Halftime Observations: Clemson 17 Stanford 7

CLEMSON –  After one half of play No. 17 Clemson leads Stanford 17-7.

Halftime Observations

– For the third straight game Clemson scored a touchdown on its opening possession with Cade Klubnik ripping off a 34-yard scoring run on a 3rd and 10. However, Klubnik hasn’t quite been as accurate in this one as he has in the past two games. He has underthrown a couple of deep balls, and overshot Phil Mafah on a wheel route that ended up being picked off deep in Stanford territory. The play looked open had Klubnik thrown it a split second sooner and hit the senior back in stride. The junior signal caller is just 8-of-16 for 141 yards with one touchdown throw, but he has been the victim of at least two drops.

– Big-time scoring drive just before the half as Klubnik marches the Tigers 54 yards on eight plays. Jake Briningstool capped it off with a 4-yard touchdown catch after having two critical drops earlier on the same drive.

– Bryant Wesco continues to show why he was so highly-rated coming out of high school. The freshman has a 70-yard reception that came on one of those underthrown balls from Klubnik. If he had been hit in stride, that is an easy touchdown.

– Antonio Williams has four catches to lead all Clemson receivers. He routinely is the guy Klubnik looks for when the Tigers are in need of a play.

– Stanford’s defense came into the game allowing just 2.2 yards per carry and the first half has been no different. Phil Mafah has had very little room to run on the handful of carries he’s had to this point. He finally did have a 26-yard run late in the half but up until that point was averaging less than a yard per attempt.

– Stanford has been able to move the ball against the Clemson defense but Daniels has thrown two interceptions deep in Tigers’ territory. Both questionable decisions. Jeadyn Lukus came up with one of those, while Avieon Terrell had the other.

– Clemson’s ends have once again struggled to set the edge. The Cardinal have had some success running to the outside, taking advantage of the inexperience the Tigers have at the position. Cade Denhoff and AJ Hoffler still have room to improve in that area. Stanford has 168 yards on the ground in the first half and are averaging seven yards a carry.

– RJ Mickens has been all over the field in the first half, already racking up seven tackles.

A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!