South Carolina Defeats Clemson, 17-14
CLEMSON, S.C. - Quarterback Cade Klubnik led No. 12 Clemson (9-3) inside the 20-yard line with less than a minute to play, but a deflected pass was intercepted by Demetrius Knight Jr. to seal a 17-14 win for No. 14 South Carolina (9-3) at Memorial Stadium in the 121st installment of the Palmetto Bowl presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers scored the game-winning touchdown on a 20-yard scramble on 3rd-and-15 with 1:08 to play and the Gamecocks held on for the win.
Klubnik completed 24-for-36 passes for 280 yards and added 10 carries for 62 yards and both of Clemson’s touchdowns on the ground. Clemson had six tackles for loss, three sacks and forced three turnovers, but Sellers was able to escape pressure for big gains on several occasions, including the final scoring play.
The teams played a scoreless first quarter. South Carolina took the game’s opening drive 51 yards in six plays, but T.J. Parker’s school-record-tying fifth forced fumble of the season ended the Gamecock threat. Later in the quarter, Clemson produced a 10-play, 85-yard drive but was stopped short on fourth-and-1 to keep the score at 0-0.
Clemson opened the game’s scoring on the Tigers’ third drive. Clemson started the drive with a 40-yard pass from Klubnik to Antonio Williams, and two plays later, Klubnik scampered 13 yards for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season and a 7-0 lead for Clemson.
The Gamecocks responded on their ensuing possession with a 25-yard touchdown run by Sellers. The six-play, 75-yard drive evened the score at 7-7 as the teams remained tied heading into halftime.
On Clemson’s first drive of the second half, Klubnik capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with his second touchdown run of the day. The 18-yard rush put the Tigers up 14-7.
Clemson ended South Carolina’s first drive of the second half with the Tigers’ second takeaway of the day. Cornerback Avieon Terrell forced his second forced fumble in his last two games, and linebacker Barrett Carter recovered the loose ball to give the ball back to the Tigers. Clemson was unable to capitalize on the turnover when a fumbled exchange between Klubnik and Phil Mafah was credited to the Gamecocks on review.
The turnover exchange continued on South Carolina’s next possession as safety Khalil Barnes intercepted a Gamecock pass on the Clemson nine-yard line, marking his career-high-tying third of the season. Barnes now owns an interception in both of his career games against South Carolina.
Following a scoreless drive by Clemson, South Carolina notched back-to-back scoring drives when kicker Alex Herrera converted a 42-yard field goal to cut the lead, and a 20-yard touchdown rush by Sellers with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter put the Gamecocks ahead, 17-14.
Klubnik led a seven-play, 45-yard drive to put the Tigers inside the 20, but South Carolina secured the win with Knight’s interception with 12 seconds left on the clock.
With its regular season now completed, Clemson will face SMU in an ACC-record 10th all-time ACC Championship Game berth in Charlotte on Saturday, Dec. 7.