Clemson Defense Starts Momentum in Virginia Win (needs to be edited)

CLEMSON — On a day when the Clemson offense needed several possessions to find its footing, the Tigers’ defense proved the power of complementary football in No. 10 Clemson’s 48-31 win over Virginia at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers failed to come out “hot” on offense in the first quarter. Unlike earlier games in the season where the Tigers have dropped four touchdowns in first quarter, their only score in the first 15 minutes on Saturday was a 29-yard field goal courtesy of kicker Nolan Hauser.

Clemson (6-1, 5-0 ACC) gave up another potential scoring drive when quarterback Cade Klubnik threw his third interception of the season and first in the month of October, just as the Tigers started to gain momentum.

Though the offense did not start quickly, the Tigers’ defense allowed Klubnik and the offense a chance to reboot by doing their part locking down the Cavaliers on the other side of the ball.

Until Virginia (4-3, 2-2 ACC) scored a touchdown in the end of the third quarter, Clemson allowed only 68 rushing yards throughout the game. Additionally, the Tigers only allowed a total 105 yards of offense in the second and third quarters combined.

Clemson Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea to only 107 passing yards and allowed only one trip to the red zone until late in the third quarter. Before Saturday, the Cavaliers averaged 27.5 points per game with an average of 260 passing yards in each contest.

The Tigers gave up a few early costly plays on defense, but they quickly redeemed themselves. Clemson’s defense forced four punts and a fumble to put the ball back in the offense’s hands. After the forced fumble from Wade Woodaz in the third quarter, Klubnik led the offense on a four-play touchdown drive that brought the score to 38-10.

Woodaz led his team with seven tackles, a sack, and an additional tackle for loss. T.J. Parker and Sammy Brown added two other sacks.

The Cavaliers scored two late touchdowns, but the game was already way out of reach.

The offense found its footing with time and added three touchdowns in the third quarter and an additional 10 points in the fourth.