CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Tigers find redemption in 31-28 victory over Demon Deacons
Head Coach Dabo Swinney accepts the Atlantic Division trophy from ACC Associate Commissioner Michael Kelly in the Clemson lockerroom. (Photo: Zach Hanby)

Tigers find redemption in 31-28 victory over Demon Deacons


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Redemption.

A storyline that has defined a season managed to define Clemson’s final regular season home game, and as Chandler CatanzaroChandler Catanzaro

RS So. Punter / Kicker

#39 6-2, 200

Greenville, SC

View Full Profile ’s 43-yard field goal sailed through the uprights, an emotionally exhausted crowd, players and coaches were finally allowed to exhale following the latest installment.

A season that has served as redemption for last year’s 6-7 record saw an offense try to redeem itself for a sluggish start, a defense that was gashed early and often as the Tigers fell into a 28-14 hole finally found it’s bite, and a kicker that had missed a potential go-ahead field goal just minutes earlier found his redemption as he soaked in the roar of the crowd.

Catanzaro kicked his field goal as time expired, and No. 9 Clemson rallied from a third quarter, 14-point deficit as the Tigers defeated Wake Forest 31-28 Saturday in Death Valley and clinched the ACC Atlantic Division title.

Catanzaro had missed a 30-yard attempt just two minutes before his game-winner for the Tigers (9-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Clemson defense managed to stop the Demon Deacons however, and gave the Clemson offense one final shot with 42 seconds remaining.

Clemson managed 41 yards in just four plays, and this time Catanzaro's attempt was straight and true and sent the Tigers to the ACC title game for the second time in three years, setting off a celebration as Tigers fans swarmed the field.

The Tigers finished their home season 7-0, their first perfect season in Death Valley since 1990.

Clemson quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd

RS So. Quarterback

#10 6-1, 225

Hampton, VA

View Full Profile – who struggled to a 9-for-20 start that included two interceptions, found his redemption in a finish that saw him hit 18 of his final 23 passes, and 141 of his 343 passing yards came in the decisive fourth quarter when the Tigers needed him most.

“Redemption - that’s been the story of the season,” Boyd said after the game. “Nobody expected anything from us coming into the season and we wanted to accomplish this as a team. I’m very proud of the way the guys responded in the face of adversity. We’re still not done yet. It would be a great season if it ended now, but it’s not over. Hopefully, these next two games, the ACC Championship Game, and a BCS bowl, that’s what we want to accomplish. We just have to keep working and take it from there.”

Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney

Head Coach

View Full Profile said the Tigers showed their youth on Saturday – and their resilience.

“We are a family with one goal and one dream, and we’re all in,” Swinney said. “Our seniors have provided great leadership. We win together and we lose together. We showed our youth today. Let’s admit it, the third quarter was ugly, but our players truly had each other’s backs. We don’t flinch. We are like a family.”

The Deacons used a 21-point third quarter to take a 28-14 lead, and it started with a Michael Campanaro 50-yard punt return for a touchdown. Two plays later, Wake Forest had the ball again after

Andre EllingtonAndre Ellington

RS Jr. Running Back

#23 5-10, 190

Moncks Corner, SC

View Full Profile 's fumble, and the Deacons scored two plays later on Brandon Pendergrass’ 19-yard touchdown run for a 21-14 lead.

Boyd was intercepted on Clemson’s ensuing possession, and Pendergrass hit pay dirt again with a 33-yard scoring run that gave Wake the 28-14 lead.

Boyd answered by going 5-for-5 on a 68-yard drive that ended with Brandon FordBrandon Ford

RS Jr. Tight End

#80 6-4, 235

Wando, SC

View Full Profile ’s seven-yard touchdown reception, and then the Tigers tied it at 28-28 with 5:27 remaining on Jaron BrownJaron Brown

RS Jr. Wide Receiver

#18 6-2, 200

Cheraw, SC

View Full Profile ’s 10-yard scoring grab. Boyd was 5-for-6 on that drive.

The Clemson defense answered the call, forcing Wake into a three-and-out, but the next drive ended with Catanzaro’s miss.

The Demon Deacons again grabbed a quick first down, this time to their own 38-yard line. However, the Clemson defense forced two incomplete passes and on third down Wake quarterback Tanner Price was sacked for a 13-yard loss by Rennie MooreRennie Moore

RS Sr. Defensive Tackle

#94 6-3, 265

Saint Marys, GA

View Full Profile and Brandon ThompsonBrandon Thompson

Sr. Defensive Tackle

#98 6-2, 310

Thomasville, GA

View Full Profile , the last play in Death Valley for Clemson’s two seniors.

Boyd hit tight end Dwayne AllenDwayne Allen

RS Jr. Tight End

#83 6-3, 255

Fayetteville, NC

View Full Profile on two passes that covered 33 yards, and after a spike Boyd hit Adam HumphriesAdam Humphries

Fr. Wide Receiver

#13 6-0, 190

Spartanburg, SC

View Full Profile – in for an injured Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins

Fr. Wide Receiver

#2 6-1, 200

Fort Myers, FL

View Full Profile – on an eight-yard pass to the Wake 26-yard line, setting up Catanzaro’s field goal.

The Tigers return to action next week against North Carolina State, and have a chance at 10 wins in a season for the first time since 1990.

Swinney said the fourth quarter was a frantic one for players and coaches alike.

“We didn’t take any fourth quarter coffee breaks,” he said. “We had to earn and work for everything we have done so far this season. I am so proud of our players and staff. It was a great win for our seniors, and this leaves a lot for the younger guys. We were the first to punch our ticket for Charlotte, but we still have more games ahead of this season.”


Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score

----------------- -- -- -- -- -----

Wake Forest......... 7 0 21 0 - 28 Record: (5-5,4-3)

Clemson............. 7 7 7 10 - 31 Record: (9-1,6-1)

Scoring Summary:

1st 05:33 CU - Andre Ellington 4 yd run (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 10-80 3:35, WF 0 - CU 7

00:53 WF - Cameron Ford 3 yd pass from Tanner Price (Jimmy Newman kick), 12-73 4:36, WF 7 - CU 7

2nd 05:46 CU - Andre Ellington 1 yd run (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 13-80 5:39, WF 7 - CU 14

3rd 09:43 WF - Michael Campanaro 50 yd punt return (Jimmy Newman kick), , WF 14 - CU 14

08:06 WF - Brandon Pendergrass 19 yd run (Jimmy Newman kick), 2-25 0:44, WF 21 - CU 14

05:32 WF - Brandon Pendergrass 33 yd run (Jimmy Newman kick), 4-44 1:25, WF 28 - CU 14

01:23 CU - Brandon Ford 7 yd pass from Tajh Boyd (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 10-68 4:04, WF 28 - CU 21

4th 05:27 CU - Jaron Brown 10 yd pass from Tajh Boyd (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 10-80 3:18, WF 28 - CU 28

00:00 CU - Chandler Catanzaro 43 yd field goal, 5-41 0:42, WF 28 - CU 31

WF CU

FIRST DOWNS................... 21 27

RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 35-145 42-179

PASSING YDS (NET)............. 172 343

Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 37-24-0 44-27-2

TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 72-317 86-522

Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0

Punt Returns-Yards............ 3-63 1-3

Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 5-59 4-103

Interception Returns-Yards.... 2-37 0-0

Punts (Number-Avg)............ 5-43.8 3-38.7

Fumbles-Lost.................. 5-0 1-1

Penalties-Yards............... 1-10 6-58

Possession Time............... 30:08 29:52

Third-Down Conversions........ 8 of 16 9 of 16

Fourth-Down Conversions....... 0 of 1 2 of 3

Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 2-5 4-5

Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 0-0 1-13

RUSHING: Wake Forest-Brandon Pendergrass 20-134; Orville Reynolds 2-10;

Chris Givens 1-5; Tommy Bohanon 1-1; TEAM 1-minus 1; Tanner Price 10-minus 4.

Clemson-Andre Ellington 25-98; Sammy Watkins 2-32; Tajh Boyd 11-27; D.J. Howard

3-14; Mike Bellamy 1-8.

PASSING: Wake Forest-Tanner Price 24-37-0-172. Clemson-Tajh Boyd

27-43-2-343; TEAM 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING: Wake Forest-Michael Campanaro 9-72; Chris Givens 4-31; Brandon

Pendergrass 3-9; Cameron Ford 2-21; Danny Dembry 2-17; Orville Reynolds 2-9;

Terence Davis 1-10; Andrew Parker 1-3. Clemson-Jaron Brown 6-78; Sammy Watkins

5-62; Dwayne Allen 4-48; Brandon Ford 3-51; Andre Ellington 3-42; DeAndre

Hopkins 3-38; Adam Humphries 3-24.

INTERCEPTIONS: Wake Forest-Josh Bush 1-29; Zach Thompson 1-8.

Clemson-None.

FUMBLES: Wake Forest-Tanner Price 3-0; Merrill Noel 2-0. Clemson-Andre

Ellington 1-1.

Stadium: Memorial Stadium Attendance: 80000

Kickoff time: 12:01 PM End of Game: 3:26 PM Total elapsed time: 3:25

Officials: Referee: Tom McCreesh; Umpire: Donald Yates; Linesman: John Busch;

Line judge: Jack Weiland; Back judge: Doug Smith; Field judge: Tyrone Anderson;

Side judge: Rich Street;

Temperature: 65 deg Wind: Calm Weather: Sunny

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