CLEMSON, S.C. — In a commanding performance, No. 10 Clemson triumphed over Wake Forest with a score of 49-14 on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive victory.
Cade Klubnik showcased his skills by throwing for three touchdowns, while Phil Mafah contributed with two short touchdown runs, leading the Tigers (5-1, 4-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) to a dominant second quarter where they scored 28 points.
Klubnik completed 31 of 41 passes for a total of 309 yards, and Mafah rushed for 118 yards on 20 carries. The game also featured a unique play where receiver Antonio Williams connected with tight end Jake Briningstool on a 28-yard pass for a touchdown in the third quarter.
On the other side, Wake Forest (2-4, 1-2) continued to struggle, suffering their fourth consecutive loss at home. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier managed only 126 passing yards with two interceptions and two touchdown passes before being replaced mid-way through the third quarter.
Clemson managed to score touchdowns on four successive possessions, resulting in a 28-14 lead at halftime. The Tigers capitalized on early interceptions from Kylon Griffin and Khalil Barnes, both of which set up scoring plays. Mafah’s short runs found the end zone, with one score coming on a crucial fourth-and-goal play. Klubnik delivered touchdown passes to Williams for 22 yards and Troy Stellato for 8 yards during the first half, followed by a 9-yard touchdown to Adam Randall in the third quarter.
The game began with Wake Forest opening the scoring, as Bachmeier hit Horatio Fields for a 31-yard touchdown, marking the only touchdown of the first quarter. He later threw to Michael Frogge, who registered his first career reception, for a 6-yard touchdown.
The takeaway from this matchup highlights Clemson’s efficient offense, which exhibited minimal errors while achieving over 500 yards in total offense without any turnovers. This week marks their second road victory, demonstrating a strong performance overall. In contrast, Wake Forest showed promise only at the start, struggling after the first quarter as the Demon Deacons faced their second blowout loss at home to a Top 10 team, having suffered a prior defeat against then-No. 5 Mississippi last month.
Regarding the implications for the polls, Clemson is likely to maintain their ranking but may not rise significantly unless unexpected outcomes occur in other matchups on the same day.
Looking ahead, Clemson will host Virginia next Saturday, while Wake Forest will head to Connecticut for a non-conference clash on the same day.