Story by Nikki Hood
DEATH VALLEY: Fran Brown’s Syracuse squad helped Clemson into the ACC title game in 2024 with a late-season win over Miami. That same group may have eliminated the Tigers from title contention before the calendar turned to October with the Orange’s 34-21 victory Death Valley Saturday afternoon.
Clemson looked overwhelmed and unprepared from the opening snap as the Tigers fall to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. This is Clemson’s first 1-3 start under Dabo Swinney. Syracuse improves to 3-1 and 1-0.
Clemson out gained Syracuse 503-424 in total yards.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 37-of-60 passes for 363 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Running back Adam Randall had 16 carries for 130 yards. Randall also caught seven passes for 44 yards and a score. T.J. Moore led all receivers with eight catches for 92 yards. Bryant Wesco, Jr. had six catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli completed 18-of-31 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns before exiting with a leg injury in the third quarter.
The Orange marched right down the field on their first possession for a touchdown. Syracuse ran seven plays on the drive – including a 32-yard rush on the second play – that was capped off by a 12-yard pass from Angeli to Justus Ross-Simmons for a 7-0 lead just under four minutes into the game.
Syracuse caught Clemson off guard with an onside kick to get the ball right back after the touchdown. Angeli completed an eight-yard pass on 4th-and-2 to keep the drive alive and drove the Orange all the way down to the five-yard line before Clemson’s defense stepped up to force a 23-yard field goal that was good for a 10-0 lead with 7:40 to play in the first quarter.
For the first time this season, Clemson’s offense looked comfortable and in rhythm. Antonio Williams caught two passes in the first three plays to move the sticks and give the Tigers some confidence. Randall had back-to-back runs of 10 and nine yards, but they put the ball in defensive tackle Peter Woods’ hands on 4th-and-1 to keep the chains moving. On the next play, Klubnik hit Wesco for a 38-yard touchdown to cut Syracuse’s lead to 10-7 with 3:21 to play in the opening stanza.
The Orange answered with another touchdown on the next drive to reclaim a ten-point lead at 17-7 just four seconds into the second quarter. The drive was nine plays, and Angeli only threw one pass for 19 yards.
Clemson’s offense couldn’t get going on its next drive, but Syracuse’s didn’t slow down. Aided by two roughing the passer calls, the Orange drove 80 yards in eight plays for a 24-7 lead with 9:17 to play before halftime.
After the defense forced a rare punt, Clemson’s offense drove 14 plays for its second touchdown of the day. Syracuse’s defense played off for the first part of the drive, giving Clemson’s receiver a cushion and allowing completions of over 10 yards. Clemson drove to the two-yard line, and after what would’ve been a stop on second down, Syracuse was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the Tigers new life. Two plays later, Klubnik found Randall in the back of the endzone to cut the Orange’s lead to 24-14 with just over a minute to play before intermission.
After a lengthy rain delay, Clemson’s opening possession of the second half was stymied. Syracuse, however, hit a big pass play on second down for a 31-yard gain and turned it into three points to extend its lead to 27-14 just a little over three minutes into the third quarter.
Angeli exited the game with a leg injury late in the third quarter, seemingly giving Clemson new life. However, on Clemson’s first play of the ensuing drive, Randall fumbled the ball, giving it right back to the Orange. One play later, Ross-Simmons had his second touchdown of the game to essentially put the game out of reach at 34-14 with 2:12 to play in the third quarter.
Wesco caught his second touchdown pass of the afternoon on a nine-yard reception with nine minutes to play.
Clemson is off next Saturday before heading to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina.
Final Stats
Here’s Grayson Mann’s view from Death Valley
