CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson erased a 14-point deficit by scoring 22 second-half points to stage a dramatic 28-20 comeback victory over North Carolina in front of a few thousand rain-soaked fans at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Trailing 17-3 deep into the second quarter and 17-6 at halftime, the Tigers stormed back in the second half behind explosive plays from running back Gideon Davidson, wide receiver Tyler Brown, and tight end Christian Bentancur.
North Carolina controlled the opening half. The Tar Heels jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Demon June’s 3-yard touchdown rush with 10:50 left in the first quarter. After Clemson’s Nolan Hauser converted a 49-yard field goal, UNC quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Benjamin Hall for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-3. Aeron Burrell added a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter to stretch the Tar Heels’ lead to 17-3. Hauser kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 17-6 at the break.
Momentum flipped early in the third quarter when UNC’s Demon June fumbled at the Tar Heels’ 12-yard line, and Clemson’s Fletcher Cothran recovered it. Hauser turned the takeaway into a 22-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-9. Later in the third, Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds hit Bentancur for a 27-yard touchdown pass to cap a 7-play, 92-yard drive, trimming UNC’s lead to 17-15 after a failed two-point conversion pass.
North Carolina briefly halted the surge midway through the fourth quarter when Burrell booted a 22-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 60-yard drive and extend the Tar Heels’ lead to 20-15 with 6:34 remaining.
Clemson answered immediately. On the next drive, Davidson ripped off a 45-yard run down to the UNC 9-yard line and capped the drive two plays later with an 8-yard touchdown run, giving Clemson its first lead of the game at 21-20 with 5:01 left.
Faced with a fourth-and-1 at their own 45-yard line on the ensuing possession, the Tar Heels turned the ball over on downs when Edwards Jr.’s deep pass fell incomplete. Clemson capitalized five plays later when Tyler Brown broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run with 1:00 remaining to build a 28-20 advantage.
Elliot Washington II sealed the victory for Clemson on UNC’s final drive, intercepting Edwards Jr. at the Clemson 48-yard line with 32 seconds remaining.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Statistic | North Carolina (UNC) | Clemson (CLE) |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 20 | 20 |
| Net Rushing Yards | 214 (39 attempts) | 186 (36 attempts) |
| Net Passing Yards | 135 | 215 |
| Completions-Attempts-INT | 13-30-1 | 20-30-1 |
| Total Offensive Yards | 349 | 401 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 5-35 | 4-25 |
| Time of Possession | 33:32 | 26:28 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 5 of 14 | 5 of 13 |
Individual Leaders
- North Carolina Passing: Billy Edwards Jr. — 13/30, 135 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Clemson Passing: Tait Reynolds — 20/29, 215 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- North Carolina Rushing: Benjamin Hall — 18 carries, 130 yards (7.2 avg); Demon June — 12 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD
- Clemson Rushing: Gideon Davidson — 16 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD; Tyler Brown — 1 carry, 34 yards, 1 TD
- North Carolina Receiving: Jordan Shipp — 6 receptions, 68 yards; Jelani Thurman — 3 receptions, 18 yards; Benjamin Hall — 1 reception, 15 yards, 1 TD
- Clemson Receiving: Bryant Wesco Jr. — 5 receptions, 77 yards; T.J. Moore — 7 receptions, 38 yards; Christian Bentancur — 2 receptions, 35 yards, 1 TD
- Defensive Leaders: UNC’s Derek McDonald logged 10 total tackles. Clemson’s Corey Myrick recorded 11 tackles, while Jeremiah Alexander added 10 tackles.
