BLACKSBURG, VA: Each and every November, college football scoreboard watchers see their favorite team’s hope renewed or dreams dashed as conference races come down to the final week. For fans of the Clemson Tigers, it was all good news, Saturday. Clemson picked up its sixth conference victory just hours after Miami (Fl.) stumbled against Georgia Tech as double-digit favorites. The Tigers’ 24-14 win at Virginia Tech has them just one game back of SMU in the ACC standings and tied with Miami (Fl.) for second place. The ‘Canes still have the inside track to Charlotte by virtue of their win over Louisville (a likely tiebreaking scenario against Clemson), but there is much to be decided before Thanksgiving break and upsets have been plentiful this season.
Story by Nikki Hood
After an ugly first half, the short-handed Clemson Tigers rebounded to dispense of Virginia Tech 24-13 Saturday night in Lane Stadium. No. 23 Clemson was without Peter Woods, DeMonte Capehart, and Marcus Tate to begin the game and lost Tristan Leigh and Jaedyn Lukus during the game, rose the Tigers rose to the occasion to improve to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the ACC. Virginia Tech fell to 5-5 and 3-3.
The Tigers defense – that was much maligned a week ago in the loss against Louisville – held the Hokies to just seven points and 228 total yards, including just 40 rushing yards. Freshman Sammy Brown had eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in his first career start. Clemson’s offense amassed 378 total yards. Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 16-of-34 passes for 211 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also carried the ball 15 yards for 30 yards. Antonio Williams had five catches for 48 yards. TJ Moore had
two catches for 48 yards. Phil Mafah had 26 carries for 128 yards.
Clemson’s field goal kicking bugaboo struck again. With 12:46 to play in the second quarter, Virginia Tech blocked Nolan Hauser’s 46-yard field goal attempt. The ball popped into the air and Quentin Reddish caught it and raced 77 yards untouched for a touchdown. The Hokies took a 7-0 lead on the play.
The Tigers’ defense held the Hokies to just 95 yards, but still trailed 7-0 at halftime. The Virginia Tech defense sacked Klubnik three times in the first half. Coming into the game, the offensive line had only given up eight sacks and no opponent had more than two in a single game. Clemson finally got on the board on its first drive of the second half. Klubnik had two rushes of 13 yards on the drive before finding Cole Turner for a 29-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 11:25 to play in the third quarter. On the Tigers’ next possession, facing a third-and-seven, the Hokies sent the house and got a hand on Klubnik who managed to stay upright. Klubnik kept his eyes downfield and found TJ Moore all alone down the Virginia Tech sideline for a 41-yard touchdown and 14-7 lead with 7:34 to play in the third quarter.
Freshman cornerback Ashton Hampton – who was in for Jeadyn Lukus – picked off a Kyron Drones pass at the seven yard line. On third-and-six, Klubnik found Williams for a 23-yard pickup. Four plays later, Klubnik hit Briningstool for a 19-yard gain and then two plays later, Briningstool broke through for a 12-yard touchdown to extend Clemson’s lead to 21-7 with 13:08 to play. After an RJ Mickens interception, Hauser and Clemson’s field goal kicking unit rebounded with 34-yard field goal to extend the Tigers’ lead to 24-7 with 5:10 to play.
Clemson travels Pittsburgh next Saturday for a noon tilt with the Panthers.
Final Stats
Here’s my view from Lane Stadium
Clemson postgame
Dabo Swinney
Jake Briningstool
Sammy Brown
