#Clemson ambushes The Citadel 51-14 as Tigers sharpen up ahead of rivalry game (AUDIO/VIDEO)

**Bryant Wesco Jr. helped Clemson jump out to a commanding lead with a 55-yard TD (Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA)**

Death Valley: Everything went to plan for Clemson in its 51-14 victory over The Citadel on Military Appreciation Day, Saturday. The Tigers were able to rest some of their injured offensive linemen, the coaches got a look at some young players on both sides of the ball and Cade Klubnik got enough throws off to stay sharp heading into next week’s finale against South Carolina.

Clemson posted some impressive offensive numbers, racking up 562 yards on 9.5 yards/play. The Tigers averaged better than 10 yards/carry and the 302 yards rushing was a season-high.

Klubnik (12 of 16, 198 yards) sandwiched a scoring pass to Bryant Wesco, Jr. around a pair of touchdowns to Antonio Williams before exiting midway through the third quarter. Klubnik’s three touchdown passes gives him 50 for his career, one more than Charlie Whitehurst and good for fourth place on the Clemson career list.

Running back Phil Mafah was also used sparingly, carrying the ball just three times. Jay Haynes (5 carries, career-high 118 yards) took full advantage of his opportunity, racing for a 70-yard touchdown on his first touch.

Payton Page provided the defensive highlight with a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Clemson still has an outside shot at both the ACC Championship and the College Football Playoffs. SMU wrapped up its spot in the ACC title game by virtue of its victory over Virginia, but Miami (Fl.) still needs to defeat Syracuse in the dome next week to join the Mustangs in Charlotte. If the Hurricanes falter, the Tigers will take their spot in the ACC Championship.

With chaos swirling in the Big 12 and multiple ranked teams suffering upsets, both Clemson and South Carolina will likely climb in the College Football Playoff rankings when they are revealed Tuesday. The winner of next week’s rivalry game will do a great deal to bolster its case for an at-large bid, adding another layer of intrigue to what is already one of the nation’s fiercest rivalries. The Tigers and the Gamecocks will kick off from Death Valley at noon, Saturday.