The Pacific Island nation of Fiji erupted into celebration on Friday after its rugby sevens team defeated Britain to capture the countrys first Olympic medal. The fact it was gold made it even more of a reason to party.In the capital of Suva, fans packed the 15,000-seat National Stadium to watch the final of the Olympic tournament on a big screen. Tense at first as they saw the nation poised on the brink of an historic achievement, fans relaxed as Fiji ran away to an emphatic 43-7 victory on Thursday evening in Rio de Janeiro.Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, in Rio for the games, issued a statement hailing a wonderful moment in the history of our nation. We have won our first gold medal at a summer Olympic Games and every Fijian is rejoicing at home and around the world.Speaking to the media later, Bainimarama recalled Cyclone Winston which struck Fiji in February, claiming the lives of 44 people and causing widespread devastation.You know we had Winston, the second-biggest hurricane that swept through Fiji in February, he said. Rugby has always lifted the spirit and always brought us together. Right now, whatever political party, theres no difference. Everyone is coming together to celebrate.Bainimarama later announced a public holiday for Aug. 22, the day after the team returns home, adding Fiji is a tiny little dot but the Olympic victory would put it on the map.The match was played at 10 a.m. local time and the nation of around 900,000 mostly stopped as fans gathered around television sets. At the University of the South Pacific in Suva, classes were halted to allow students to watch the match.A bank in Suva pinned a note to its front door saying: Fiji is about to create history. Therefore, please be advised that this branch will take a 30-minute break during Fijis game ... and will reopen after that.The Fiji Times reported fans danced in the street and said many called for Fijis England-born coach Ben Ryan to be granted honorary Fiji citizenship.It said some of them (fans) could not hold back their emotions and shed tears of joy as Ryan and his team brought glory to the country.Part of Suvas bustling Victoria Parade was closed as fans danced in the street.As the final whistle sounded ... people took to the streets of Suva with the Fiji flag, dancing and running from one end to the other, the Times said.At the offices of the Fiji Olympic Committee, staff began planning for the teams return and for national victory celebrations. A spokesman said it was too soon to say what form those celebrations would take.But Bainimarama said a wonderful reception awaits our boys when they arrive back in Fiji ... never before has the Fijian spirit soared so high as it does today.In deeply religious Fiji, fans visited churches to give thanks for the victory and some said they had fasted in the hope of improving Fijis gold medal chances.Rugby sevens is Fijis national sport and almost every village, no matter how small, usually has a team. Some villages do not have electricity, creating a challenge for some fans to watch the game.The Fiji Village website reported that 51-year-old Peni Matai from the village of Serua had traveled by minibus from 2 a.m. Friday to be in Suva in time for the game. Matai, who works for the Asian Development Bank, said Serua has no television reception.He watched the match in his office in Suva, providing updates to the village by phone.Fiji-born former All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko tweeted that sellers of powerful local beverage kava might be multi-millionaires by the end of the week.---McMorran is based in Wellington, New Zealand. AP journalist Nick Perry in Wellington and sports writer John Pye in Rio de Janiero contributed to this story. Custom Seattle Mariners Nike Jerseys . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. 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CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had a simple message for his defense in facing Louisville star Lamar Jackson.If hes Superman, Swinney told them, were going to be the Kryptonite.No. 5 Clemson did just enough, rallying for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and stopping Jackson and No. 3 Louisville a yard short on fourth down with 33 seconds left to hold on for a 42-36 victory Saturday night.The Tigers (5-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) rallied behind Deshaun Watsons five touchdowns, the last two coming in the final seven minutes, after Louisville (4-1, 2-1) wiped out an 18-point lead behind another standout performance by Jackson.Watson was no slouch. He had his errors -- a career-high three interceptions and a fumble -- but in the end found a way to succeed with 306 yards on 20-of-31 passing.It just shows even with the hiccups how good we are and how good we can be, Watson said. We found a way how to handle adversity.The Tigers looked like they had this one wrapped up before halftime, scoring four TDs in the second quarter to lead 28-10 at the break. Then Action Jackson got moving and the Cardinals (4-1, 2-1) scored on five consecutive possessions to take a 36-28 lead with 7:50 left.Artavis Scott began Clemsons comeback with a 77-yard kickoff return and Watson found Mike Williams for a 20-yard scoring pass two plays later. Clemson forced Louisville to punt for the only time in the second half and Watson guided the game-winning drive, ending on a 31-yard TD catch by Jordan Leggett.Jackson had one last surge, leading Louisville to Clemsons 9. But James Quick was knocked out of bounds Louisvilles final play shy of the first down.Lamar knew where he needed to go with the ball and we came up a yard short, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said.The Tigers have won 19 straight games at home, a streak that began after they lost their last top-five showdown -- when No. 5 Florida State defeated No. 3 Clemson 51-14 in 2013. In that one, Jameis Winston led a Seminoles rout.Clemson made sure Jackson would not pull off another one.A lot of guys picked Louisville, Swinney said. Rough night for you.THE TAKEAWAYLouisville: The Cardinals have climbed in the Top 25 and may wind up running the table without anotther loss in the regular season.dddddddddddd Louisville will regret its slow first half in this one, which may have cost it an ACC title and possible national championship shot.Clemson: Can anyone stop the Tigers from claiming the ACC Atlantics spot in the league title game? Florida States loss to North Carolina means the Tigers would have to lose at least twice for the Cardinals, Seminoles or anyone else in the Atlantic to have a chance. Clemson is 19-4 against its remaining ACC opponents the past five years, with three of the defeats coming to Florida State.POLL IMPLICATIONSLouisville: The Cardinals will fall, but should stay in the top 10. There wont be much dropoff in losing at Clemson, which is 49-6 at home since Dabo Swinney became coach.Clemson: Count on the Tigers bouncing up into the top four -- and more than a few talking heads annoiting Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson as the four presumptive College Football Playoff teams.HEISMAN IMPLICATIONSThe game figured to be a showcase -- and Heisman Trophy showdown -- for Louisvilles Lamar Jackson and Clemsons Deshaun Watson. While the Tigers came out on top, Jackson did not disappoint and most likely kept himself in the conversation going forward. Watson, after a slow start to the season, also elevated his candidacy with his fourth-quarter rally against the Cardinals.I guess so, Watson said when asked if hes back out front for the Heisman. We both played good for our teams and had a chance to win. Thats out of my control.DEFENSIVE NUMBERSIt didnt always look like it, but Clemsons defense kept Louisville off its offensive average. The Cardinals gained 568 yards, a whopping number but still below the 682 they were averaging coming in. The 36 points were also 27 fewer than what theyve scored this season. The Tigers finished with 10 tackles for loss and five sacks of the elusive Jackson.UP NEXTLouisville: Gets next week off to regroup before returning to action with a Friday night game at home against Duke on Oct. 14.Clemson: The Tigers have another short week, traveling to Boston College to play on Friday night. ' ' '