It’s tough to replicate a performance such as the one the Clemson Tigers had against Appalachian State two weeks ago. On Saturday afternoon, the Tigers proved everyone wrong again, defeating the NC State Wolfpack (2-2, 0-1 ACC) by a score of 59-35.
With the win, the Tigers (2-1, 1-0 ACC) earned their 800th victory in program history. They are the 14th team in college football to achieve this feat and the first in the ACC.
The team picked up right where it left off in Clemson’s previous game, with four consecutive touchdown drives to open the game. Two of those drives were picked up in Wolfpack territory with help from two early defensive turnovers, a marked improvement from the turnover bug that plagued the Tigers last season.
The first was a strip sack from sophomore T.J. Parker, who got to Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey and forced the ball free. Cade Denhoff had the recovery, and five plays later, Jay Haynes punched in a touchdown for the Tigers.
A drive later, cornerback Avieon Terrell got a strip of his own, forcing a fumble from NC State receiver KC Concepcion and giving Clemson another chance to score. Running back Phil Mafah then broke free for a 38-yard score to hit 2,000 career rushing yards.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik continued to play at an elite level, throwing for 209 yards and three passing touchdowns. On the ground, Klubnik scored another rushing touchdown, his third in the last two games. It occurred on the first drive of the game, as he kept a read option and scampered away on a 55-yard score. It is the longest rushing touchdown by a Clemson quarterback since Trevor Lawrence in the Fiesta Bowl in 2019.
Six different players found the end zone on offense, which continues to be revolutionized under the command of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. Antonio Williams had two touchdowns in the first half, and Klubnik, Haynes, Mafah, Cole Turner and Adam Randall scored. Randall scored his first touchdown of his collegiate career off a 4-yard reception.
On the defensive side, freshman Ashton Hampton took back a Bailey pass for a 53-yard pick 6 in the third quarter, marking both the first interception and touchdown of his young career. Another freshman standout, Sammy Brown, recorded eight tackles, which was the most on the team for the second consecutive game. Four of those tackles were for a loss.
Clemson put up 523 total yards in the win. The win gives the Tigers the Textile Bowl back, which they lost one season ago at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Tigers will be back in action next Saturday night, where they will host their new ACC foe, the Stanford Cardinal, at Memorial Stadium.
