Winston-Salem, NC (SportsNetwork.com) – Artavis Scott scored the go-ahead
touchdown early in the fourth quarter and No. 19 Clemson held off Wake Forest,
34-20, on Thursday night at BB&T Field.
Wake Forest totaled just 119 yards but gave the Tigers a scare by taking
advantage of good field position due to several Clemson mistakes.
The Tigers’ offense proved too much, though, as Scott and Wayne Gallman scored
unanswered touchdowns over the final 11 minutes to give Clemson (7-2, 6-1 ACC)
a sixth straight win.
Cole Stoudt got another start under center, even though Deshaun Watson was in
uniform for the first time in over a month, and passed for 282 yards with
three touchdowns and an interception.
Wake Forest’s John Wolford completed just 11-of-29 passes for 88 yards but
threw for two scores, both to tight end Cam Serigne.
The Demon Deacons (2-7, 0-5) remained winless in ACC play and have dropped 11
straight to ranked opponents.
Mike Weaver’s 31-yard field goal pulled Wake Forest even at 20-20 with 11:08
remaining, but Scott quickly answered on the next series.
The freshman wideout went in motion, took a shovel pass from Stoudt and did
the rest as he sprinted untouched up the sideline for a 68-yard touchdown.
After Clemson forced a three-and-out, Gallman broke off a 30-yard run to the
end zone with 6:36 remaining, and Wake Forest did not record a first down the
rest of the way.
Kevin Johnson’s interception late in the opening quarter set up Wake Forest’s
first TD.
A trick play saw wide receiver Jared Crump complete a reverse pass to Wolford
down to the Clemson 19-yard line, and four plays later, Wolford hooked up with
Serigne for a 4-yard score.
It took until their fourth possession for the Tigers to get on the board, as
Ammon Lakip kicked a 28-yard field goal with just under nine minutes left in
the first half.
Clemson went in front on Gallman’s 18-yard touchdown catch off a well-designed
screen, but a muffed punt recovered by Wake Forest in the red zone led to
another Serigne TD.
Three third-down conversions on the ensuing series, including one on a pass
interference penalty in the end zone, kept the Tigers moving, and Scott capped
the 12-play, 75-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown grab.
Only 27 seconds remained after Scott’s first TD, but Wake Forest moved into
field goal range thanks to a pass interference penalty and an illegal hands to
the face infraction on what would have been the final play of the half.
On the untimed down, Weaver got enough behind a 50-yard try to send both teams
into the locker room knotted at 17-17.
Lakip capped the opening drive of the second half with a 39-yard field, and
after Weaver missed a 54-yard try, Clemson was on the doorstep again. Scott,
however, dropped a option toss on 4th-and-1 from the Wake Forest 9.
Game Notes
Clemson has won six straight meetings … Watson has been sidelined with a
hand injury. He should be ready for next week’s game against Georgia Tech …
Clemson came in ranked second in the nation in total defense at 268.6 ypg,
while Wake Forest ranked last in offense at 213.5 ypg … Clemson totaled 427
yards of offense … Gallman ran for 106 yards on 19 carries, and Scott led
all receivers with eight catches for 122 yards.
