Freshman leads rally, braces for No. 4 Irish Game of the day

With QB Lawrence out, Uiagalelei lifts Clemson Clemson 34, Boston College 28

CLEMSON, S.C. — Freshman DJ Uiagalelei led the biggest comeback in the history of Death Valley. He’ll get the chance to make even a bigger impression next week with quarterback Trevor Lawrence ruled out for the showdown with No 4 Notre Dame due to COVID-19.

Uiagalelei stepped in for Lawrence on Saturday and rallied top-ranked Clemson from an 18-point deficit to a 34-28 victory over Boston College.

Rattled at facing the Irish? The kid from California doesn’t sound like it.

“It’s the same mindset that I had this week,” Uiagalelei said. “Start watching some film tomorrow to get ready for another game.”

Uiagalelei looked ready for anything after the Tigers fought back from a 28-10 deficit, a rally that surpassed a 17-point comeback at home in a win over Virginia in 1966.

“I’ve been preparing for this ever since I got to Clemson,” he said.

Although he and his teammates probably didn’t anticipate trailing by double-digits in the second quarter.

“Being down 18 is not a lot of points,” Uiagalelei said. “We all had complete confidence in ourselves that if we could execute, we’d get back in it,” he said.

Travis Etienne became the Atlantic Coast Conference’s career rushing leader and his second TD put the Tigers (7-0, 6-0) ahead for good. A jarring week for Clemson ended with its 28th straight win over league competition, 10th straight over the Eagles and 27th in a row at home.

A positive COVID-19 test this week forced Lawrence to sit out, and he won’t be eligible to return until after next weekend’s clash versus the Irish.

“My symptoms have been fairly mild while I’m following the protocol from Clemson and the ACC,” Lawrence wrote on Twitter. “The only thing that hurts is missing an opportunity to be with my teammates …”

The Eagles (4-3, 3-3) pounced quickly, taking a 28-10 lead in the second quarter.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney told his team at halftime, “Don’t flinch.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been down like this,” he said. “We’re fixing to find out what this team’s made of.”

Uiagalelei ran for a 30-yard TD on Clemson’s opening third-quarter drive to begin the comeback, then threw an 8-yard scoring strike to Amari Rodgers that drew the Tigers to 28-26.

Etienne, Clemson’s other Heisman contender, put the Tigers in front for good with a 17-yard touchdown run with 11:34 to go.

Josh Morgan The Associated Press Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei led the program back from its largest home deficit as the nation’s top-ranked team downed Boston College on Saturday in Clemson, S.C.