THE GOOD
A Rushing Clinic
Clemson’s ground game was ruthless. The Tigers ripped off 219 rushing yards on 7.1 yards per carry, highlighted by Chris Denson’s 106 yards on just six carries, including a 50-yard burst that electrified the stadium. Gideon Davidson (52 yards) and David Eziomume (34 yards) helped bury Furman under wave after wave of fresh legs. Explosion plays came early and often — five rushes of 14+ yards — and Clemson dictated tempo all afternoon.
Quarterback Depth on Display
Cade Klubnik (159 yards, 2 TDs) set the tone immediately, finding Antonio Williams twice for early scores. Christopher Vizzina added a touchdown strike to Christian Bentancur and ran the offense cleanly. Chris Denson went a perfect 4-for-4 with a TD pass and added a touchdown run. Clemson rolled out three different quarterbacks who each found the end zone — a luxury most programs can’t dream of.
Defense Sets the Standard
The defense was suffocating: 66 rushing yards allowed on 2.4 yards per carry, nine tackles for loss, and Sammy Brown’s momentum-swinging interception return. Clemson forced five three-and-outs and held Furman to 4-of-17 on third down, turning the Paladins one-dimensional early.
Antonio Williams, Uncovered Again
Williams touched the ball only a handful of times but made all of them count: 57 receiving yards, 2 TDs, plus two electric punt returns totaling 37 yards. When Clemson needed a spark, Williams provided it instantly.
THE BAD
A Quiet Third Quarter
With a 31–3 halftime lead, Clemson lost some sharpness coming out of the locker room. Furman drove 55 yards for its only touchdown and held the ball for over eight minutes in the third quarter. The Tigers’ offense, meanwhile, went punt-punt-punt with just 10 total yards across three drives.
Hauser’s Missed Field Goal
Nolan Hauser drilled a 45-yarder in the first quarter, but his second-quarter 36-yard miss halted momentum when Clemson was threatening to turn the game into a 35+ point blowout before halftime.
A Couple Protection Leaks
Clemson allowed one sack — a 20-yard loss on an intentional grounding sequence — and gave up early interior pressure that stalled a promising drive. The Tigers settled in, but the first-quarter hiccups kept this from being a flawless performance up front.
THE UGLY
Furman’s Offensive Struggles
This was an ugly night for the Paladins. Their quarterbacks were sacked twice, threw an interception, and averaged just 4.9 yards per attempt. Furman posted 15 drives, and only one ended in a touchdown — the rest were a field goal, an INT, a fumble, and 11 empty possessions. The Paladins had more punts (5) than explosive plays.
Injuries Strike Again
Clemson can’t escape the injury bug. Tight end Olsen Patt-Henry went down with a knee injury in the first half, and defensive end Jahiem Lawson was helped off in the third quarter after not being able to put weight on his right leg. With South Carolina looming, these losses could sting.
FINAL THOUGHT
Clemson needed a complete performance — and finally delivered one. The Tigers dominated every phase, flashed their future stars, and walked out with their best overall showing of the year.