CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson’s season has been anything but perfect. Coming into Saturday’s game against No. 10 Wake Forest, the Tigers knew what was at stake and responded accordingly.
With a 33-game winning streak at Memorial Stadium and ACC Atlantic Division hopes on the line, Clemson buckled down and defeated the Demon Deacons, 48-27.
The Tigers (8-3, 6-2 ACC) extended their Death Valley winning streak to 34, sending their seniors out undefeated at home, and have won 13 straight against Wake Forest (9-2, 6-1). It’s the Tigers’ first win over a ranked opponent since beating second-ranked Notre Dame in the ACC championship 34-10 a year ago.
What’s more is that Clemson still has a chance to clinch the Atlantic Division — if Wake Forest loses to Boston College next week and if N.C. State loses either of its final two games. The ACC title game is Dec. 4 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.
On Saturday, Clemson’s offense looked better than it has all season in building a 10-0 lead on the team’s first two drives. On its second possession, quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei avoided two sacks, scrambled and chucked the football 52 yards down the field to receiver Beaux Collins. Three plays later, tailback Will Shipley, who was held out of last week’s game against UConn, dove into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown at the 6:41 mark.
Uiagalelei was 11-of-19 passing on the day for 208 yards, a TD and an interception. Clemson did most of its damage on the ground with 333 yards rushing.
As it has most of the season, Clemson’s defense did its part and held Wake Forest, which had averaged 49.7 points per outing, to 10 points after the first half. The Demon Deacons weren’t down for long, though, as quarterback Sam Hartman and his plentiful group of receivers started rolling.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Deacs put together two solid drives for 10 points. Hartman went 10-for-13 passing during that time. He finished 27-of-43 passing with 312 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
While the Tigers’ offense had one of their better performances against a top-10 opponent, they did have three turnovers. The defense cleaned up and didn’t allow Wake to capitalize. After Uiagalelei threw an interception near the end of the first half, Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth picked off a Hartman pass to send the Tigers into the locker room with a 17-10 lead.
Coming out of halftime, both teams fumbled on their first possessions, but Wake Forest’s turnover was more costly. The Demon Deacons turned the ball over on their side of the field. It ended in running back Kobe Pace’s eight-yard, bull-rush touchdown three plays later against a Demon Deacons’ scoring defense that ranked 87th nationally coming into the game.
From there, the Tigers cruised to the victory.
ACC Atlantic Division scenarios
Wake Forest wins the Atlantic with a victory next weekend against Boston College.
N.C. State wins the division if the Wolfpack win out and if Wake loses against BC.
Clemson wins the Atlantic if Boston College defeats Wake and if N.C. State loses one of its final two games.
By the numbers
— 3: For the third time this season, Clemson got points out of its first two drives of a game. Against Wake Forest, the Tigers opened the contest with a 50-yard field goal from B.T. Potter, who now holds the school record for most field goals made from 50 yards or more with six. Two minutes later, Clemson scored on a diving one-yard TD from Will Shipley and led 10-0 after the first quarter.
— 7: After one half, Clemson sacked Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman five times, which included back-to-back sacks from Etinosa Reuben and Trenton Simpson on Wake Forests’ second drive of the game. Through two quarters, the Deacs had zero rushing yards. The unit added two more sacks in the second half.
— 191: Kobe Pace set a new career-high in rushing yards with 191 on 24 carries on the day. The sophomore partnered with Shipley to handle running back duties against Wake Forest after both sat out last week against UConn as a precaution.
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