The momentum keeps building for No. 10 Clemson.
Cade Klubnik threw three touchdown passes, and Phil Mafah scored two short touchdown runs as the Tigers defeated Wake Forest 49-14 on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive victory.
Clemson (5-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) capitalized on a couple of interceptions, turning them into touchdowns during a strong second quarter where they scored 28 points.
“A lot of good things in the game,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “It was good to see us able to put them away.”
Klubnik completed 31 of 41 passes for 309 yards, while Mafah rushed for 118 yards on 20 carries.
“We got going,” Klubnik said. “Proud of the guys on how we responded and played a great game.”
The Tigers also mixed things up, with receiver Antonio Williams throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Briningstool in the third quarter.
“We find different ways to win each week,” Williams said.
Wake Forest (2-4, 1-2) lost its fourth straight home game. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier managed only 126 passing yards, with two interceptions and two touchdown passes, before being replaced midway through the third quarter.
“They’re a really good program, so we know when we play them there’s a small margin of error,” Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson said. “I trust that our players will press on. We’ve got a lot of football left.”
Clemson scored touchdowns on four straight possessions to take a 28-14 lead at halftime. Interceptions by Kylon Griffin and Khalil Barnes helped set up two touchdowns.
“Momentum is a real big thing,” Griffin said. “It’s a real thing. We have to keep building on it and keep creating momentum.”
Mafah scored on runs of 1 and 2 yards, with the latter coming on a fourth-and-goal. Klubnik’s touchdown passes were to Williams for 22 yards, Troy Stellato for 8 yards in the first half, and Adam Randall for 9 yards in the third quarter.
Wake Forest started the scoring with Bachmeier’s 31-yard pass to Horatio Fields for the only touchdown in the first quarter, marking the first points Clemson allowed in the opening quarter this year. He also threw to Michael Frogge, who made his first career reception, for a 6-yard touchdown.
“We’re just resilient in everything we do,” Klubnik said. “Just to finish the way we did was awesome.”
