The Clemson football team was stuck in neutral, still spinning their wheels following last week’s demoralizing loss to Louisville. Trailing 7-0 at halftime on the road at Virginia Tech on Saturday, it seemed like Deja vu all over again. But Clemson came out roaring in the second half behind the moxy of quarterback Cade Klubnik and the Tigers rallied for a big road victory. Here are some retrospective thoughts on a 24-14 win at hostile Lane Stadium.
Clemson Tigers vs. Virginia Tech Hokies | Full Game Highlights | ESPN College Football
Here we go again
One of the more frustrating things about the Louisville loss was the inability of the offense to sustain drives. On Saturday, the first half was a frustrating carbon copy of those struggles. The Clemson football team was unable to sustain any semblance of a drive against a scrappy Hokie defense, and multiple punts kept handing the ball back to Virginia Tech. Luckily, the Hokies were unable to cash in a single drive on offense, but the groans of the Clemson faithful could be heard all the way back in South Carolina as the flashbacks became more intense. The Tigers must be able to start strong and the last two weeks that has not been the case.
Can we successfully block on field goal attempts?
Once again, like a broken record, Clemson football had a kick blocked on Saturday. Looking for their first points of the afternoon, the Tigers and freshman place kicker Nolan Houser lined up to attempt a 47-yard kick. Unlike the well-documented blocking issues on the left side of the wedge, this time a Virginia Tech defender came from the middle and swatted the ball down which was promptly picked up and returned 63 yards for a Hokie touchdown, the only points by either team in the first half.
I am not sure what can be done to correct the kick blocking issues, but something has to be done. Houser has not missed a kick all season that has not been blocked. He is otherwise money in the bank.
But the defense rose to the occasion
Hats off to the defense! Clemson football is not used to seeing its defense gashed like it was against Louisville and the Tigers needed a big answer. Man, did they ever get one. Clemson held Virginia Tech to under 90 yards of total offense in the first half, under 300 for the game, and only one offensive touchdown that came in the final two minutes when the game had long been decided.
That effort is what Clemson fans have come to expect, and as the offense was trying to find its footing, the defense saved the Tigers time and time again forcing three turnovers including two interceptions. It was fun to watch the defense flying around and putting hats on whoever had the ball. More of that, please.
And speaking of interceptions…
Freshman corner Ashton Hampton had one of the most spectacular interceptions you will ever see. One play after the Virginia Tech receiver made a sensational catch in the face of Hampton’s tight coverage, the Hokies immediately tested Hampton again. Big mistake. The 6-foot-2-inch underclassman stuck to his man, slipped in front, and somehow snagged the ball around the back of the receiver to give the Tigers possession again. Clemson football has had some great players in the secondary over the years, and Ashton Hampton may be next in line. His play on Saturday will be talked about in Tiger Town for a while.
Cade Klubnik to the rescue
Cade Klubnik did not have a great first half by anyone’s standards, but what a second half for the junior signal caller. When Clemson football needed a big play, Klubnik kept delivering, connecting on three second half touchdown passes including one of the most spectacular plays of the college season. Klubnik was nearly sacked from the blind side, felt the pressure, somehow escaped to his right, and threw across his body to a wide-open T.J. Moore just inside the 10. Moore slipped one defender and walked into the endzone to break a 7-7 tie.
Clemson would be in control from that point forward and it was a play that permanently changed the trajectory of the game. It was a play you had to see to believe.
