FINAL: No. 4 Clemson 63, Wake Forest 3
Under the overcast skies in Winston-Salem, Clemson (6-0, 3-0) got off to another slow start in ACC play but eventually opened things up on the ground rushing for 471 yards in a 63-3 victory over Wake Forest (3-3, 0-2).
Three drives into the game the Tigers managed just 18 total yards with a turnover. Fortunately, Clemson's defense held their own against the Demon Deacons stifling Wake Forest until the offense could get things going.
On Clemson's 4th drive, it took one play as Travis Etienne burst into the open field for a 59-yard touchdown run, it wouldn't be the last time we'd hear from the Jennings, LA native as he rushed for 167 yards on 10 carries with three touchdowns during the contest.
Essentially on repeat during the game, Etienne took a handoff from Trevor Lawrence, shot through a gap in Wake's defense and sped to the end zone untouched.
Two possessions later, following a Tanner Muse interception, Etienne was back in back in business.
Facing a 4th-and-1, Clemson lined up in a Power I formation and handed the ball to the sophomore back. Etienne bounced it outside and sprinted into the open field for a 22-yard gain putting the ball inside the Deacon's five-yard line. Two plays later, he was back in the end zone giving Clemson a 14-0 lead.
After another quick Wake Forest possession, the Tiger offense hit on another big play. Following a 6-yard sack of Lawrence on 2nd down, the true freshmen stood in the pocket on 3rd and 10 and fired a laser to Justyn Ross for a 55-yard strike extending the Tiger lead to 21-0. For Ross, it was his 4th touchdown reception this season and Lawrence's 10th touchdown pass.
Sparked by a late 2nd quarter Greg Dortch punt return of 24-yards, the Demon Deacons finally threatened to put points on the board. Quarterback Sam Hartman hit tight end Jack Freudenthal on back to back throws into the Clemson red zone. But faced with a 4th-and-1, the Deacon's were stuffed as the Tiger defensive front held firm.
Taking over with 3:27 left in the half, Clemson marched 81 yards on 10 plays as Lawrence hit Tee Higgins for a 20-yard touchdown giving Clemson a 28-0 lead at the break. Lawrence finished the day 20-25 for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
Opening the second half, the Tiger defense forced another three-and-out giving the ball back to the offense. Taking over at their own 30-yard line, the Tigers ran a draw for Etienne, who was patient at the line of scrimmage then rocketed for 70-yards to paydirt. With the carry, Etienne set a new Clemson record during a four-game stretch with 654 rushing yards and ended his day.
The Deacons would eventually scratch the scoreboard after replacing Hartman with Kendall Hinton at quarterback. Hinton broke into the open field on his second play from scrimmage for a 53-yard run down to the Clemson 9-yard line. The Tiger defense stiffened and forced a 25-yard field goal cutting Clemson's lead to 35-3.
For the Tigers, Etienne wasn't the only running back with a big day as Adam Choice rushed for 128 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown of his own from 64-yards out. Then on Clemson's next offensive snap, Lyn-J Dixon rushed 65-yards to the house giving Clemson 129 yards and two touchdowns on consecutive plays and a 49-3 lead late in the third quarter.
Chase Brice then led Clemson on a 79-yard scoring drive, capped by a Diondre Overton reception from two yards out bringing the score to 56-3 with 10:08 left in the game.
Before it was all said and done, Hunter Renfrow punted the ball for 42 yards, completed a pass to Will Swinney, then as quarterback ended up throwing the lead block, in the open field, from the quarterback spot on a 52-yard Dixon touchdown run, leaving just seconds on the clock. Dixon finished the day with 10 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson enters their bye week before taking on undefeated NC State in Death Valley on October 20th.