As expected, Clemson took care of business in week two and bounced back from a loss to Georgia in the opener. The Tigers downed FCS opponent South Carolina State 49-3 in Death Valley on Saturday. While Clemson’s passing game made some strides it’s still not in full synchronicity. QB D.J.
Uiagalelei was 14 of 24 for 171 yards with a TD and an interception. Back up QB Taisum Phommachanh was back in action for the first time coming off a major injury, he threw for 75 yards, one TD and had one pick.
Clemson scored four times in the first quarter to take a commanding 28-0 lead after one. Uiagalelei put Clemson on the board with a four yard TD run. Running Backs Will Shipley and Kobe Pace both had early rushing TD’s as well. WR Justyn Ross had his 1st TD catch since returning from injury. The Tigers scored in the 2nd quarter on Uiagalelei’s 2nd rushing TD of the game to go up 35-0. SC State would get put together a short drive capped off with a 27 yard FG by Dyson Roberts right before the half.
Clemson would take a 35-3 lead into the halftime locker room.
That would be all the points the Clemson defense would allow. The offense would score twice in the 2nd half, as Will Shipley would get his 2nd career rushing TD and Lyn-J Dixon would score on a 14yard TD pass from Phommachanh. The Clemson offense would gain over 500 total yards with 242 coming on the ground, despite being minus two in the turnover margin.
Shipley finished with 80 yards on 8 carries and two TD’s, D.J. finished carried five times and found pay dirt twice. Kobe Pace had 68 yards rushing on 7 carries and a TD. The Tigers open ACC play this week.
They’ll welcome longtime rival Georgia Tech into Death Valley for a 3:30 kickoff on Saturday.