Klubnik Having Fun, Cutting it Loose

CLEMSON – It appears Dabo Swinney and Garrett Riley have more trust in their quarterback than people realize.

With Clemson facing a first down at the Appalachian State 29-yard line last Saturday night, and already up 28 points, its head coach told Cade Klubnik to be aggressive and continue to attack the Mountaineers’ secondary.

He did just that, as he threw a laser to wide receiver Antonio Williams for a 29-yard touchdown.

The touchdown pass was a perfect example of how much the coaching staff trusts its quarterback this season.

Clemson called for a pass to the outside. However, App State was hiding its coverage and was trying not to give Klubnik any pre-snap looks. Klubnik saw something, though.

He immediately checked out of the play and called a post to Williams. As it turned out, App State eventually showed a Cover 2 look, and a post is usually not the call to make in that situation.

However, Klubnik used his eyes just enough to have the safety cheat a little outside, just enough for him to zip the pass to Williams for the touchdown.

“He checked to a post on Cover 2 and threw it for a touchdown,” Swinney said laughing. “He tagged it. He checked it right there. Me and Garrett went, ‘What the heck is he doing? Well, okay. Good call.’”

Klubnik made a lot of good calls last Saturday. He completed 24 of 26 passes for 378 yards and accounted for seven touchdowns, including five through the air. It is the greatest performance by a Clemson quarterback in history.

Perhaps one of the few bad passes Klubnik threw actually set up his touchdown pass to Williams. The Tigers ran a flea-flicker the play before, which Klubnik underthrew to a wide-open Williams.

However, the App State defender lost sight of the football and as Williams went up to catch the pass, he ran right through the Clemson receiver.

“We said, ‘Let’s go right back at him.’ So, they had a call. So, we had a call outside, but they did not give us the coverage. He checked it to a post.”

The result, a touchdown and a 35-0 Clemson lead at the time.

“So, it was great to see him having fun playing football and playing loose. That is what we can do. We have a lot of weapons,” Swinney said.