CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s halftime at the ACC Championship at Bank of America Stadium, and the score stands at 24-7. Below is an analysis of the first 30 minutes from The Tiger sports desk:
Offense:
— On the second play from offense, quarterback Cade Klubnik improvised, pulling the ball out to throw following an attempted run. With several Mustang defenders surrounding him, it left wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. open for a quick 35-yard touchdown.
— The Tigers continued to score, with Klubnik hitting Wesco again for a 43-yard touchdown on the third drive. Wesco stayed on his feet through a collision with a Mustang defender and found the endzone for his second score. The freshman wideout has four receptions for 95 yards, leading the team in both.
— Klubnik finished the half with 129 yards, completing 11 of his 18 passes. His three passing touchdowns in the first quarter are the first time in ACC Championship history that any quarterback has thrown three touchdown passes in any quarter.
— Clemson is going to need someone to step up in the run game. Klubnik has a team-high 26 yards off eight carries. Running backs Jay Haynes and Phil Mafah have 28 yards combined, coming from 10 rushes.
Defense:
— The Tiger defense came out not just hungry but starving. Each facet of Wes Goodwin’s unit looks like it has adjusted since last week’s ugly loss to South Carolina, holding SMU to 91 yards on the ground, 102 in the air and just one touchdown through the half.
– The highlight of the front seven, by far, has been sophomore T.J. Parker. Just 30 seconds into the game, he strip-sacked SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings — both forcing the fumble and recovering the ball.
– The linebacker corps is looking healthy and aggressive: On a crucial third-and-11 for the Mustangs, Wade Woodaz deflected a pass from Jennings and forced them to punt the ball away. ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Sammy Brown is doing ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year things, making critical tackles and breaking up passes to end SMU’s possession early.
– The secondary looks electric, limiting the Mustangs’ confidence in the air attack. Specifically, Khalil Barnes figured out how to read Jennings early on, resulting in an interception at the SMU 47-yard line that seemed to deflate the team for the remainder of the half.
