Clemson football: Observations during its two-overtime win at Wake Forest

History favors Clemson football against Wake Forest – unless the numbers are viewed as the Demon Deacons being way overdue.

Wake Forest has lost 62 consecutive games to teams ranked in the Associated Press top 10. No. 5 Clemson will try to score its 14th consecutive series victory Saturday against the No. 16 Demon Deacons. The Tigers are 29-1 against Wake Forest while ranked in the AP Top 25, the loss coming in 1945.

The Demon Deacons seem to have more hope than usual. Their ranking makes it a matchup of top 25 teams for the first time since 1950, when No. 16 Clemson beat No. 17 Wake Forest, 13-12. Two years earlier, when No. 10 Clemson beat No. 19 Wake Forest, 21-14, was the only other such occasion.

Clemson has won 42 of its past 44 games against teams in the Atlantic Division. But the Tigers don't have to be told that Wake Forest is defending division champion. The Deacons went 7-1 last season in league play. Clemson beat them but finished 6-2 and failed to win the ACC for the first time in seven years.

Injury report:Clemson football injury report for Wake Forest game: Defense missing big pieces

Key challenge:Clemson football has biggest challenge against Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman

Will power:Here's why it could be time for Clemson football to give Will Shipley more work

3:52 p.m. | Clemson football survives Wake Forest's upset bid

Unable to deny Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman throughout the second half, Clemson's Nate Wiggins broke up his fourth-down pass in the end zone to give Clemson the victory against the Deacons.

Final: No. 5 Clemson 51, No. 16 Wake Forest 45, 2 OT

3:48 p.m. | Clemson football takes the lead in the second overtime at Wake Forest

Facing third-and-6 on its possession in the second overtime, Clemson takes the lead on a 21-yard touchdown pass from DJ Uiagalelei to tight end Davis Allen.

By rule, Clemson had to attempt a two-point conversion, and Wake's J.J. Roberts broke up Uiagalelei's pass.

2OT: No. 5 Clemson 51, No. 16 Wake Forest 45.

3:43 p.m. | Clemson football stays alive in overtime

On third-and-6 on their overtime possession from , Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed an arching 21-yard touchdown to Beaux Collins.

BJ Potter kicked the point-after.

The game goes to a second overtime.

OT: No. 5 Clemson 45, No. 16 Wake Forest 45.

3:39 p.m. | Clemson football on the brink of an upset loss at Wake Forest

Sam Hartman added to his career day Saturday against Clemson, completing his sixth touchdown pass to give Wake Forest the lead in overtime.

OT: No. 16 Wake Forest 45, No. 5 Clemson 38.

3:33 p.m. | Clemson football goes into overtime at Wake Forest

Clemson's defense finally got a stop against Wake Forest's offense, but when it regained the ball there were only 39 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers called for a run by Will Shipley and then let the clock run out.

END OF FOURTH QUARTER: No. 5 Clemson 38, No. 16 Wake Forest 38.

3:19 p.m. | B.T. Potter gives Clemson football a late chance to win at Wake Forest

Clemson B.T. Potter kicks a 52-yard field goal -- tying the longest of his career -- to tie the score again at Wake Forest.

Antonio Williams' 26-yard kickoff return to the Clemson 48 gave the Tigers good field position, which allowed it to overcome a 9-yard loss on a sack of DJ Uiagalelei

Potter is 8-for-10 in his career from 50 yards or longer.

4Q: No. 5, Clemson 38, No. 16 Wake Forest 38, 4:01.

3:11 p.m. | Wake Forest, Sam Hartman lead Clemson football as game grows late

Wake Forest's offense has pretty much been one of two things in the second half -- long pass completion by Sam Hartman with the back of a Clemson defender's jersey trailing the play, or a penalty on a Clemson player trying to defend.

On the Demon Deacons' latest possession, Hartman completed a 46-yard pass to Jahmal Banks with Fred Davis II helplessly trying cover. That set up a 29-yard field goal by Matthew Dennis, the fifth consecutive scoring drive by Wake Forest.

4Q: No. 16 Wake Forest 38, No. 5 Clemson 35, 8:07.

3:05 p.m. | Will Shipley brings Clemson football back to a tie with Wake Forest

Banged up on the opening kickoff of the second half, Clemson running back Will Shipley came back to bring Clemson back into a tie at No. 16 Wake Forest.

On a third-and-goal play from the 1, Shipley spun off a tackle and drove over another hit for another push toward the end zone and then scored by reaching the ball across the goal line just before his knee touched.

The drive was sparked by another long pass by DJ Uiagalelei, this one a 46-yard completion to Joseph Ngata on a third-and-9 play.

4Q: No. 5 Clemson 5, No. 16 Wake Forest, 35, 11:16.

2:46 p.m. | Clemson football gives up another touchdown pass

So much for regaining momentum.

After Clemson completed an impressive drive to tie Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons moved 75 yards in eight plays and regained the lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass by Sam Hartman, his fifth of the game. Nate Wiggins was again the defensive back burned for the completion.

3Q: No. 16 Wake Forest 35, No. 5 Clemson 28, 1:19

2:42 p.m. | Clemson football's offense regains some momentum at Wake Forest

Clemson's offense, which sputtered during its first two possessions of the second half and watched as Wake Forest rolled to two touchdowns and a 28-20 lead, found some footing on its third possession.

Sparked by a 23-yard designed run by quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, the Tigers moved 75 yards in nine plays and only 3 minutes, 28 seconds, to tie the score.

Uiagalelei completed four passes during the drive, including a 28-yard gain to Beaux Collins on a third-and-10 play at the Wake 33. Two plays later, he passed 5 yards to tight end Davis Allen for a touchdown. Uiagaleleli then showed poise and strength -- with a Deacons defender wrapped around his leg, he completed a two-point conversion pass to Collins.

3Q: No. 5 Clemson 28, No. 16 Wake Forest 28, 4:29.

2:27 p.m. | Clemson football coming unraveled on defense at Wake Forest

Clemson is missing three key players in its secondary, and Wake Forest is taking advantage of the weakened pass coverage.

Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman is 6-for-6 for 138 yards with two touchdowns in the third quarter. The only time he has been unable to complete a pass has been when Clemson has been penalized.

All four of Wake's touchdowns are on Hartman passes.

3Q: No. 16 Wake Forest 28, No. 5 Clemson 20, 7:47.

2:12 p.m. | Clemson football quickly falls behind Wake Forest in the second half

Wake Forest broke off three long plays in its first possession of the third quarter to take the lead against No. 5 Clemson.

Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman, not know as a runner, broke out for a 25-yard gain. His pass to running back Justice Ellison gained 22 yards and then beat freshman safety Jeadyn Lukus for a 22-yard touchdown pass to Donavon Greene.

3Q: No. 16 Wake Forest 21, No. 5 Clemson 20, 12:13.

1:48 p.m. | Can Clemson football put together two good halves?

Despite a six-point lead on the road against the No. 16-ranked team in the country, Clemson enters the half with what doesn't feel like a strongly positive vibe.

The No. 5-ranked Tigers took a 14-0 lead at Wake Forest but lead only 20-14 entering the third quarter.

Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagaleleli has been impressive, completing 14 of 22 passes (64%) for 192 yards with two touchdowns, but he started 7-for-7 for 104 yards. While he has been improved this season over 2021, he hasn't put together two strong halves in any game this season, and thus, neither has the offense.

Will Shipley rushed 53 yards on the first place from scrimmage. Since then, the Tigers have rushed 24 times for 64 yards, an average of 2.7 yards per carry.

Wake trails by six despite having only 129 yards total offense. Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman has found holes in Clemson's depleted secondary, which also has four 15-yard penalties while trying to defend.

Halftime: No. 5 Clemson 20, No. 16 Wake Forest 14.

1:38 p.m. | Clemson football's offense settles for another field goal just before half

Clemson finished the half with a 15-play drive but had to settle for a field goal after getting as deep as the Wake Forest 12-yard line.

A Demon Deacons blitz caught DJ Uiagalelei for a 6-yard loss on a draw play, and Uiagalelei and Joseph Ngata had a miscommunication on a pass play. The pass went to the end zone; Ngata cut his route at the 5.

B.T. Potter kicked a 38-yard field goal.

2Q: No. 5 Clemson 20, Wake Forest 14, 0:14.

1:29 p.m. | Wake Forest picking on Clemson football's Toriano Pride Jr.

Wake Forest responded after Clemson took a 10-point lead by challenging Tigers freshman cornerback Toriano Pride Jr.

It worked.

After Pride was called for a personal foul for a hit on an incomplete pass -- originally, it was called a targeting penalty but rescinded -- Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman threw twice deep to Jahmal Banks, covered by Pride.

Banks made two nice catches. On both, he outmaneuvered Pride for the ball. The first was a 30-yard gain to the Clemson 5, the second a touchdown.

2Q: No. 5 Clemson 17, No. 16 Wake Forest 14, 5:49.

1:14 p.m | Clemson football continues to beat Wake Forest deep

The deep pass that was mostly absent from Clemson's offense in 2021 has been much more visible this season.

DJ Uiagalelei completed a 39-yard pass to freshman Antonio Williams on a fade rout. Williams had to battle Wake Forest's Isaiah Wingfield for the ball, but came down with it at the Demon Deacons' 21. It was Uiagalelei's third completion of 30 more yards, all on deep routes. Uiagaeleli is 9-for-13 for 150 yards with two touchdowns.

The Tigers cashed in with a 24-yard field goal by B.T. Potter

2Q: No. 5 Clemson 21, No. 16 Wake Forest 7, 7:49.

12:59 p.m. | Clemson football's Will Shipley getting more attention from Wake Forest defense; Tigers offense dealing with injuries

On his first touch of the game, Clemson's Will Shipley nearly got a touchdown, breaking 53 yards against Wake Forest.

Since then, the yardage has been much more difficult. The Demon Deacons have limited Shipley to 3 yards on five carries.

Backup running back Kobe Pace is on the sideline after injuring an ankle on his second carry, and wide receiver Beaux Collins went out after landing hard while making a 7-yard catch.

2Q: No. 5 Clemson 14, No. 16 Wake Forest 7, 13:09

12:48 p.m. | Clemson football's depleted secondary exploited by Wake Forest

Wake Forest surged back from a 14-0 deficit by taking advantage of Clemson's shorthanded secondary.

On first down, Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman challenged Clemson freshman cornerback Toriano Pride Jr., who was called for pass interference, a 15-yard penalty that put the ball at Wake's 40. Hartman then passed for 9 yards to Ke'Shawn Williams, covered by R.J. Mickens.

Then on third-and-1 and Clemson with 11 players in the box, Hartman passed toward a wide-open A.T. Perry. Fred Davis II tackled Perry while he was in his route for another pass interference penalty but one that likely prevented a touchdown.

But only for a play.

Hartman then passed deep down the middle to Jahmal Banks for a 36-yard touchdown.

1Q: No. 5 Clemson 14, No. 16 Wake Forest 7, 4:13.

12:38 p.m. | Clemson football's offense strikes again behind DJ Uiagalalei

DJ Uiagalelei is off to a great start against No. 16 Wake Forest.

Two possessions, two touchdown passes, and on the second drive, he overcame a 15-yard penalty against freshman receiver Adam Randall, who put a hand to the facemask of a Demon Deacons' defender to get open on a pass route.

That penalty left Clemson with a first-and-25 at its 25.

On third-and-21, Uiagalelei threw for a 30-yard gain to Jake Briningstool, who had caught the first touchdown pass.

On the next play, Uiagalelei went downfield again to Brannon Spector at the 8. The Wake defender missed on an attempt for an interception, and Spector gathered in the pass and went into the end zone.

Uiagalelei is 7-for-7 for 104 yards.

1Q: No. 5 Clemson 14, No. 16 Wake Forest 0, 5:09.

12:22 p.m | Will Shipley gets Clemson football's offense off to a good start

On Clemson's first offensive play, it was no surprise that quarterback DJ Uiagalelei handed off to Will Shipley. Maybe only a little more surprising is that Shipley went 53 yards.

The run moved the ball from the Clemson 12 to the Wake Forest 35.

Two plays, later Clemson moved to the Demon Deacons' 23 on a pass interference penalty against Wake Forest's Gavin Holmes, who had an arm wrapped around Joseph Ngata at the goal line.

The Tigers cashed in with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Uiagaleleli to tight end Jake Briningstool. Uiagalelei showed impressive poise on the play, waiting for a receiver to get open, avoiding a rushing defender and throwing a perfect pass to Briningstool crossing at the back of the end zone.

1Q: Clemson 7, Wake Forest 0, 8:09

11: 49 a.m. | Clemson football to be shorthanded on defense against Wake Forest's pass-happy offense

Clemson's defense will be missing key players when it takes on Wake Forest's passing game. The Tigers will be without three key players in the secondary against the Demon Deacons, who led by quarterback Sam Hartman are averaging more than 300 yards passing and have 10 touchdown passes through three games.

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football score vs. Wake Forest: Live updates from ACC Week 4