Cornerback Nate Wiggins broke up quarterback Sam Hartman’s fourth-down pass in the end zone to assist No. 5 Clemson stave off No. 21 Wake Forest, 51-45 in double overtime on Saturday afternoon.
Wiggins had been picked on frequently by Hartman and the dynamic Wake Forest receivers, but came through in the clutch to deflect Hartman’s final pass for A.T. Perry. He dropped to the end zone turf, then hopped up to join his teammates for an exuberant celebration after a wild shootout between the reigning Atlanta Coast Conference’s Atlantic Division Demon Deacons and the preseason league favorites Tigers.
Before that stop, Wiggins had been flagged three times for pass interference in an injury-battered secondary and was beaten on Donavon Greene’s 25-yard TD haul.
“The only good thing about the game (defensively) is we gave up six touchdown passes — we didn’t give up seven,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said with a chuckle. “That’s the only good thing I can say. And they never quit and they kept battling and they played one more play — and Nate came up with it right there at the end.”
D.J. Uiagalelei passed for 375 yards and five touchdowns to lead Clemson (4-0, 2-0 ACC), including the go-ahead touchdown over the middle to wide receiver Davis Allen to begin the second overtime session.
“Honestly, man, that was a crazy game,” Uiagalelei said, adding: “You could just see the heart of our team — the heart of the offense, the heart of the defense. When plays had to be made, we made the plays. That just shows a great sign of a good football team.”
The Tigers also came away with a few crucial stops on the defensive side of the football late to relieve some pressure off a bruised and battered secondary, including Tyler Davis alongside linemate Myles Murphy to sack Hartman on a potentially winning Wake Forest drive, that had come close to midfield late in the fourth quarter.
Hartman had an incredible day, throwing for 337 yards and a program-record six touchdowns for Wake Forest (3-1, 0-1) including two apiece to Jahmal Banks and Donavon Greene. But the Demon Deacons drive stalled out near the 50-yardline on a drive that could have won the game, then they could not stop the Tigers in the first OT after beginning with Hartman’s touchdown throw to Perry.
“That locker room right now is hurting,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “It’s a football team that has invested a lot and they care a lot and expected to win this game.”
It was Clemson’s 14th straight win in the series, with Wake Forest’s last victory coming in 2008, which led to the firing of Tommy Bowden as coach and Swinney being named the interim.
This was the start of a two-game stretch that could give the Tigers a strangle hold on the league’s Atlantic Division race. Clemson took the early lead by scoring touchdowns on the first two series to take a 14-0 advantage, only to witness Wake Forest’s high-scoring offense catch fire by pushing the ball downfield. In this game, Uiagalelei and the offense had to keep manufacturing big plays to keep up and they were able to, until Wiggins made the game-winning stop.
The Demon Deacons have accomplished a great deal under the leadership of head coach Dave Clawson, culminating with last season’s mad dash to tie the programs record with 11 wins and reach the ACC Championship game. But Clemson continues to be a thorn in their side, with Wake Forest as mentioned before, last winning in 2008 and only one of the previous 13-straight loses coming by fewer than two touchdowns. Wake Forest also fell to 1-65 all-time against teams ranked in the top 10 of The Associated Press College football poll, with the only victory coming against the Tennessee Volunteers in 1946.
The Tigers are near the top of the AP Top 25, with not much room to move up, despite a gutsy road win. The Demon Deacons are unlikely to free fall much, if at all, after giving the Tigers a battle and all they could handle.
Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee returned after missing last week’s win against Louisiana Tech while being home with his family following the death of his 15-year-old sister, Ella, to brain cancer. He had two tackles and batted Hartman’s second-down pass at the line in the second OT.
“I just never lost confidence in us,” he said.
The Tigers host No. 12 North Carolina State next Saturday in another critical division game. The Demon Deacons travel to Florida State next Saturday.
