The No. 6 Clemson Tigers cruised to an easy victory over the South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-2) with a 49-3 win on Saturday in front of the first sell-out crowd at Memorial Stadium in two years.
After not being able to get into the end zone last week against Georgia, things changed for the better this time around for Clemson and quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. He threw for one touchdown and ran for two more, to help the Tigers build their 35-0 lead going into the locker room. The offense was able to get anything they wanted, racking up an impressive 504 yards of total offense, including 262 yards rushing.
The Tigers defense kept the Bulldogs from scoring a touchdown, only allowing a field goal throughout the entire game. Ruke Orhorhoro and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. led the team with five tackles each on the day. The defense was able to neutralize the Bulldogs, only giving up 235 yards of total offense. They were also able to force an interception by R.J. Mickens.
Clemson (1-1) was not perfect in the turnover department themselves, giving up the ball three times and was able to recover two other fumbles. Uiagalelei finished 14-of-24 through the air for 171 yards and one interception.
Key play: There were an abundance of touchdowns and highlights by the Tigers in Saturday’s game, but the one that stood out the most was an 11-yard connection from Uiagalelei to Justyn Ross. It was the first touchdown for the Clemson pass catcher since December 7, 2019 in the ACC Championship game. Ross was inactive last season recovering from neck surgery.
Player of the game: Freshman running back Will Shipley had his first big game of his collegiate career, rushing for a team-high 80 yards on just eight rushing opportunities and scoring two touchdowns. The first came on a 7-yard scamper into the end zone and he added an additional 13-yard touchdown to start the second half of play.
Freshman impact: It was a coming-out party for quarterback/punt returner Will Taylor. He ran for 20 yards, had a touchdown rescinded and had a 51-yard punt return all in the first half. Coach Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff have been looking for ways to get Taylor more involved with the offense and he has found a role that suits him well, the designated “Wildcat” quarterback.
Coach’s decision: Seven days after not playing in the season openner against Georgia, cornerback Fred Davis made his 2021 debut. He was involved in a terrible car accident that left a mail carrier severely injured and resulted in a reckless driving charge. It is thought he did not play last week as a punishment for his actions by coach Swinney, but never confirmed.
Stat of the game: Clemson was able to convert 8-of-12 on third downs, giving the Tigers 26 first downs, while holding South Carolina State to a sub-par 2-of-16 conversion rate.
Up Next: The Clemson Tigers play their second-straight home game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-1). Georgia Tech, who has not defeated Clemson in seven seasons, beat Kennesaw State in blowout fashion, 45-17, on Saturday, earning their first win of the young season.
