temporary reprieve for a team that made the national championship game last season and is among the favorites to win it this time. Auburn finally got a touchdown with 3:22 left on a 9-yard direct snap run by Kerryon Johnson, and Clemsons failed fourth-down try deep in Auburn territory set up another shot with 40 seconds and 85 yards to go.Sean White drove the offense to the Clemson 40, but two desperation heaves into the end zone fell incomplete, with the second getting batted around.THE TAKEAWAYCLEMSON: If Watson didnt exactly pick right up from his 478-yard bonanza in the national championship game against Alabama, he was still good enough. And Williams provides Clemsons offense with yet another threat.AUBURN: Auburns offensive problems continued from last season, with three quarterbacks attempting passes on the first six plays. The defense made some big stops and held Clemson to 6 of 17 on third downs. Daniel Carlsons 53-yard field goal was the Auburn-record sixth of 50-plus yards.POLL IMPLICATIONSBarring a dominant win by No. 4 Florida State over No. 11 Mississippi on Monday night, Clemson seems likely to stay put right behind Alabama. No. 3 Oklahoma was upset by 15th-ranked Houston earlier in the day. The close score does make it a question mark, though.QUOTABLEWatson: We knew they were going to be good. We knew we werent going to come in here and blow these guys out.UP NEXTAuburn: hosts Arkansas State, where Malzahn was head coach in 2012, on Saturday.Clemson: like Auburn, hosts a Sun Belt Conference team on Saturday when Troy visits. Nate McMillan Jersey . 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Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Gary Payton Jersey . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Western Sydney have hosed down speculation striker Brendon Santalab is playing injured, clearing him for the A-League clash with Wellington.The Wanderers front man had a number of uncharacteristic missed opportunities in last weeks loss to Melbourne Victory and left Tuesdays training session early, fuelling concern he is struggling with a calf problem.Coach Tony Popovic insisted Santalabs early exit from the session was a part of his planned regime and he would be right to take on the Phoenix in Auckland on Saturday.Theres no injury to the calf, Popovic said on Thursday.He just went off early which is a part of his program but theres certainly no injury. Hes fine and trained yesterday.Santalabs fitness will come as a relief for the sixth-placed Wanderers who have struggled in front of goal.He also shapes as key with uncertainty surrounding the future of out-of-favour striker Kerem Bulut, who has been dropped for back-to-bback matches.ddddddddddddPopovic again deflected questions about Bulut and would not engage in speculation about whether he would again be a part of the match day squad.Look, hes in the squad and again thats a decision well make later in the week, Popovic said.Wanderers back-up keeper Jerrad Tyson appears likely to run on against the Phoenix after serving a one-week suspension.Andrew Redmayne has looked shaky between the posts in recent weeks and was criticised for his performance during their 3-0 defeat to the Victory.Popovic was keeping his cards close to his chest but said Tyson would come into calculations.Well have a look and weve got today and tomorrow still to train, Popovic said.Jerrad did a good job when he was in the team. Weve got two good keepers and thats a choice Ive got to make. ' ' '