On Saturday afternoon, the Clemson Tigers did just enough to hold off the Pittsburgh Panthers 24-20 at Acrisure Stadium. Clemson saw its 10-point halftime lead become a 3-point deficit with less than two minutes remaining. Yet, in a three-play smash and grab, the Tigers marched 75 yards down the field as Cade Klubnik’s frantic 50-yard touchdown run quieted the sea of blue and yellow and added another win to the column for the orange and purple. Here are some takeaways from the game.
Paws up: Williams wows
By halftime, Antonio Williams had eight receptions for 97 yards, both of which were season highs at the time. He finished the game with 13 receptions for 149 yards, 2 touchdowns and a fumble recovery.
But beyond just his studded stat sheet, Williams stepped up big when Clemson’s run game hit a wall. Klubnik could count on Williams to be open on important downs, and the Klubnik-to-Williams connection was on full display with constant clutch plays that kept the defense on its heels.
After the game, the pair shared a brief exchange that showcased their chemistry and mutual respect for each other as teammates.
“Thirteen catches? Two touchdowns?” Klubnik said with a grin.
“Yeah, man, but that’s all you,” Williams replied.
Paws down: Second-half stagnance
A late first-half Nolan Hauser field goal put the Tigers up by 10 points going into the break, but Pitt came out of the tunnel with all the answers. In the third quarter, Clemson managed 12 total yards of offense, zero points and failed to capitalize on a Pitt fumble forced by T.J. Parker. Meanwhile, the Panthers racked up 93 yards through the air and another 26 yards on the ground in the third quarter alone.
While Clemson fans will ultimately remember Cade Klubnik’s game-winning scramble, Clemson (8-2, 7-1 ACC) was stuck in the mud before Klubnik’s game-breaking play. From the start of the second half until the eventual game-winning touchdown, the Tigers’ drives ended as follows: punt, three-and-out, three-and-out, three-and-out, turnover on downs.
Clemson’s stagnant second-half play opened the door for the Panthers (7-3, 3-3 ACC), who, led by backup quarterback Nate Yarnell, were able to find their way back into the game.
Paws up: Finding a way to win
In the second quarter, linebacker Sammy Brown was called for targeting and was ejected as a result. In a game where Clemson was already thin on linemen on both sides of the ball, the Tigers had to find new ways to move the sticks.
Following the game, defensive lineman Peter Woods said it best: “For those who can’t, I will.”
This phrase, echoed this week by head coach Dabo Swinney, points to the “next man up” mindset that Clemson is built on.
With a banged-up offensive line, running back Phil Mafah struggled to get through as he recorded just 17 yards in as many carries. Yet when the game — no, the season — was on the line, Clemson’s offensive line was able to carve out a hole just big enough for Klubnik to scamper out of the pocket and into the end zone, decisively pulling the game away from the claws of the Panthers.
