Final: #2 Clemson 28 - Wake Forest 14
A humid morning in Clemson (6-0, 4-0) would lead to a hot start for the Tiger offense against Wake Forest (4-2, 1-2) as the Tigers scored on their first two drives of the game, giving them a cushion to work with against the Demon Deacons.
Clemson opened up the scoring on a deep ball from Kelly Bryant to Deon Cain for a 28-yard touchdown giving Clemson a 7-0 lead.
Wake's starting quarterback John Wolford wasn't 100% as he was dealing with a shoulder injury, so the Deacons turned to backup Kendall Hinton. Hinton would be charged with trying to keep up with Clemson's offensive attack while navigating a stingy Clemson defense.
On Clemson's second possession of the game, Travis Etienne would electrify the crowd with a 20-yard run. Bryant hit Deondre Overton on a 19-yard reception and a play later, Adam Choice punched it in from 4-yards out giving Clemson a 14-0 lead with 6:18 left in the first quarter.
Wake would strike back quick hitting on a 43-yard pass play to Greg Dortch. A facemask on the play moved Wake into the red zone, but Mike Weaver's field goal attempt from 34-yards would just miss leaving the score 14-0.
On the Tigers next possession, facing a 3rd and 9, Bryant delivered a strike across the middle to Tee Higgins, and the true freshman would haul it in for a 20-yard reception. However, a promising Clemson drive stalled at the 25-yard line and Alex Spence doinked a 43-yard attempt off the upright with just seconds left in the first quarter.
Wake Forest's offensive issues continued, and Clemson's defense forced their second three and out of the game.
Clemson got the ball back, and after converting on 4th-and-1 near midfield, Kelly Bryant got sacked, fumbled, and Wake Forest recovered the ball at the Clemson 40-yard line. But Clemson's defense stood firm with their third three-and-out of the first half. After a few more exchanges of the ball, we hit the half with Clemson leading 14-0.
The Tiger defense opened the second half with a forced fumble on the first play that was recovered by Wake Forest. Two plays later, Wake punted.
The Tiger offense would turn it over on their first possession of the second half as Kelly Bryant was picked off by Wake Forest's Amari Henderson, at the Wake Forest 36-yard line.
On the ensuing drive, the Demon Deacons missed another field goal. Clemson's offense would take advantage, going 68 yards on nine plays giving Clemson a 21-0 lead midway through the third quarter. During that drive, Travis Etienne had another dazzling run, but arguably his block in pass protection, on a 29-yard pass play to Hunter Renfrow was equally as impressive.
That drive didn't end without concern for Clemson fans as quarterback Kelly Bryant limped off the field following the touchdown. He would be replaced by Zerrick Cooper on Clemson's next possession and didn't return to the game.
Wake Forest forced Cooper and the Clemson offense into a three-and-out of their own but squandered another scoring opportunity. Trailing 21-0 and facing a 4th and four at the 17-yard line, the Clemson front four would stuff the line of scrimmage keeping a zero on the Deacons side of the scoreboard with 1:55 left in the third quarter.
Cooper would get one last opportunity, but the Tigers failed to move the ball, and Clemson turned to Hunter Johnson after just two possessions.
Johnson, the true freshman, wouldn't disappoint on his first drive. Johnson looked crisp, and the ball seemed to jump out of his hands. Johnson hit Cannon Smith on a 13-yard touchdown giving Clemson a 28-0 lead.
Wake Forest would finally score on their next drive. Hinton would lead the way, breaking off a 37-yard rush. Then he hit Scotty Washington on a 13-yard touchdown trimming the Clemson lead to 28-7 with 8:32 left to play.
Clemson punted on the following series, and the Deacons would capitalize again. This time Hinton hit Cam Serigne for an 11-yard score cutting the lead in half at 28-14 with 4:05 left.
That's how it would end as Clemson ran out the clock and moved to 6-0 on the season.