It was a coming out party — and then some — for the Clemson Tigers’ offense on Saturday night in Death Valley.
The 22nd-ranked Tigers found the end zone on their first eight possessions in a historic first-half performance en route to a 56-point half and a 66-20 victory over Appalachian State at Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik started the night by completing his first 11 passes for 233 yards and three touchdown strikes. Before the night was done, he had accounted for a whopping seven touchdowns through the air and on the ground.
Klubnik’s explosion started when he hit freshman sensation Bryant Wesco on a perfectly delivered 76-yard bomb for a 7-0 lead after Nolan Hauser ‘s extra point just a minute, 14 seconds into the game. That capped a three-play, 75 yard drive.
On Clemson’s next possession, Klubnik wasted no time driving his team back down the field. He hooked up with Wesco again, this time for a 51-yard gain that gave the Tigers 1st and goal at the App State 2-yard line. From there, the second-year starter at quarterback ran it in for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Clemson’s third possession took only three plays as well, this time spanning 92 yards as tailback Phil Mafah broke an 83-yard touchdown run up the middle to make it 21-0.
Klubnik tacked on two more scores before the end of the first quarter, courtesy of a 41-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Briningstool that made it 28-0 with 2:34 left in the quarter and then a 29-yard touchdown to Antonio Williams with 1:11 remaining for a 35-0 lead.
All told, Klubnik was 11 of 11 for 233 yards and three touchdown passes in the first quarter alone. Wesco caught three balls for 130 yards. Clemson had a staggering 349 total yards and 13 first downs in the first period while holding possession of the ball for 6:43 compared to App State’s 8:17.
According to Clemson Sports Information, the 35 points were a school record for most in any first quarter and tied the school record for most points in any single quarter; the Tigers also 35 against Wake Forest in 1981, 35 against North Carolina in 2011, and 35 against Georgia Tech in 2020.
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Clemson found the end zone three more times in the second quarter, again thanks to Klubnik’s career night. He ran for his second touchdown on a 3-yard rush that made it 42-0 early in the period. Later, Klubnik hit freshman receiver TJ Moore for 33 yards and a touchdown that upped the lead to 49-7 lead.
Right before halftime, Klubnik connected with Briningstool again for a 17-yard strike — his fifth touchdown pass of the night. Clemson had a 56-10 lead after that and went into intermission leading 56-13.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Klubnik is the first player at the FBS level with 5+ passing touchdowns, 2+ rushing touchdowns and a 90 percent completion rate in the last 25 years.
The Tigers closed the half with 525 total yards, with Klubnik 24 of 26 for 378 yards through the air and five more on the ground. He accounted for seven of the team’s eight touchdowns with nine different receivers catching passes, including Briningstool’s six catches for 95 yards.
Backup QB Christopher Vizzina took over in the second half and scored the Tigers’ ninth touchdown of the night on a 4-yard keeper with 3:10 to play in the third quarter to push the Tigers’ lead to 63-20. It was Vizzina’s first career college touchdown.
After App State’s fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Clemson tacked on a 36-yard field goal from Hauser with 1:51 left in the third.
Vizzina was 7 of 11 for 78 yards in the second half. Mafah finished with 10 carries on the ground for 118 yards, including his first-quarter touchdown. The Tigers finished the night with 28 first downs and 712 total yards to App State’s 24 first downs and 363 total yards.
It was just the seventh time in school history that Clemson finished with over 700 total yards. True freshman linebacker Sammy Brown led the Tigers’ defense in tackling (seven total, five solo).
With the win, the Tigers improved to 1-1. Clemson is idle next week before hosting NC State in Death Valley Sept. 21. Kickoff and broadcast information have not yet been announced. App State fell to 1-1.
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