CLEMSON, S.C. – Quarterback Cade Klubnik threw three touchdowns and redshirt freshman running back Jay Haynes ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries as No. 17/16 Clemson (9-2, 7-1 ACC) cruised past The Citadel (3-5, 5-7 SoCon), 51-14, on Saturday in Memorial Stadium. The program honored 31 seniors prior to the game and held its annual Military Appreciation Day.
The Tigers scored three touchdowns of 55 yards or longer in the first half as defensive tackle Payton Page intercepted a pass and took it 57 yards for a touchdown, freshman wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. scored on a 55-yard pass play, and Haynes broke free for a 70-yard rushing score. The Tigers established a 42-0 lead with 13:13 to play in the second half before removing the majority of its first unit.
Senior linebacker Barrett Carter found his way into the end zone on a running play with 6:25 to play to go along with six tackles. Freshman linebacker Sammy Brown added a team-high 11 stops.
After The Citadel missed a field goal on the game’s opening possession, Klubnik completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Williams to complete Clemson’s opening five-play, 78-yard drive. On the Bulldogs’ next possession, Page snatched a Jonathan Bennett pass and returned the interception 57-yards to give Clemson a 14-0 lead. Page became the first Clemson defensive tackle to return an interception for a touchdown since Carlos Watkins’ 15-yard pick-six against Appalachian State in 2015.
Following a scoreless drive by The Citadel to open the second quarter, Wesco tallied his third touchdown of the season after completing a 55-yard pass from Cade Klubnik. With 06:17 left in the quarter, Haynes rushed 70 yards for a Clemson touchdown to give the Tigers a 28-0 lead.
On the following possession by The Citadel, cornerback Avieon Terrell chased down the Bulldogs’ Johnny Crawford 50 yards downfield and stripped the ball from behind for both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The Tigers offense responded with a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive completed by Haynes with 1:07 remaining in the half. The score at halftime stood at 35-0.
Less than two minutes into the second half, Klubnik connected with Williams for the duo’s second passing touchdown of the night. The Citadel responded with a nine-yard rushing touchdown by Garrison Johnson. To round out the third quarter, Nolan Hauser’s 32-yard field goal gave Clemson a 45-7 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Citadel opened the fourth quarter with a blocked field goal by Carson Arnold, followed by a 66 yard touchdown reception by Javonte Graves-Billips on a flea flicker to cut the score to 45-14. The Tigers answered with a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, as linebacker Barrett Carter rushed four yards into the end zone to bring the final score to 51-14.
Clemson will conclude its 2024 regular season slate next Saturday when the Tigers renew their annual rivalry with the South Carolina Gamecocks on Nov. 30. Kickoff for that game at Memorial Stadium is slated for noon ET on ESPN.
