A Stormy Start to the Afternoon
It was a hot and humid afternoon in Death Valley as No. 8 Clemson returned home for a bounce-back opportunity against Troy. Just a week ago, the Tigers fell in a tough 17-10 battle against LSU at home, opening their season with a loss. Meanwhile, Troy came in riding momentum after a 38-20 win over Nicholls. Kickoff was set for 3:30 on the ACC Network, but the weather had other plans, and what unfolded over the course of the next few hours was a rollercoaster game that left Clemson fans both anxious and excited.
First Quarter: Lightning and Early Trouble
Clemson won the toss and deferred, putting their defense on the field first. That move didn’t pay off immediately. Troy marched down the field with confidence, and quarterback Goose Crowder struck quickly, finding Tray Taylor on a 44-yard touchdown burnig Jamal Anderson. Just like that, Troy led 7-0.
The Tigers’ first offensive drive was a quick three-and-out, and before the game could settle, a lightning delay paused the action for over an hour and a half. By the time play resumed at 5:20 p.m., Clemson was still trying to find its footing.
Demonte Capehart provided a spark with a sack on Crowder, and Ashton Hampton later intercepted a deflected pass at the line thanks to Peter Woods. But Clemson’s offense couldn’t capitalize. Backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina was inserted on a short-yardage situation but failed to convert, and on fourth-and-two, Adam Randall’s run attempt ended in a costly fumble.
By the end of the first quarter, it was still 7-0 Troy.
Second Quarter: Troy Extends Its Lead
The Trojans continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, driving into field goal range and converting a 37-yarder to make it 10-0. Clemson finally found a spark when Klubnik connected with Tyler Brown for 23 yards, but the drive quickly fizzled after a penalty and sack.
The biggest gut punch came midway through the quarter. Crowder dumped a pass underneath that was tipped by Clemson’s defensive front, and linebacker Luke Hodge batted down another Klubnik pass that landed in the hands of Troy’s Justin Powe, who raced it in for a pick-six. The extra point was missed, but suddenly Clemson trailed 16-0.
Desperately needing momentum, Klubnik hit Bryant Wesco Jr. for a 25-yard gain, and a targeting call on Troy moved the Tigers inside the 15. Clemson thought they had a touchdown when transfer wide out Tristian Smith caught a ball near the goal line, but his knee was ruled down. The Tigers settled for a 25-yard Nolan Hauser field goal, cutting the deficit to 16-3.
Troy leaned on running back Tae Meadows before halftime, but a missed 51-yard field goal sent both teams into the break with Clemson trailing by 13. At halftime, Clemson had just 114 total yards to Troy’s 206, and the Death Valley crowd was restless.
Third Quarter: Tigers Roar Back
Whatever was said in Clemson’s locker room at halftime worked. The Tigers came out committed to the ground game, with Adam Randall breaking loose for a 30-yard run. He later capped the drive with a rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 16-10.
The defense then came alive. Ricardo Jones intercepted Crowder off a tipped pass from Ashton Hampton, and on the very next play, Klubnik hit a wide-open Bryant Wesco Jr. for the go-ahead touchdown. Just like that, Clemson led 17-16, its first advantage of the afternoon.
Moments later, Ronan Hanafin snagged another interception, setting up Clemson for more points. Although the offense couldn’t punch it into the end zone, Hauser knocked through a 30-yard field goal, stretching the lead to 20-16.
By the end of the third quarter, Clemson had completely flipped the script, riding turnovers and the ground game to a four-point lead.
Fourth Quarter: Finishing the Job
Troy tried to steal back momentum early in the fourth with a fake field goal attempt, but Clemson snuffed it out for a turnover on downs. Smelling blood, Klubnik went back to Wesco, this time connecting on a beautiful over-the-shoulder 34-yard touchdown. The sophomore wideout showed why he’s an electric player, and Clemson now led 27-16.
The Tigers’ defense closed things out in style with back-to-back sacks from TJ Parker and Will Heldt. With the clock winding down, Clemson leaned on the run game to seal the victory, bouncing back from last week’s disappointment with a gritty 27-16 win.
Final Stats
- Clemson: 316 total yards – 196 passing, 120 rushing. Cade Klubnik went 18-for-24 with 196 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT. Adam Randall carried 21 times for 112 yards and a touchdown while also adding 4 receptions for 23 yards. Wesco Jr. stole the show with 7 catches for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Troy: 301 total yards – 223 passing, 78 rushing. Goose Crowder finished 19-for-31 with 223 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INTs. Tae Meadows paced the rushing attack with 76 yards on 16 carries.
Final Score: Clemson 27, Troy 16
Game Takeaways
1. Adam Randall is Clemson’s engine.
With 112 rushing yards and the team’s first touchdown, Randall gave the offense a much-needed spark. His ability to break off chunk plays set the tone for the comeback.
2. Bryant Wesco Jr. is the real deal.
The sophomore wide receiver broke out in a big way, hauling in 118 yards and two touchdowns. His chemistry with Klubnik looked sharp.
3. Defense adjusts, turnovers flip the game.
Three second-half interceptions changed everything. Ricardo Jones, Ronan Hanafin, and Ashton Hampton all made critical plays, helping Clemson swing momentum and keep Troy off the scoreboard in the second half.
4. A tale of two halves.
Clemson looked flat and sloppy in the first half, but completely dominated after halftime. The 24 unanswered points proved this team can respond to adversity.
What’s Next
Clemson improves to 1-1 and will travel to Atlanta next week for an ACC clash against Georgia Tech inside of Bobby Dodd Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon on either ABC or ESPN.
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