CLEMSON, S.C. _ It was a celebration from start to finish for Clemson on Saturday afternoon against The Citadel.
The Tigers opened the day by recognizing seniors during pregame, honored the military throughout the day and clobbered The Citadel, 61-3, on the field in their final tune up before traveling to South Carolina.
Clemson had six players score touchdowns, including freshman running back Travis Etienne, who scored on a pair of runs.
Etienne had a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and scored from 7 yards out in the third to up his total to 11 on the year. Etienne broke C.J. Spiller's freshman record of 10 rushing touchdowns, which was set in 2006.
Fellow freshman Tee Higgins had a pair of touchdowns as well, catching a 32-yard pass with 5 seconds remaining in the first half to up Clemson's lead to 38-0 and hauling in a one-handed 78-yard touchdown catch in the third.
The touchdowns were the first of Higgins' career.
Clemson scored 21 points in the first quarter, 17 in the second, 20 in the third and 3 in the fourth as the game was never in doubt.
Kelly Bryant finished 17 of 22 passing for 230 yards and three scores before leaving the game late in the second quarter with the Tigers comfortably ahead.
Bryant connected with Deon Cain for a 53-yard touchdown on Clemson's first series and also tossed touchdowns to Hunter Renfrow and T.J. Chase. Renfrow's touchdown was his first since making the game-winning catch against Alabama in the national title game, while Chase's touchdown was the first of his career.
The Citadel finally got on the board with 2:50 remaining in the game on a 30-yard field goal by Jacob Godek.
Linebacker James Skalski led the Tigers in tackles with nine, including a tackle for loss. Trayvon Mullen and Shaq Smith had interceptions for Clemson, while Albert Huggins had 1.5 tackles for loss.
