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CLEMSON — Clemson grad Zach Thigpen crushed his guitar solos because the featured halftime visitor.
That was about it for the pyrotechnics Saturday in opposition to Wake Forest.
The Tigers’ offense definitely did not present many.
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If you wish to say this group took a step again after all of the progress proven the earlier two weeks, you in all probability would not be too far off.
Rising pains had been evident within the sixth recreation of the season because the Tigers needed to sweat out an onside kick with 1:34 left.
With particular groups struggling its personal issues on high of the offensive sputters, it is a good factor the protection got here to play on this 17-12 victory that improved the Tigers’ file to 4-2.
When Clemson took over at its 39 with 9:34 left within the recreation, the 2 groups had mixed for 11 punts and 16 factors.
Yeah, yuck.
After Will Shipley closed that possession with a landing to offer Clemson some respiration room at 17-6 with 5:49 left, the Tigers’ protection buckled some in permitting Wake to march down the sector on an 11-play, 75-yard landing drive.
However it was the protection that saved the Tigers’ conceal on this present day, which started with no stress and a perception that Clemson would proceed on an upward trajectory after its 31-14 win at Syracuse.
Earlier than their late landing, the Demon Deacons had simply six factors to indicate for drives that ended at Clemson’s 2-, 4-, 17-, 21- and 23-yard traces.
Clemson had two turnovers in Wake territory, together with a fumbled trade between Cade Klubik and Shipley that gave the Deacons possession at Clemson’s 2.
However the protection saved Wake from scoring some extent off these miscues, because the Tigers additionally buckled down after a fumbled second-quarter punt by Tyler Brown gave the Deacons the ball at Clemson’s 31.
Klubnik threw for 131 yards on an 18-of-28 clip, and Clemson lastly obtained its working recreation going after halftime by speeding for 167 of its 207 yards within the second half.
Shipley rushed for 97 yards on 19 carries, and Phil Mafah had 63 yards on 9 makes an attempt. Each backs broke free for carries of 21 yards within the second half to offer the offense some life.
Klubnik added 48 yards on the bottom to maintain some drives alive.
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Clemson was 6-of-15 on third down and ran 70 whole performs to 64 for Wake Forest.
The Tigers’ protection had eight tackles for loss and 4 sacks, battering quarterback Mitch Griffis.
The Deacons totaled 239 yards and had been 2-of-12 on third downs. Griffis handed for 137 yards on a 15-of-25 clip.
The Tigers had some dropped passes, however at the very least Hamp Greene corralled that onside kick late to avert a extra frantic ending.
With the open date and the midway level of the common season now upon us, there shall be loads of time for everybody to debate whether or not the glass is half-empty or half-full.
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