The Clemson Tigers continued their stretch of winning performances on Saturday night, defeating the Stanford Cardinal 40-14 at Memorial Stadium.
With the win, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has now recorded 100 wins at home since beginning his Tiger tenure in 2009.
This time around, it was the Clemson (3-1, 2-0 ACC) defense making impressive production, forcing three interceptions from Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels to limit the Cardinal to only seven points in the win. The team also forced three turnover on downs.
Cornerbacks Avieon Terrell and Jeadyn Lukus recorded two of the turnovers, with Terrell getting between Daniels and his intended receiver in the end zone to force the first.
Just a drive later, Daniels would throw a jump ball pass to a cluster of Stanford and Clemson players that would be brought in by Lukus. Both of those turnovers occurred in the first quarter in Clemson territory.
Woodaz had the other interception in the third quarter, making an outstretched grab from a Daniels pass in the middle of the field to put the Tigers in Stanford territory at the 34-yard line.
On the offensive side, quarterback Cade Klubnik didn’t complete all of his passes but continued his play at an elite level. While completing only 48% of passes, the junior threw for 255 yards and ran for 48 yards.
Thirty-four of those yards would be recorded on Clemson’s first drive, where Klubnik would scamper away for a rushing touchdown, his second opening drive rushing touchdown in back-to-back weeks. He would add four more passing touchdowns over the course of the game.
Klubnik now has 16 total touchdowns in the last three games after not finding the end zone against Georgia in Week 1.
Four different receivers found the end zone for Clemson, with two catching their first receiving touchdowns as Clemson Tigers. Along with Bryant Wesco Jr. and Jake Briningstool, receiver Cole Turner and tight end Olsen Patt-Henry recorded scores for the first time. Turner’s touchdown helped spark the beginning of the end for the Tigers, making a contested grab in the end zone for a 43-yard pass.
Many key players made impacts in the win on defense. Linebacker Barrett Carter was all over the place with ten total tackles, a sack and 3.5 tackles for a loss. R.J. Mickens and Woodaz would also have ten total tackles on the game.
Freshman Sammy Brown continued to turn heads as well, recording two sacks in limited time on the field.
The Tigers will hit the road this week and will face the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday night with a reunion with former Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei.
