On This Date: 1997 Clemson- 33 Wake Forest- 16

Nov 1, 2022, 1:58 PM

11/1/1997
Winston-Salem, NC

Greene, Clemson Whip 'Decs, 33-16
GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD
November 1, 1997

Nealon Greene passed for 286 yards and two TDs as Clemson defeated Wake Forest 33-16 for the 19th time in the past 21 meetings. Greene set six school records (four career, two season)

After two straight ACC victories over Maryland and Duke, Wake Forest entered the November 1, 1997 meeting with Clemson in Groves Stadium in pursuit of a winning season and an outside shot at a bowl invitation. A strong Tiger defense and big-play offense, though, blocked those plans in a 33-16 Demon Deacon loss.

The two teams stood toe-to-toe throughout the first half, trading scores en route to a 12-10 Clemson lead at the intermission. Raymond Priester scored on a two-yard run, but Brian Kuklick connected with Thabiti Davis on a five-yard TD pass to give WFU a 7-6 advantage.

David Richardson booted a 52-yard field goal, Matthew Burdick answered for Wake with 38-yarder, then Richardson responded with a successful 34-yard attempt at the 0:27 mark of the second period.

The second half, however, was all Clemson. Wake was forced to go without Kuklick, who had suffered a hairline fracture in his lower right leg, and managed just 106 yards in total offense during the third and fourth periods. The Tigers exploded for two long TD passes by Nealon Greene (52 yds to Tony Horne; 41 yds to Rob Gardner) in the third quarter and controlled the rest of the game. Greene finished with an impressive 286 yards through the air, completing 18 of 25 passes. Horne had seven catches for 152 yards.

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On This Date: 1997 Clemson- 33 Wake Forest- 16

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