GAME STORY: CLEMSON FALLS TO SMU AT HOME

© Ken Ruinard-GREENVILLE NEWS-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Photo credit © Ken Ruinard-GREENVILLE NEWS-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

With Cade Klubnik sidelined by injury, all eyes turned to redshirt sophomore quarterback Christopher Vizzina on Saturday in Death Valley.

It took nearly twelve minutes for either team to find the end zone but SMU struck first on a 70 yard touchdown from Kevin Jennings to Jordan Hudson. Outside of the long touchdown for the Mustangs, the SMU offense was only able to total 19 yards of total offense on the other three drives.

After four Clemson punts in the first quarter, SMU began their fifth drive of the night from their own 33 yard line.

The first quarter came to a conclusion with SMU leading Clemson 7-0. The Mustangs out-gained Clemson 92-55 during the first quarter of play and were also able to force a turnover on the second drive of the game.

Kevin Jennings managed to put together a methodical 10 play drive to open the second quarter of play for the Mustangs that was capped off by 51 yard Sam Keltner field-goal. With 11:26 remaining in the second quarter, SMU held a 10-0 lead over the home standing Tigers.

The Tigers responded with a six play, seventy-five yard drive that was capped off with a thirty-two yard touchdown from Christopher Vizzina to TJ Moore. The redshirt sophomore quarterback was four of five on the drive with 72 yards and a touchdown. Clemson only went to the ground game once on the drive on a three yard rush from Gideon Davidson.

SMU's sixth drive of the afternoon began on the Mustang twenty-five yard line and after just six plays, the Tigers had SMU right where they wanted them on a crucial third and twelve. Jennings dumped the third down pass off to TJ Harden who gained the twelve yards needed for the first down. However, the Tigers were soon able to force another field goal try by Sam Keltner, this time good from forty-eight yards.

SMU was quickly able to get possession back and tack on three more points before the first half of play ended with a SMU lead of nine.

As the sun set behind Death Valley, both defenses shined to open the second half of play as both offenses went three and out on their respective opening drive in the third quarter. However, it was the Tigers who broke through early in the third quarter on their tenth drive of the day.

On the fourth play of the drive, Clemson's Christopher Vizzina connected with TJ Moore on a touchdown for the second time on Saturday, this time for sixty-two yards. However, SMU still led by two.

It only took SMU four plays to respond to the Moore touchdown as the Mustangs put together a four play, 74 yard drive that ended in a thirty-five yard touchdown run from Derrick McFall.

The Clemson twenty-five is where the Tigers started their eleventh drive of the afternoon. Vizzina started the drive for Clemson but after a short pickup on the ground the quarterback was quickly replaced by Chris Denson. Denson then only took one snap for the offense and after a two yard scamper, was replaced by Christopher Vizzina. The redshirt sophomore led the Tigers offense down to the Mustang ten yard line leading to a SMU timeout with 0:15 to go in the third quarter.

On the third down attempt, Vizzina's pass fell incomplete as it was intended for Clemson WR TJ Moore. Clemson was forced to settle for three as Nolan Hauser drilled a twenty-eight yard field goal to cut the Mustang lead to six.

SMU was only able to run one play before time expired in the third quarter but managed to pickup seventeen on a completion from Jennings to RJ Maryland. On second and long from the Clemson twenty-two, Kevin Jennings found Matthew Hibner across the middle who made a one hand snag to haul in the pass and managed to streak free into the end zone for the score. However, an unsportsmanlike penalty ended up costing the Mustangs an extra-point due to a longer PAT than normal. With a 29-17 lead, SMU kicked off to the Tigers who began their next drive at their own 25 yard line.

Clemson's ensuing drive lasted three plays and the Tigers were only able to manage three yards which resulted in the seventh punt of the afternoon. SMU then took over in their own territory but the Tigers defense responded quickly with a Ricardo Jones interception that gave Clemson the football back at the SMU forty-nine yard line.

After just two plays, the Clemson drive was aided in a big way due to a late hit by SMU on the Clemson sideline. This moved the football to the SMU twenty-three yard line. Vizzina connected with Josh Sapp to move the Tiger offense inside the red zone with just under eight minutes to play. On the very next play, Vizzina was sacked by Isaiah Smith that backed the Tigers up to the sixteen. Forth and twenty one seemed to be a "walk in the park" for Christopher Vizzina as he connected on another deep ball this time to Tristan Smith. The Tigers cut the lead to five with just under seven to play in regulation.

SMU then took over with an opportunity to seal the game and that they did. The Mustangs put together a near six minute drive that ended in a six yard touchdown run from Chris Johnson Jr.

The Mustangs upset the Tigers by a score of 35-24 and improve to 5-2 on the season while Clemson falls to 3-4 and Dabo Swinney's group will head into their second bye week of the season.

Featured Image Photo Credit: © Ken Ruinard-GREENVILLE NEWS-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images