Clemson fans witnessed a spectacular offensive display Saturday night as the No. 25 Tigers obliterated Appalachian State 66-20, bouncing back in emphatic fashion after their tough season opener against top-ranked Georgia. Quarterback Cade Klubnik delivered a career performance, throwing for 378 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Tigers' resurgence.
“We finally got to show what we've been working on all fall,” Klubnik said. “It was a blast to let the ball fly, and our guys made plays all night.”
The Tigers (1-1) wasted no time establishing dominance, with Klubnik connecting on a 76-yard bomb to Bryant Wesco Jr. just minutes into the game. Wesco followed up with a 52-yard catch to set up Klubnik’s first of two rushing touchdowns. Clemson was unstoppable in the first half, scoring on all eight drives to storm into halftime with a commanding 56-13 lead.
“I've coached a lot of great players, but I’ve never seen a half like that,” said head coach Dabo Swinney.
This offensive outburst was a stark contrast to Clemson’s sluggish opener, where they managed just 188 yards against Georgia. By the first quarter against Appalachian State, they had already surpassed that mark. Wesco, one of Clemson's standout freshmen, finished the night with 131 receiving yards, while running back Phil Mafah added to the fireworks with an 83-yard touchdown run, the Tigers’ longest since 2019.
Despite the Mountaineers’ reputation for testing Power Five teams, Appalachian State (1-1) was no match for the Tigers. Clemson’s relentless pressure on quarterback Joey Aguilar limited the Sun Belt preseason player of the year to 214 passing yards and one touchdown. Head coach Shawn Clark acknowledged the unusual defensive lapses but vowed to move forward.
Clemson’s offensive explosion resulted in a staggering 712 total yards, including 525 in a jaw-dropping first half. Klubnik, who hadn’t thrown a touchdown in his last three games, was nearly flawless, completing 24 of 26 passes before backup Chris Vizzina took over in the third quarter. Tight end Jake Briningstool also shined, hauling in two touchdown passes.
For Clemson, this performance was not just a response to their early-season critics but also a crucial confidence boost heading into a challenging matchup with NC State. The Tigers will also aim for a historic milestone, needing just one more win to become the first ACC team to reach 800 victories.
Meanwhile, Clemson paid tribute to former receiver Diondre Overton, who tragically passed away at age 26. Before the game, fans honored Overton’s memory with a moment of silence and his image displayed on the stadium’s video board.
Next up, Clemson faces No. 24 NC State in what promises to be a pivotal ACC showdown.
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