Ugly but convincing: Clemson handles UConn with ACC showdown vs. Wake Forest up next
A game that everyone outside of Storrs, Connecticut thought would be a blowout had some scratching their heads early.
Clemson gave up a 99-yard touchdown to UConn on the opening kickoff and took almost the entire first quarter to gain a lead on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers (7-3) are accustomed to gutting out games this season, though, and eventually pulled away to rout the Huskies 44-7.
For much of the game, the Tigers’ sluggish offense overshadowed the eventual blowout of UConn (1-9), which hadn’t played a game in three weeks and entered Saturday as one of the country’s worst FBS teams. The Tigers converted 5 of 22 third-down opportunities in the game, though they were 5 for 6 on fourth down.
Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who was wearing a knee brace because of an injury suffered a week earlier, went 21-for-44 passing for 241 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His TD throw near the end of the first half — a 32-yard dart to freshman wide receiver Beaux Collins — gave the team a 30-7 halftime lead.
It was Clemson’s most convincing win since a 49-3 victory over FCS S.C. State on Sept. 11. The Tigers’ five Atlantic Coast Conference wins this season have all been games that were decided in the fourth quarter.
Clemson now turn its attention to next weekend’s ACC finale against Wake Forest, a game that could have major implications on who represents the Atlantic Division in the conference title game — with the Demon Deacons and N.C. State the top contenders as of Saturday afternoon.
Heading into next week’s game, Tigers offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said there are no concerns about possible regression despite the sluggish play against UConn.
“Just an opportunity for us to make sure we reset the focus to get the guys back ready to go, challenge guys from a leadership standpoint,” he said. “Great learning opportunity. What the guys have shown this year is that they respond. They rebound, so we won’t make it bigger than what it is.”
Clemson injury report
Clemson on Saturday again was done no favors by the injury bug.
The Tigers lost leading receiver Justyn Ross to an undisclosed leg injury midway through the first quarter. He had just caught a 25-yard pass when he limped to the sideline before being taken to the locker room. The redshirt junior later returned in the second quarter on crutches and wearing a boot.
Quarterback Taisun Phommachanh, whose brother plays for UConn, contributed a three-yard touchdown at the 14:31 mark of the second quarter, giving Clemson a 17-3 lead. The Connecticut native wouldn’t return to the field after hurting his shoulder, coach Dabo Swinney told the TV broadcast.
Elliott after the game said Ross told him that he was fine, though the Tigers’ coordinator didn’t have an update on Phommachanh.
Clemson was also without freshman running back Will Shipley, who suited up but did not play. Instead, sixth-year senior Darien Rencher combined running back duties with freshman Phil Mafah.
Meanwhile, the Tigers’ defense held UConn to minus-49 rushing yards in a shutout first half and minus-17 for the game — short of the program record of minus-29 total rushing yards allowed against Furman in 1996.
Sheridan Jones and Mario Goodrich each had an interception, while the team combined for six quarterback sacks. In the second half, the group played without defensive lineman Xavier Thomas, who was seen in street clothes on the sidelines in the third quarter.
Senior linebacker James Skalski also left the game late with an undisclosed injury. The Tigers also were down a linebacker when Sergio Allen suffered what appeared to be a leg injury on a kickoff during the first half. The sophomore was carted off the field.
Next Clemson football game
Who: Clemson vs. Wake Forest
Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC
When: Noon Saturday, Nov. 20
TV: ESPN
Clemson UConn box score, stats
——HOW THEY SCORED——
First Quarter
CONN—Brewton 99 kickoff return (Joe.McFadden kick), 14:45.
CLEM—FG Potter 49, 9:13.
CLEM—W.Swinney 6 run (Potter kick), 3:03.
Second Quarter
CLEM—Ta.Phommachanh 3 run (Potter kick), 14:31.
CLEM—FG Potter 49, 8:01.
CLEM—FG Potter 30, 6:30.
CLEM—B.Collins 32 pass from Uiagalelei (Potter kick), :15.
Third Quarter
CLEM—Mafah 2 run (Potter kick), 10:20.
Fourth Quarter
CLEM—Briningstool 25 pass from Wiles (Weitz kick), 3:36.
——TEAM STATS——
First downs: Clemson 26-7
Total yards: Clemson 474-99
Rush yards: Clemson 127 to minus-21
Pass yards: Clemson 347 to 120
Time of poss: Clemson 36:22 to 23:19
——PLAYER STATS——
RUSHING—Uconn, Carter 5-19, Krajewski 3-12, Burns 1-4, (Team) 1-(minus 1), Maurisseau 1-(minus 4), Mensah 9-(minus 7), Zergiotis 6-(minus 44). Clemson, Mafah 17-48, Rencher 14-44, Phommachanh 3-16, Lucas 4-13, W.Swinney 1-6, Helms 1-4, Wiles 1-2, Uiagalelei 2-(minus 6).
PASSING—Uconn, Zergiotis 9-21-2-90, Krajewski 5-11-0-30. Clemson, Uiagalelei 21-44-1-241, Helms 3-8-0-42, Phommachanh 1-1-0-33, Wiles 1-3-0-25, (Team) 1-1-0-6.
RECEIVING—Uconn, Turner 5-59, Brewton 3-26, Mensah 2-5, Marion 1-14, Niemenski 1-7, Clercius 1-5, Rose 1-4. Clemson, D.Collins 6-97, B.Collins 5-40, Ross 3-40, Briningstool 2-56, Mafah
This story was originally published November 13, 2021 at 3:32 PM.
