Clemson followers lastly acquired the sport from D.J. Uiagalelei that they’ve been ready for, ending with 371 yards passing and 5 touchdowns. You’d determine that form of day would result in a blowout of No. 21 Wake Forest with the protection we’re accustomed to seeing from the Tigers. After two overtimes and greater than 1,000 yards of whole offense, the perennial convention champions held off the reigning kings of the ACC, 51-45.
Demon Deacon QB Sam Hartman tallied six landing passes, repeatedly hitting receivers for giant performs — or pass-interference flags — up till the second time beyond regulation when the hopes of an upset had been dashed on a fourth down heave to the endzone. Tiger cornerback Nate Wiggins, who was getting focused all day, made the game-sealing move breakup, and Dabo Swinney’s staff escaped Winston-Salem with its successful streak — now at 10 — nonetheless intact.
As comforting as Uiagalelei’s efficiency was, the protection is simply as regarding. The defensive entrance was with out one in all its finest gamers, in order that they’re not at full energy. But they’ve proven some hints the previous couple of weeks that they is perhaps lacking coordinator Brent Venables, and now these indicators are blinking vivid purple.
I preferred Wake Forest’s probabilities in Saturday’s sport, however my questions had been extra concerning the quarterback. Clemson has allowed greater than 40 factors solely 5 occasions previously five-plus years. Notre Dame, LSU, Ohio State, and Pitt had been answerable for the earlier 4, and now Wake Forest is on that record.
Outdoors of a one-play possession that ran out the ultimate 14 seconds of the primary half, Wake scored on five-straight drives from the second quarter to the fourth. Dave Clawson’s insistence on the run in the course of the Deacs’ last likelihood at a rating in regulation — Clemson’s solely cease of the second half — was a bizarre technique contemplating how sizzling Hartman was.
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Saying Dabo out-coached him won’t be correct both as his equally sizzling offense wasn’t even given an opportunity to get inside discipline objective vary with 49 seconds left to attempt to win the sport sans OT, and Wake hemorrhaging yards. (He additionally ran his kicker out for a 52-yarder to tie the sport with 4 minutes left within the sport, and his belief was rewarded as B.T. Potter drilled the kick.)
The day belonged to Uiagalelei although. This was the precise sort of command and playmaking Clemson followers have been ready for out of him, and it got here in a high-pressure scenario. The 371 yards passing is the second highest output of his profession, and his first sport with 300-plus yards since Nov. 7, 2020. The 5 passing scores are a career-high by three TDs.
He made loads of powerful throws, however the hardest got here on a two-point conversion within the third quarter to tie the competition at 28. Underneath stress, with a Deacon holding his leg, he discovered receiver Beaux Collins regardless of solely having one foot on the bottom.
Though Wake’s protection leaves lots to be desired — the fangless three-man rushes allowed Uiagalelei sufficient time to write down a memoir — this was as good of a sport as a quarterback can play.
No. 12 NC State and QB Devin Leary go to Demise Valley subsequent week, and if the Wolfpack can get by UConn, School Gameday may discover itself with one other orange-heavy vacation spot. The Clemson protection may have one other veteran quarterback to include, however that may be mentioned of each groups.
