Clemson 38–10 @ North Carolina, stabilizing their season
The Tigers pounce on the Tarheels
TL;DR
- North Carolina’s starting QB Gio Lopez was declared out of the game at 10am on Saturday morning, leading to head coach Bill Belichick to name senior QB Max Johnson the starter. Johnson is coming off a broken leg injury, suffered in the 2024 season opener, that required multiple surgeries to fix.
- Clemson outscored North Carolina 28 to 3 in the first quarter; 35 to 3 in the first half. Clemson would not score another touchdown, their only second half scoring came through a field goal in the 4th quarter.
- Clemson struggled to run the ball, but dominated through the air. Bill Belichick’s North Carolina team went 2/11 on third downs and 213 of their 270 total yards were pass yards.
- Both teams looked sloppy coming off of bye weeks, combining for 15 penalties for 160 yards. UNC actually led in yards per carry, but the Tigers rushed the ball 31 times — 13 more than the Tarheels at 18.
Prediction: Clemson 31, North Carolina 13
Final score: Clemson 38, North Carolina 10
Standouts
CLEM QB Cade Klubnik: 22/24, 254 yds, 4 TD.
CLEM RB Adam Randall: 8 carries, 30 yds — 4 rec, 73 yds, 2 TD.
CLEM WR T.J. Moore: 5 rec, 108 yds, 1 TD.
CLEM WR Antonio Williams: 5 rec, 37 yds — 1/1, 75 pass yds, 1 TD.
CLEM TE Christian Bentancur: 2 rec, 53 yds, 2 TD.
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CLEM LB Sammy Brown: 5 tackles (2 solo), 0.5 TFL.
CLEM DT Stephiylan Green: 1 sack.
UNC QB Max Johnson: 26/42, 213 yds.
UNC RB Benjamin Hall: 5 carries, 24 yds, 1 TD.
UNC WR Jordan Shipp: 6 rec, 43 yds.
UNC DL CJ Mims: 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 sack.
UNC DL Nicco Maggio: 1 fumble recovery.
UNC LB Andrew Simpson: 1 sack.
Answering My Questions
- I called for motion, play action and trick plays. Lo and behold, the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage was a double pass from QB Cade Klubnik to WR Antonio Williams, and then to WR TJ Moore for a 75-yard touchdown. The Tigers also went for a fake screen, shot play near the end of the first quarter that controversially ended as an incomplete pass with the officiating crew ruling that Clemson WR Bryant Wesco and a UNC DB obtained simultaneous possession of the ball while falling out of the endzone. The Tigers would capitalize with a double-move route out of the backfield, from WR-turned-RB Adam Randall, to stretch the lead to 28–3 at the end of the first quarter. I feel vindicated.
I said:
“…Clemson should win by at least 3 scores against Belichick’s makeshift Tarheel team.”
- Dabo gave newcomers ample opportunity: Jeremiah Alexander saw snaps much earlier than normal, and Tristan Smith had a ladder-climbing catch. Freshman RB Gideon Davidson had an increased role. All this on Clemson’s way to a 38–10 victory. (For the mathematically-challenged, that’s 4 scores).
I said:
“If the Belichick-led defense can keep it close for three quarters, then maybe the UNC offense can mount some heroics late…”
- The score was 28–3 after the first frame, so we’ll never know. However, my point about the Tiger defense tiring late in the game due to quick drives from their offense holds true. The lone TD allowed came in the 4th quarter and the Clemson defense looked a bit fatigued at that point–something to keep an eye on.
Last word: Response — Clemson showed that they are the better program. UNC had some players that showed they’re talented enough to compete at this level, but for the most part, the Tigers outclassed the Tarheels, as expected.
