A very different football season begins with familiar result: Clemson dominates Wake
There were more cardboard cutouts than fans in the stands, the coin toss was done with social distancing in mind and coaches wore masks on the sidelines. It wasn’t an unfamiliar sight while playing sports during a pandemic.
But once the football was kicked off and the game got underway, it played out just as the last couple of Wake Forest-Clemson games have — with the Tigers dominating.
No. 1 Clemson pounded the Demon Deacons 37-13 Saturday night at Truist Field in a game that was never really competitive.
The ACC is playing an 11-game season that includes one non-conference game during the coronavirus pandemic. The league delayed the start of the season one week.
“Once we got on the bus and headed to the park, it’s time to play. I knew we were ready. The mindset of our team was right where it needed to be,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “It just seemed just like football. It was as normal as ever.”
The teams played in a mostly empty stadium, with no more than 50 family members of Wake Forest seniors present for the game because of the state’s limit on outdoor crowds. The Demon Deacons’ band and cheerleaders were socially distanced on a hill in an end zone.
Clemson sophomore defensive lineman K.J. Henry, who is from Winston-Salem, made his first college start in his hometown but his family couldn’t be there to watch.
“It was kind of sad talking to my family before the game,” Henry said. “I was hoping to see them out there supporting me, but it is what it is. I’ll see them next week.”
Clemson will have a limited crowd of about 19,000 at Memorial Stadium next weekend when the Tigers host The Citadel.
Against Wake Forest, the Tigers led 24-0 at halftime and 37-3 late in the third quarter when star quarterback Trevor Lawrence exited the game. The junior completed 22 of 28 passes for 351 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. He also rushed for a pair of scores.
Senior receiver Amari Rodgers was Lawrence’s favorite target on the night, catching five passes for 90 yards. Two-time ACC Player of the Year Travis Etienne had 17 carries for 102 yards and a score. He added three receptions for 47 yards.
Clemson’s defense was without four starters as Justin Foster, Derion Kendrick and Mario Goodrich were announced as out for the game for undisclosed reasons a couple of hours before kickoff. Xavier Thomas was previously announced as out for at least the first half of the season after battling COVID-19 and strep throat this summer.
The absences didn’t matter as Brent Venables’ unit played well for most of the night. The Tigers recorded six sacks and kept Wake Forest out of the end zone until the final three minutes of the game.
Even with the loss, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said it was a victory just playing a football game after an offseason filled with questions about whether or not the season would take place at all. Swinney agreed.
“It was emotional. It really was,” Swinney said. “This is what we love to do. This is not just a job. This is our passion. It’s hard work, but I don’t consider it work. Coaches love to coach ... our players love to play.”
Afterwards, Clemson gathered for the alma mater in the end zone near its locker room. With the band and cheerleaders unable to travel, the Tigers brought a speaker to play the alma mater. Players put their arms around each other and swayed from side to side as it played.
Then the Tigers went in the locker room, and as is tradition — they danced.
It was a fitting end to an opening game that felt different in several ways but that also featured plenty of much-needed normalcy.
“Just a special night. I’ve been a part of a lot of great games, a lot of openers. Hopefully I can coach many, many more years, but this is one that I’ll never forget,” Swinney said. “Truly special to be a part of it. The focus and the mental toughness that it took to get to this point is special. Just really proud of our team.”
Next Clemson football game
Who: Clemson vs. The Citadel
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19
TV: ACC Network
Matt Connolly: MattatTheState
Clemson | 14 | 13 | 10 | 0 | — | 37 |
Wake Forest | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | — | 13 |
First Quarter
CLE—Lawrence 2 run (Potter kick), 8:02.
CLE—Lawrence 1 run (Potter kick), 2:31.
Second Quarter
CLE—FG Potter 42, 10:54.
CLE—Chalk 12 pass from Lawrence (Potter kick), 1:21.
CLE—FG Potter 52, :00.
Third Quarter
WF—FG Sciba 39, 13:21.
CLE—Etienne 2 run (Potter kick), 10:38.
CLE—FG Potter 29, 3:14.
Fourth Quarter
WF—FG Sciba 42, 7:20.
WF—Morin 1 pass from Griffis (Sciba kick), 2:34.
A—68.
CLE | WF | |
First downs | 27 | 15 |
Rushes-yards | 46-185 | 34-37 |
Passing | 376 | 293 |
Comp-Att-Int | 26-36-1 | 19-38-0 |
Return Yards | 15 | 65 |
Punts-Avg. | 5-43.0 | 6-40.3 |
Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Penalties-Yards | 5-55 | 1-6 |
Time of Possession | 34:44 | 25:16 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Clemson, Etienne 17-102, Rencher 7-34, Pace 6-22, Bowman 6-22, Br.Spector 1-19, Phommachanh 1-7, Uiagalelei 1-3, Lawrence 7-(minus 24). Wake Forest, Beal-Smith 11-29, Walker 6-19, Drawdy 2-6, Ellison 4-3, Kern 2-2, Griffis 1-(minus 3), Hartman 8-(minus 19).
PASSING—Clemson, Lawrence 22-28-0-351, Uiagalelei 2-3-0-16, Phommachanh 2-4-1-9, (Team) 0-1-0-0. Wake Forest, Hartman 11-21-0-182, Griffis 2-6-0-28, Kern 6-11-0-83.
RECEIVING—Clemson, Rodgers 5-90, Galloway 5-60, Ngata 3-48, Etienne 3-47, Powell 2-15, D.Allen 1-42, Ladson 1-21, Br.Spector 1-16, Chalk 1-12, W.Brown 1-10, E.Williams 1-6, Ajou 1-6, D.Swinney 1-3. Wake Forest, Morin 9-93, Roberson 4-92, D.Greene 3-76, Perry 2-24, Chapman 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Wake Forest, Sciba 31.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 11:06 PM.
