#Clemson torches Appalachian State 66-20 (AUDIO/VIDEO)

**Cade Klubnik led Clemson on eight straight touchdown drives to open the game (Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA)**

DEATH VALLEY: Appalachian State has made its mark by punching above its weight and pulling off monumental upsets against high-profile opponents. App. State is a giant-killer. A “David,” with “Goliath” ever in its sights. But Saturday evening, Goliath was well prepared and launched a violent ambush, leaving David a bloody and beaten mess. Clemson was razor sharp from the outset, striking for touchdowns on its first eight drives en route to a 66-20 thrashing of Appalachian State.

The Tigers entered the game with heavy hearts, as the team announced the death of former team captain Diondre Overton early Saturday. Head coach Dabo Swinney knelt by Overton’s captain’s plaque during Tiger Walk and Overton, a two-time national champion, was acknowledged with a moment of silence prior to the game.

Game story by Nikki Hood:

Chicks -and Clemson fans – dig offense, and offensive fireworks they got Saturday night at Death Valley. The Tigers rolled over Appalachian State 66-20 to improve to 1-1. The Mountaineers fell to 1-1 with the loss.

Clemson’s 712 yards of total offense ranks sixth in program history. The Tigers had 460 passing yards and 252 rushing yards. Clemson’s offense broke the previous record of 487 yards in a half set against Duke in 2012 with just under two minutes to play in the half. The Tigers finished the half with 525 yards of total offense – the first 500-yard half in program history.

The Tigers scored 35 points in the first quarter, which is the most scored in a first quarter in program history. Clemson scored 35 points in any quarter just three other times – against Wake Forest in 1981, North Carolina in 2011 and Georgia Tech in 2020.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik set a new career high for passing yards with 378 yards, breaking his previous high of 320 yards against North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game in 2022. He completed 24-of-26 passes for five touchdowns.

Phil Mafah had ten carries for 118 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown run. Twelve different receivers caught passes in the game. Jake Briningstool and Bryant Wesco, Jr. each eclipsed the 100-yard mark.

Bryant Wesco, Jr. had three catches for 130 yards and a touchdown in the first half. His touchdown came on his first ever catch in a Clemson uniform. The last Tiger to accomplish that feat was Justyn Ross in 2018. Wesco tied Artavis Scott, Ross and Cole Turner for the fewest games needed to record a 100-yard receiving game (2).

Clemson’s first two offensive plays looked a lot like last week, but facing third-and-11, Klubnik hit Wesco in the middle of the field for a 76-yard catch and run to the endzone and a 7-0 Tiger lead with 13:46 to play in the first quarter.

Klubnik to Wesco was once again a thing on the second drive of the game. On second-and-seven, the freshman wideout beat his man down the field and Klubnik hit him in stride for a 52-yard gain to the one-yard line. Klubnik hit paydirt on the next play for a 14-0 Clemson lead.

On third down, Mafah snuck through the left side of the line and raced with an entourage of Wesco and Antonio Brown 83 yards for Clemson’s third score of the night and a 21-0 lead with 7:08 to play in the first quarter.

Make it four offensive drives, four touchdowns. This time it was a 41-yard pass down the opposing sideline to Jake Briningstool for a 28-0 Clemson lead. The pass gave Clemson 320 yards of offense in with over two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Williams added 29-yard touchdown reception to make it 35-0 Tigers with 12 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers ran 18 plays for 349 yards in the opening stanza.

Clemson’s offense scored three more touchdowns in the second half – Klubnik’s second rushing touchdown, and receiving touchdowns by TJ Moore and Briningstool, while App State got on the board with 10:39 to play before halftime with a 4-yard touchdown rush by Castle Anderson. The Mountaineers added two more field goals for a 56-13 Clemson lead at intermission.

App. State scored on its opening possession of second half, but backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina had a five-yard touchdown run, the first of his career later in the third quarter.

Clemson has an open date next weekend before hosting NC State on September 21st.