For much of the afternoon on Saturday at Death Valley, it seemed the Clemson Tigers were taking two steps back for the positive step forward they made in their previous two contests. The Tigers found themselves locked in a tight battle with 21-point underdog Wake Forest until the final moments of the contest, with an offense that was stuck in neutral all day.
In the end, the Clemson defense saved the day. The Tigers’ fearsome front seven smothered the Demon Deacons all day, keeping at bay a Wake team intent on upsetting the home team on homecoming as Clemson won 17-12.
“First, I really appreciate our fans,” said head coach Dabo Swinney. “It was a great crowd and a beautiful day. Our fans were there when we needed them down the stretch. Sometimes you have to win some games like that.”
Dabo Swinney
Wake Forest managed a field goal to take a three-point lead into the second quarter. The kick came following another mishandled exchange between Cade Klubnik and Will Shipley. Clemson and Klubnik answered midway through the period when the sophomore signal caller scampered seven yards on a keeper for the game’s only first half touchdown. It was a big play that ensured Clemson would take the lead into the intermission with possession of the ball coming to start the third.
“I was kind of reading the defensive end,” explained Klubnik. “I knew I had an opportunity (to run it). It’s not really something you game plan for, but we were trying to keep the defensive end honest.”
Cade Klubnik
Nursing a 7-3 lead at the break, the Tigers came out in the third quarter and put together a nice drive, though it stalled inside the 10. Jonathan Weitz did punctuate it with points, however, as he knocked home a short field goal to extend the Clemson lead to 10-3.
That would be the score until midway through the fourth quarter. The Tigers stonewalled Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis and the Deacons’ tricky mesh offense, and when Griffis was taken down for a sack on 3rd and 14, it appeared Clemson would get it back with a chance to extend the lead.
Instead, a flag was thrown for a questionable roughing the passer penalty which gave Wake new life inside the Clemson 20. Once again, the defense hammered down and snuffed out any thoughts of a touchdown, holding the Demon Deacons to a field goal and keeping the lead intact at 10-6.
It was a huge sequence to keep Wake Forest out of the endzone there, said Swinney.
“Our coaches have done a great job preparing our guys for those situations, and we’ve gotten better each week,” Swinney said. “One of the areas we knew we had to improve was points (allowed) off turnovers. Bad things happen, right? That’s why you sign up to play defense. We had a couple of tough calls go against us today, but sometimes you just have to agree to disagree. I’m just proud of them. It shows growth, it shows toughness, it shows belief, and preparation.”
Dabo Swinney
It appeared Will Shipley had provided the punctuation on the victory with just under six minutes to play when the junior plowed in from one yard out to give the Tigers a 17-6 lead, but Clemson would still suffer some drama in the final two minutes.
Wake put together their best drive of the game on their last trip down the field, capped by a three-yard touchdown run from Demond Claiborne. The onside kick, though, was recovered by Hamp Greene which allowed Clemson to run out the clock.
“I just want to see this team be victorious at the end of the day,” Shipley said. “Going back out after halftime I knew that I needed to step up. Phil (Mafah) and I knew we needed to step up and help the offense out and make it a little bit easier on the defense. There was motivation to come out after halftime and do our part.”
Will Shipley
Another harrowing escape, but a win just the same is how Swinney looks at it.
“We’ve had some games where we’ve had some great stats this year and got beat, and today we lost the turnover battle and still found a way to win,” he said. “I’m really proud of our team. We took another step today. Our goal was to find a way to win and we did that.”
Dabo Swinney
The victory on Saturday, number 165 for Swinney, ties him with the legendary Frank Howard for the most in Clemson history. It was a special milestone, but one that Swinney would rather not dwell on for too long.
“I think the last time we scored 12 points against Wake Forest I became head coach the next week,” joked Swinney. “I remember that well. It’s not really something I want to spend a lot of time talking about, but the significance of it is not lost on me. It’s just a blessing to be a part of this, and it’s a reflection on all of the great players, coaches, and support staff we have had here.”
Dabo Swinney
Klubnik finished the game completing 18 of 28 passes for 131 yards. Shipley led all rushers with 97 yards on 19 carriers. Beaux Collins led the Tigers with 50 yards on five receptions.
The Tigers enter their bye week with a 4-2 overall record and are now 2-2 in ACC play. Clemson will travel to Miami to take on a resurgent Hurricanes’ program in two weeks, looking to keep their momentum rolling with a third straight win.
That, and Clemson sorely needs the time off to get several key players healthy.
“We’re excited about where we are as we head into the halftime of the season, if you will,” Swinney added. “I know we don’t play a game next week but it’s a huge week for us as a team to get healthy and get a head start on our next opponent.”
Dabo Swinney
