Blue skies, forty six degrees, and a sea of orange set the scene for the 121st meeting between Clemson and South Carolina. The Gamecocks received the opening possession but soon had to play defense after a LaNorris Sellers turnover. The next two possessions consisted of punts from both teams. Clemson took over on their own four yard line with 5:55 to go in the first quarter.
Cade Klubnik opened the drive with a thirty-six yard pass to Bryant Wesco Jr. that was tipped and then caught by the Freshman. On the same drive, Klubnik connected deep again this time to T.J. Moore for a twenty-eight yard completion to get Clemson down to the Gamecocks thirty yard line. The drive ended on a fourth and one handoff to Phil Mafah that was stuffed by the Gamecocks and resulted in a turnover on downs.
Clemson did not wait long into the second quarter to find the end zone as Cade Klubnik capped off a three play, fifty-seven yard drive with a thirteen yard touchdown. With all of the momentum in the favor of Clemson, South Carolina opened the ensuing drive with a seventeen yard pass from Sellers to Harbor. Five plays later, the drive was capped off with a twenty-five yard run by Sellers for a touchdown.
After a punt from both teams, the Tigers got the ball back at their own twelve yard line with 5:02 to go in the first half. Clemson then went three and out punting the football back to the Gamecocks. LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecocks started their sixth drive of the day on their own forty-one yard line.
TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT: Gamecocks 7, Tigers 7
On fourth and six, the Gamecocks then punted right back to the Tigers who started their sixth drive at their own ten yard line. With 1:52 to go in the first half, Cade Klubnik opened the drive with a handoff to Phil Mafah for a five yard gain. The Tigers were not able to get anything going and the half ended in a seven to seven tie.
Clemson opened the second half with an eleven play, seventy-five yard drive that ended in another Klubnik touchdown run, this time for eight-teen yards. The Tigers took 5:03 off of the clock and gave the Gamecocks the football back with 9:57 to go in the 3rd quarter. On a third down and two, LaNorris Sellers connected with Jared Brown for a twenty-two yard gain. Shortly after, Clemson forced a fumble on a screen pass to Rocket Sanders and regained possession at their own thirty-five yard line.
The Tigers then gifted the ball right back to the Gamecocks after a fumble by Phil Mafah. The Gamecocks would take over at their own forty yard line. On a critical third down, LaNorris Sellers willed his way for the first down on a four yard carry. After a Gamecocks hold, Sellers and the offense were faced with third and twenty. South Carolina was only able to pick up nine yards before they were forced to punt. The Tigers took over at their own twenty-five yard line with 3:01 to go in the 3rd.
South Carolina finally got pressure on Klubnik as Bam Martin-Scott sacked the quarterback for a ten yard loss. At the end of the third, Clemson led South Carolina by a score of 14-7.
Clemson was once again forced to punt and the Gamecocks would take over at their own fourteen yard line. Sellers connected quickly with Nyck Harbor for a twenty-six yard reception. The Gamecocks then marched down to the thirty-two yard line with 12:13 remaining in the contest. A late hit out of bounds by the offense backed South Carolina up to the Clemson twenty-six and setup a third and twenty-two. Sellers next pass would be intercepted by Khalil Barnes for the third turnover of the day for the Gamecocks. The Tigers would then take over at their own nine yard line.
The Gamecock defense quickly forces a three and out and South Carolina would then take over at their own forty-four yard line with just over nine to play. After a six play thirty-two yard drive, the Gamecocks tack on three points from an Alex Herrera field goal. With 6:48 to play, Clemson held a fourteen to ten lead over South Carolina.
On the kickoff, South Carolina attempted an onside kick but the Tigers recovered. Clemson then went three and out and punted the football back to South Carolina. The Gamecocks would receive a free five yards from an illegal formation call against Clemson and begin eleventh drive of the day at their own twenty-five yard line. South Carolina put together a six play, sixty-one yard drive to setup the Gamecocks with first and ten at the Clemson fifteen yard line.
TWO MINUTE TIMEOUT: Tigers 14, Gamecocks 10
After a false start, the Gamecocks were faced with a near impossible task; third down and fifteen. When South Carolina needed their superman, LaNorris Sellers put on the cape and ran it in from twenty yards out to put the Gamecocks up 17-14. What was a ruckus environment quickly turned into complete shock and silence in Memorial Stadium. The Tigers would then get the ball back with over a minute to play and only needing a field goal to tie the game. Klubnik quickly got the Tigers down into Gamecock territory and a chance to send the game to overtime. A third down play with less than twenty seconds ended up being the play that ended the game but not in the Tigers favor. Klubnik's pass was tipped and intended for Phil Mafah but fell into the hands of Demetrius Knight Jr. for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina would go on to win in Death Valley for the second straight time playing the Tigers on their home field.
"Sad," said Cade Klubnik in his post game presser. "Just sad man. I left a lot out there and they made a few more plays than we did."
Klubnik finished the day twenty four of thirty six for two hundred and eighty yards yards and one interception. On the ground, the signal caller ran ten times for sixty-two yards and two touchdowns. As Clemson leaves with a sour taste in their mouth, the fanbase that made the trip to Clemson leaves with pure jubilation.
Shane Beamer spoke to the media post-game on Saturday and struggled to get words out as he was overcome with emotion. "I don't know where to begin," said Beamer. "I told Dabo after the game that no one deserved to lose that game and that is a class program and he is a class coach."
"To overcome some of the stuff we had to overcome and find a way to win at the end was really special," said Shane Beamer.
It was quite the scene outside of the locker room on Saturday as Beamer was being interviewed by several media members. Creating the ambiance was the Gamecock fans, players, and the Carolina band. When I asked Shane what the scene in the tunnel meant to him, he gave a proud yet humbled response. "I wish we were playing in the SEC Championship but we are not so we are going to enjoy the hell out of this one for a while, I assure you that. It is a great way to finish. I know what this rivalry means and I am so happy for our fans. I am so blessed to be in that arena today and have a chance to compete."
With Miami falling to Syracuse on Saturday evening, Clemson has found a back door entrance to the ACC Championship in Charlotte on Saturday while South Carolina will be waiting on their chance at the College Football Playoff.
