Clemson vs Pitt live updates: Tigers jump out early on way to win home finale
No. 3 Clemson faces Pitt at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC. The State’s Matt Connolly is inside Memorial Stadium to report on the game. Follow our news and score updates here.
Mellusi TD: Clemson 52, Pitt 17
Chez Mellusi scored his second TD of game on a 9-yard reception from DJ Uiagaleli with 10:48 left. Clemson has put in its backups.
Etienne TD: Clemson 45, Pitt 17
Travis Etienne scored his his second TD of the game on a 3-yard run with 52 seconds left in the third quarter. It was Etienne’s 76th career rushing TD, which moves him past Ricky Williams for fifth all time in college football history for the most rushing touchdowns.
On the drive, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence surpassed 10,000 career total yards at Clemson and moved past Charlie Whitehurst for third most all-time in school history.
Davis TD: Clemson 38, Pitt 17
Pitt took advantage of Trevor Lawrence’s fumble on the first possession and turned it into Kenny Pickett 4-yard pass to Vincent Davis with 14:24 left in the third quarter.
Addison TD: Clemson 38, Pitt 10
Pitt scored its first touchdown of the game late in the second quarter as Jordan Addison made a great catch in the left corner of the end zone from Kenny Pickett. Addison leads the ACC with 55 catches.
Mellusi TD: Clemson 38, Pitt 3
Chez Mellusi scored his third TD of the season on a 1-yard run with 7:59 left in second quarter. The score was set up by Cornell Powell’s 70-yard, one-handed grab down to the Pitt 5. Powell has four catches for 150 yards in the first half. It is Powell’s third straight 100-yard receiving game, tying school record held by Charlie Waters (1969), Tony Horne (1997), Rod Gardner (2000), DeAndre Hopkins (2012) and Sammy Watkins (2013).
Kessman FG: Clemson 31, Pitt 3
Alex Kessman got Pitt on the board with 23-yard field goal with 9:11 left in second quarter.
Dixon TD: Clemson 31, Pitt 0
Lyn J Dixon got into the scoring act with a 1-yard touchdown run as the Tigers are rolling with five seconds left in the first quarter. The 31 points scored in first quarter are the most by a Clemson team ever. The Tigers have outgained the Panthers, 264-19.
Etienne TD: Clemson 24, Pitt 0
The Tigers capitalized on Pitt’s third turnover of the first quarter as Travis Etienne scored on a 2-yard run with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
Pitt’s Hall ejected for targeting
Pitt freshman defensive back Brandon Hill was ejected in the first quarter for targeting after hitting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the crown of his helmet.
Powell TD: Clemson 17, Pitt 0
Three possessions and three touchdowns for the Tigers as Trevor Lawrence hit Cornell Powell on a 43-yard flea flicker with 7:35 left in the first quarter. Lawrence is 8-of-12 for 121 yards in the first quarter.
Potter FG: Clemson 10, Pitt 0
The Tigers scored on their second possession when BT Potter hit a 46-yard field goal with 9:26 left in the first quarter. The big play of the drive came on Trevor Lawrence’s 32-yard pass to EJ Williams down to the Pitt 31.
Williams TD: Clemson 7, Pitt 0
Clemson scored first when Trevor Lawrence hit EJ Wlliams on a 5-yard pass with 11:36 left in the first quarter. It was Williams’ first career touchdown. Williams is wearing No. 39 in the game in honor of his father, Sgt. 1st Class Eddie Williams Sr., who died at 39 after serving 18 years in the U.S. Army.
The drive was set up by Malcolm Greene’s first interception.
Clemson down several key contributors
Clemson will be down several key contributors Saturday afternoon when the Tigers host Pitt on Senior Day.
Starting cornerback Sheridan Jones, starting receiver Frank Ladson Jr., starting safety Lannden Zanders, receiver Joseph Ngata and safety Jalyn Phillips will all miss the game.
The full list of players out includes: DE Justin Foster, S Jake Herbstreit, WR Tye Herbstreit, Jones, Ladson Jr., CB Jack McCall, LB Matt McMahan, Ngata, DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Phillips, QB Taisun Phommachanh, TE Luke Price, WR Justyn Ross, WR Drew Swinney, OL John Williams, DT Tré Williams and Zanders.
Pitt missing five players because of COVID-19
Pitt will be without five players today because of COVID-19 protocols, the school announced Saturday.
The school doesn’t announce which players are out but Pittsburgh Sports Now reported Gabe Houy, Jake Kradel and Carter Warren, reserve defensive tackle Noah Palmer and special teams contributor Aydin Henningham didn’t make the trip without prior notification.
Ross leading Tigers down the hill
Receiver Justyn Ross has been selected to run the American flag down the hill for today’s Military Appreciation Day game. His mother, Charay Franklin, has served in the Navy and Alabama National Guard and completed deployments to Afghanistan and Kuwait. Ross is out for the season because of a spinal injury.
This story was originally published November 28, 2020 at 2:49 PM.
