Clemson outlasts weather, Tar Heels in ACC opener victory
Clemson’s ACC lid-lifter against North Carolina was shaped by a pair of lengthy weather delays, but the Tigers found a way to finish strong and secure a 28-20 victory. After the Tar Heels grabbed a late third-quarter edge, Clemson answered with a decisive late drive and a turnover-induced stop to seal it.
Key sequence: Clemson rolled up a four-play, 68-yard march late in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a productive ground game led by Gideon Davidson. A Tyler Brown scoring catch and an Elliott Washington interception followed, padding the Tigers’ cushion as the clock wound down.
Key moments and statistics
- In the opening half, UNC outgained Clemson 195 yards to 117, with much of Clemson’s damage coming on an 88-yard march that punctuated the period. A late 50-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser trimmed the deficit to 17-6 at the break.
- UNC struck first on a 3-yard run by Demon June, finishing a 6-play, 47-yard opening drive where the Tar Heels did not face a third down.
- Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds completed 12 of 19 passes for 76 yards before halftime.
- Hauser remained spotless on field goals this season, pushing his streak to nine makes with a long of 50 yards.
- North Carolina answered with a 10-play, 75-yard march, going 3-for-3 on third down. QB Billy Edwards Jr. found Benjamin Hall for a flat route score.
- Edwards contributed 83 passing yards and a touchdown before the break, plus 21 rushing yards in the first half.
- On Clemson’s first touch of the day, running back Jarvis Green fumbled, briefly giving UNC a chance to extend its lead. A pair of penalties kept the Tar Heels from capitalizing, and a 47-yard kick attempt by Aeron Burrell missed.
- Clemson forced UNC’s first punt of the day with just over five minutes left in the first half.
- Gideon Davidson logged seven carries for 37 yards in the opening half.
- Turnaround note: UNC held a halftime lead that marked a notable moment in the series’ history against an ACC opponent.
The second half featured a back-and-forth, with Reynolds and Clemson trading gains before an underthrown deep ball resulted in an interception that shuffled momentum toward UNC. After UNC fumbled later in the quarter, Clemson’s Vic Burley recovered the ball in his first game back from suspension and helped swing field position in the Tigers’ favor. Clemson then mounted a methodical march that culminated in a goal-to-go sequence stopped by a turnover, leaving UNC ahead 17-9 momentarily.
The Tigers finally found a big play on a 41-yard pass-rush-and-receiver connection from Reynolds to Bryant Wesco Jr., setting up the go-ahead push. Reynolds connected for a touchdown on a later drive, and Clemson added insurance with a late fourth-quarter score from Davidson. Davidson’s performance included his first 100-yard rushing effort, as well as his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Lightning halted play with 2:59 remaining and Clemson trailing 17-15 on UNC’s 7-yard line. After a roughly two-and-a-half-hour delay, the Tigers tightened up defensively and prevented UNC from scoring again, allowing Clemson to grab a field goal and regain a 20-15 edge. The night’s delay marked the third weather-related interruption for Clemson in as many weeks, underscoring the challenge of making up time and staying sharp in a demanding schedule.
Reynolds engineered multiple productive drives, including the late sequence that produced the decisive points. Davidson’s steady ground attack and the defense’s late stand were central to Clemson’s comeback effort.
Looking ahead
Next up, Clemson hits the road for a Friday-night clash at California. The Bears opened with a loss to UCLA and later defeated Syracuse, while also hosting Wagner in their season opener. The kickoff is scheduled for a late Oct. 10 time in the local window.
