Clemson football: Observations as Cade Klubnik rallies Tigers past Syracuse
CLEMSON – There has never been a game quite like this at Memorial Stadium.
Fifth-ranked Clemson football will try to set an ACC record for most consecutive home victories Saturday (noon, ABC) against No. 14 Syracuse in the first game between unbeatens with at least six victories in the history of the Tigers’ home field.
The Tigers (7-0, 5-0) have played all their ACC road games and will try to score a 38th straight victory in Death Valley, eclipsing the mark set by Florida State from 1992-2001. Syracuse (6-0, 3-0) has been the surprise of the ACC and will be playing its first road game in conference play.
“A lot at stake in this game,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “This is a huge matchup for both teams. Eighty-one years in the Valley and never had a matchup like this. So, that’s pretty special to be able to be a part of a game like that.”
Follow here for updates and live scoring.
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3:38 p.m. | Clemson football wins a nail-biter against Syracuse
Trailing for most of the game, Clemson rallied to defeat Syracuse, clinching the victory with an interception by R.J. Mickens at the Clemson 15 with 15 seconds remaining.
FINAL: No. 5 Clemson 27, No. 14 Syracuse 21.
3:30 p.m. | Clemson football forces Syracuse to go length of field to have a chance
Clemson ground its way to a 41-yard field goal by BT Potter that gave it a six-point lead with 1:33 remaining.
4Q: No. 5 Clemson 27, No. 14 Syracuse 21, 1:33
3:13 p.m. | Clemson football's defense putting squeeze on Orange in second half
Cade Klubnik provided exactly what Clemson needed after he entered the game -- steady play, no big errors. But that shouldn't take anything from the second-half effort of the Tigers' defense.
After giving up 11 first downs, 172 yards and 14 points in the first half -- Syracuse's other touchdown came on a 90-yard fumble return -- the Tigers have allowed the Orange 43 yards and three first downs in the second half.
4Q: No. 5 Clemson 24, No. 14 Syracuse 21, 6:06.
3:06 p.m. | Clemson football's Bryan Bresee makes a really big play
With Clemson ahead by three points and Syracuse trying to convert a third-and-6 at its 44, Bryan Bresee blew past a blocker and tackled Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader for a 4-yard loss.
4Q: No. 5 Clemson 24, No. 14 Syracuse 21, 8:28
3:01 p.m. | Will Shipley gives Clemson the fourth-quarter lead
Clemson took the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter.
The Tigers started in good field position its 39 after the defense forced a three-and-out. Cade Klubnik rushed for 11 yards on the first play, and then Will Shipley burst 50 yards, breaking a tackle, for a touchdown.
Klubnik then passed to Joseph Ngata for a two-point conversion and a three-point lead.
4Q: No. 5 Clemson 24, No. 14 Syracuse 21, 11:26.
2:47 p.m. | Syracuse 'unnecessarily' helps Cade Klubnik direct Clemson to a score
Freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik gave Clemson a spark after entering midway through the third quarter.
His first series included an 18-yard pass completion and a 10-yard run. It also included a poor decision on a rollout that resulted in an 11-yard sack that gave the Tigers a third-and-25. But on the next play, Klubnik was forced into the 10-yard run. He stepped out of bounds and was hit by Elijah Fuentes-Cundiff. The unnecessary roughness call gave Clemson a first down.
Three plays later, Klubnik gained 8 yards on a third-and-three, and the Orange's Marlowe Wax shoved a hand onto Klubnik's face mask. That unnecessary roughness penalty gave the Tigers a first-and-goal at the Syracuse's 8.
Four runs later, on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Phil Mafah -- and not Will Shipley -- rushed for the touchdown.
Clemson attempted a two-point conversion, but Klubnik was forced out of the pocket and threw an interception.
4Q: No. 14 Syracuse 21, No. 5 Clemson 16, 13:46.
2:28 p.m. | Cade Klubnik enters for Clemson
Cade Klubnik has entered the game as the struggles of the 2021 season have returned for Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
After a nearly mistake-free seven games that seemed to erase the doubts created by the 2021 season in which Uiagalelei was the 14-team ACC's 15th-ranked quarterback, has been plagued by errors against Syracuse.
He committed his third turnover of the game -- and second interception -- when he badly overthrew a receiver.
2:20 p.m. | Clemson commits another turnover
An offensive day that is beginning to resemble those of Clemson's disappointing 2021 season continued in the second half.
Clemson's second possession got off to a promising start as Antonio Williams returned a punt 18 yards to the Syracuse 41. Will Shipley broke through the middle of the Syracuse defensive line for a 21-yard gain. But he fumbled at the end, and Syracuse recovered.
That followed the first possession that produced one first down before a punt.
2:15 p.m. | Clemson defense opens second half with much sharper look
Turnovers crippled Clemson's offense in the first half, but its defense struggled, allowing 172 yards -- including 156 yards total offense by quarterback Garrett Shrader -- and 11 first downs.
As it has frequently during the season, the defense was much sharper. Shrader rushed twice for 15 yards to get Syracuse a first down, but then a holding penalty put them Orange in a down-and-distance disadvantage.
Two sacks later, Syracuse punted.
1:40 p.m. | Clemson almost regains some momentum before halftime
Clemson has talked often this season about owning the middle 8 minutes of each football game -- the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half.
It waited until the 1:53 mark in first half, but executed the hurry-up drill well to get in position for a score. It just wasn't the score the Tigers wanted.
With DJ Uiagalelei running a no-huddle offense, Clemson 52 yards on five consecutive completions to the Syracuse 31.
But then Uiagalelei's rough day resumed. He missed a handoff to Will Shipley, but was able to get 3 yards for a first down. That was followed by an incompletion and then Uiagalelei losing his grip on a pass attempt. He caught the ball before it fell to the ground but was then tackled for an 11-yard loss.
Clemson settled for a 44-yard field goal by BT Potter.
Halftime: No. 14 Syracuse 21, No. 5 Clemson 10.
1:28 p.m. | Garrett Shrader gives Syracuse a two-score lead
After slowing Syracuse for a chunk of the second quarter, Clemson's defense was shredded by Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader late in the half.
After Syracuse's defense stopped Clemson on fourth-and-2 at the Orange 32, Shrader ignited a drive with a 12-yard pass that was followed by a 13-yard run by Sean Tucker. A Clemson offsides penalty helped the drive, but Shrader then rushed for 25 yards -- outrunning linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to the outside -- and then went 8 and 7 yards, the latter for a touchdown.
Clemson faces its largest deficit of the season. It hasn't trailed at home at the half since 2020.
1Q: No. 14 Syracuse 21, No. 5 Clemson 7, 1:53.
1:06 p.m. | Syracuse scoops and scores after DJ Uiagelei fumbles
Clemson's streak of red zone scores ended. Painfully for the Tigers.
Clemson had moved 71 yards in seven plays with a first-and-goal at the Syracuse 3, DJ Uiagalelei was tackled after faking a handoff to Phil Mafah. Uiagalelei fumbled, and the Orange's Ja'Had Carter picked up the ball at the 10 and ran untouched 90 yards for a touchdown.
Clemson had scored on all 36 of its previous red zone possessions.
2Q: No. 14 Syracuse 14, No. 5 Clemson, 9:14.
12:52 p.m. | Clemson's bid to regain lead picked off
Clemson made a determined drive late in the first quarter, overcoming a 15-yard penalty, converting on third-and fourth-down plays to get to the Syracuse 33.
But on third-and-eight, DJ Uiagalelei telegraphed a pass and the Orange's Ja'had Carter intercepted to snuff the drive.
End of 1Q: No. 5 Clemson 7, No. 14 Syracuse 7.
12:46 p.m. | Clemson running well against Syracuse's No. 11 defense
Something to watch: Syracuse entered the game with the No. 11 rushing defense in the country, allowing 95.0 yards per game. After one quarter, the Tigers have 74 yards rushing. Clemson is averaging 170 yards rushing per game.
12:33p.m. | Syracuse finding openings in Clemson's pass coverage
Syracuse used its running game on its first drive, mostly from quarterback Garrett Shrader, who rushed for 34 yards and completed three passes for 3 yards.
On the second drive, Shrader passed four times for 72 yards, including a swing pass to running back Sean Tucker for a 12-yard touchdown.
1Q: No. 5 Clemson 7, No. 14 Syracuse 7, 5:30.
12:27 p.m. | DJ Uiagalelei shrugs, Clemson cruises to first-possession score
DJ Uiagalelei's improvement has been the storyline of the 2022 season for Clemson. On the Tigers' first snap, he showed a subtle but powerful marking for that improvement.
A simple look to the left and shrug of his shoulders in that direction drew the Syracuse defense a couple of steps in that direction, and Uiagalelei then threw down the middle to wide-open tight end Davis Allen for a 41-yard gain.
Six plays later, Will Shipley scored on a 1-yard run.
1Q: No. 5 Clemson 7, No. 14 Syracuse, 7:45.
12:19 p.m | Szmyt doesn't happen for Syracuse, and neither does a score
Syracuse drove on its opening possession to Clemson's 28 but faced a fourth-and-3. The Orange sent kicker Andre Szmyt out for a 45-yard field goal attempt, but just before the snap, Syracuse coach Dino Babers called a timeout.
The Orange snapped, and Szmyt's kick was far short.
Babers then decided to go for a first down. Garrett Shrader's pass was tipped by Ruke Orhorhoro and fell incomplete.
1Q: No. 5 Clemson 0, No. 14 Syracuse 0, 10:31.
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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Observations during nail-biting win against Syracuse
