Benton sets ACC mark with 61-yard FG

Published Sep. 8, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Clemson punter Spencer Benton, who also doubles as a placekicker, set an Atlantic Coast Conference record when he connected on a 61-yard field goal against Ball State on Saturday.

Benton's kick snuck through the goalposts as time ran out in the opening half and gave the Tigers a 45-10 lead. The kick surpassed the 2007 mark of 60 yards set by Florida State's Gary Cismesia against Florida.

''It felt pretty good when I hit it,'' Benton said. ''I saw it coming off and thinking, 'Go. Go. Go.' Then I saw everybody in the background jump up and I was like, `Yes.' ''

Benton's field goal also moved him past Obed Ariri and Chris Gardocki for the longest in school history.

Ariri, who kicked for Tampa Bay and Washington in the NFL, established the previous mark of 57 yards against Wake Forest in 1977. Gardocki was a longtime NFL punter who won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He tied Ariri's kick against Appalachian State in 1990.