Clemson defeats Central Florida.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

CLEMSON, S.C. _ If the sign of a winner is pointing fingers at oneself after a victory rather than at others after a defeat, Clemson is in decent shape despite a lackluster opener Saturday.

Nineteenth-ranked Clemson held on to defeat Central Florida, 21-13, in front of an announced crowd of 75,000 at Death Valley, but there was plenty of second-guessing afterward.

It started with Heisman Trophy candidate Woodrow Dantzler, who was 15-for-25 for 154 yards passing and rushed for 46 yards on 18 carries in a tepid performance.

"I'm the quarterback out there, and it's my job to go out and make sure the offense is running smooth," Dantzler said. "So when something doesn't happen right out there, it's my fault. That's just the way I feel."

Dantzler's mistakes included two of Clemson's six fumbles. Two of those six were recovered by UCF, which outgained the Tigers 328 yards to 292 but fell victim to a trick play that turned out to be decisive.

Facing a fourth-and-5 from the UCF 22 on the first drive of the third quarter, the Tigers called for a fake field goal. Holder Jeff Scott, the son of offensive coordinator Brad Scott, picked up the ball, ran around left end and hustled into the end zone to extend Clemson's lead to 21-7.

"He runs like his mother," joked Clemson coach Tommy Bowden. "That was a big play; it might have been the winning touchdown."