By Garin Turner
In a double overtime thriller, the #5 Clemson Tigers beat #21 Wake Forest 51-45 in ACC play. Wake Forest trailed by 14 points midway through the first quarter but battled back in a wild back-and-forth game.
The Tigers (4-0, 2-0 ACC), first scored on a 12-yard DJ Uiagalelei pass to Jake Briningstool. It was an eight-play, 88-yard drive. The Tigers scored again on another Uiagalelei pass, this time a 41-yarder to Brannon Spector.
Wake Forest (3-1, 0-1 ACC) would get on the board with 4:13 left in the first quarter when QB Sam Hartman connected on a 36-yard score to Jahmal Banks. Clemson would kick two field goals in the second quarter but the Demon Deacons scored on a five-yard pass between Hartman and Banks again. Clemson went into the half with a 20-14 lead.
Wake Forest took its first lead of the game when Hartman found Donavon Greene for a 28-yard score. Another Hartman touchdown, this time to Blake Whiteheart would give Wake Forest a 28-20 lead.
Clemson would tie the game 28-28 with 4:29 left in the third when Davis Allen caught a three-yard pass from Uiagalelei. The Demon Deacons answered back with 1:19 left in the third when Greene caught his second TD pass from Hartman, a 25-yarder to put them up 35-28 going into the fourth.
Will Shipley scored on a one-yard run for the Tigers to tie things up at 35. Both teams connected on field goals to bring the score to 38-38 at the end of regulation.
Wake Forest got the ball first in overtime and scored on an eight-yard A.T. Perry catch from Hartman.
The Tigers would then score on a 21-yard pass from Uiagaleleito Beaux Collins. In the second overtime, Allen caught his second TD, a 21-yard one this time to put Clemson up for good.
A fourth down heave to the end zone from Hartman was broken up to seal the win for the Tigers.
Both teams combined for 1,006 total yards. Clemson had 559 to Wake Forest’s 447. The Tigers had 10 penalties for 120 yards.
Uiagalelei finished with 371 yards in the air and five touchdowns. He also had 52 yards on the ground on 14 attempts. Shipley finished with 104 yards and a score on 20 carries.
For Wake Forest, Hartman went 20/29 for 337 yards and six touchdowns. Banks had six catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns while both of Greene’s receptions went for scores racking up 53 yards.
UP NEXT
Clemson: In more ACC action, the Tigers host #12 North Carolina State next Saturday.
Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons are on the road next Saturday against Florida State.
