Well, that wasn’t supposed to happen.
Two hours of lightning delays, 30 minutes of getting worked over by Troy, and then one hell of a second half that reminded everybody why they still play the games. Clemson beat Troy 27-16 Saturday night, but man, they made it a lot harder than it needed to be.
Down 16-3 at halftime and looking completely lost on both sides of the ball, the Tigers somehow found their backbone after intermission and outscored the Trojans 24-0 the rest of the way. It was like watching two different teams play.
Whatever They Said at Halftime, It Worked
The difference between the first and second half was night and day. Same players, same uniforms, completely different attitude.
Bryant Wesco Jr. caught seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns – most of that damage coming after halftime when Clemson finally remembered they had playmakers on the roster. The guy(Wesco Jr.) was a one-man wrecking crew once Cade Klubnik started getting him the ball in space.
Adam Randall ran for 112 yards on 21 carries after managing just 21 yards on six attempts in the first half. Suddenly the holes were there, suddenly the line was blocking, and suddenly Clemson looked like a team that belonged on the field with anybody.
Klubnik threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-24 passing. Not bad for a guy who spent the first 30 minutes getting chased around like his pants were on fire.
Defense Saved the Day
Here’s the thing nobody’s talking about enough – the defense won this game. Three interceptions in the second half, including two that set up short fields for easy scores.
Goose Crowder looked like Johnny Unitas in the first half, carving up Clemson’s secondary and making throws all over the field. After halftime? He threw three picks and looked like a guy who’d never seen a football before.
Troy managed 206 yards in the first half and just 95 the rest of the way. That’s not by accident. That’s good halftime adjustments and players finally making plays when they’re there to be made.
The Trojans finished with 301 total yards but only 16 points. When you hold a team to 16 points, you should win. Doesn’t matter if they’re Troy or Alabama.
First Half Was Painful
Let’s not sugarcoat this – the first half was embarrassing. Troy looked faster, stronger, and more prepared. They wanted it more, and it showed.
The offensive line got pushed around like they were playing their first game. Klubnik had no time to throw, no room to move, and no help from anybody wearing orange. They rushed for 17 yards in 30 minutes. Seventeen yards. That’s barely one first down.
Troy controlled the clock (17 minutes to Clemson’s 12), moved the ball at will, and generally made the home team look like they’d rather be anywhere else. The 44-yard touchdown pass they threw in the first quarter was a thing of beauty. For them.
It was the kind of half that makes you wonder what they’ve been doing in practice all week.
Wesco Jr. Stole the Show
If there was one guy who single-handedly changed this game, it was Bryant Wesco Jr. Kid made plays when plays needed to be made.
His 35-yard catch early in the third quarter got everybody off their feet and reminded the crowd they were still in this thing. The 26-yard touchdown that gave Clemson the lead was perfectly thrown and perfectly caught. And that 34-yard score in the fourth quarter that put it away? Chef’s kiss.
Seven catches, 118 yards, two touchdowns. Those are video game numbers, especially when your team desperately needs someone to step up.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Final stats: Clemson 316 yards, Troy 301. Pretty even, right? Wrong.
Clemson completed 75% of their passes compared to Troy’s 61%. The Tigers went 3-for-3 in the red zone while Troy managed just 1-for-1. Most importantly, Clemson turned the ball over once while Troy coughed it up three times.
That’s how you win games. Take care of the ball, make plays in the red zone, and capitalize when the other team gives you opportunities.
What’s Next?
Look, this wasn’t pretty. Troy came to play and for 30 minutes they looked like the better team. That’s concerning when you’re supposed to be building toward bigger things.
The offensive line has issues. The early-game preparation needs work. And somebody needs to explain why it took a lightning delay and a bad first half for this team to start playing like they’re capable of.
But they figured it out when it mattered. They made adjustments, they executed, and they found a way to win. That counts for something.
Wesco Jr. looks like a legitimate playmaker. Randall can carry the load when he gets blocking. And the defense can create turnovers when they need to.
It’s a win. In college football, those don’t grow on trees. But next week, they might not be so lucky if they start this slow.
Final: Clemson 27, Troy 16
Key Performers:
- Bryant Wesco Jr.: 7 rec, 118 yards, 2 TD
- Adam Randall: 21 rush, 112 yards, 1 TD; 4 rec, 23 yards
- Cade Klubnik: 18-24, 196 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
- Nolan Hauser: 2-2 field goals
- Clemson Defense: 3 interceptions, 4 sacks
