Clemson gets glimpse of the future
Five-star freshman Klubnik fills in for a struggling Uiagalelei and quarterbacks Tigers to a comeback and their 14th consecutive win.
NO. 5 CLEMSON 27 NO. 14 SYRACUSE 21
CLEMSON, S.C. — DJ Uiagalelei tapped backup Cade Klubnik on the helmet and gave him a final piece of advice before the freshman headed to the field with No. 5 Clemson down by 11 in the third quarter. “You’re ready for this,” Uiagalelei said. Clemson’s starter was right. Klubnik, the five-star newcomer, led the fifth-ranked Tigers to two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 27-21 win over No. 14 Syracuse on Saturday.
Will Shipley scored twice on the ground, including the go-ahead, 50-yard touchdown run with less than 12 minutes to go. Shipley also had a career-high 172 yards rushing.
Clemson (8-0, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) rallied from 14 points down in the first half for its 14th straight win and an ACCrecord setting 38th straight home victory, and maintained control of the ACC Atlantic Division as the league’s last unbeaten.
And it likely wouldn’t have happened without Klubnik’s steady hand.
Uiagalelei had his worst game of the season with two interceptions and a fumble that Syracuse (6-1, 3-1) returned for a 90-yard scoop and score as the Tigers fell behind 21-7.
Klubnik’s spark was immediate. He led a 15-play, 80-yard drive finished by Phil Mafah’s one-yard bull rush.
After a Syracuse punt, Klubnik opened the next series with an 11-yard run before Shipley’s score that sent him into the stands with his own Lambeau Leap. The Tigers, ahead 22-21, went for two as Klubnik escaped a defender in the backfield, rolled right and found Joseph Ngata for the conversion.
Klubnik punched the air and the stadium erupted in a frenzy. “Just excited to get my moment,” he said. “It was awesome.” Will there be more for him this year? “DJ’s our starter, DJ’s our leader,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Nothing’s changed there.”