Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (#2) was second-leading rusher for the Tigers.
QB Cade Klubnik led the Clemson Tigers to its 13th consecutive victory over BC in resounding fashion, 41-10, yesterday in Alumni Stadium. It was the Eagles’ fifth straight loss following an opening season victory over Fordham.
While BC’s first three losses could have been victories if not for mistakes and lax play, the game yesterday was regrettably similar to the 48-7 beat-down by Pitt the week before.
One difference was that BC actually scored — a touchdown and field goal — in the first half yesterday. Just as they had allowed Pitt 31 points in the first half, however, they gave up 34 to the Tigers. Clemson had the ball six times in the first half and scored on all of those possessions — four touchdowns bracketed by field goals. (Pitt had punted once in the first half.)
The Tigers gained 333 yards overall on 40 plays in the first half, averaging 8.3 yards per play. (Pitt had gained 331 yards.) BC ran 34 plays and gained 170 yards, five yards a play.
The third quarter was scoreless, as BC intercepted two Clemson passes and recovered a Tiger fumble to stall drives. As for the Eagles, they “surpassed” the low offensive performance of six plays for 10 yards in the fourth quarter of the Stanford game by running nine plays for zero net yards in the third quarter against Clemson.
Late in the final quarter, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had the Tigers score a gratuitous touchdown with 24 seconds remaining to pad the score.
The Tigers gained 504 yards total offense, one yard more than Pitt’s offense the week before. (That’s 89 points and 1007 yards offense allowed by BC in the last two games.)
After Pitt, BC coach Bill O’Brien had said, “I’ve got to do a better job. I’ve got to figure out how to coach these guys better, how to get the staff and the players to understand how we want to play.” Yesterday, he said, ‘I can’t figure out how to get this team to play. I can’t get the coaching staff to coach it right. It’s on me. I’ve got to do a better job of coaching the team.”
It seems he has identified some continuing concerns, but can only acknowledge they continue.
The Eagles finished with 221 yards total offense, 85 yards rushing. The team was called for only three penalties. Starting BC quarterback Dylan Lonergan was 12-of-19 passing for 117 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions. QB Shaker Reisig, responsible for the only BC score in the Pitt game, played in the second half and was three-of-10 passing for 19 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
Leading rusher for BC was Turbo Richard, with 18 carries for 75 yards, and one touchdown. Top receiver was Lewis Bond, with seven catches for 70 yards.
Highlights (11:52)
The Eagles fall to 1-5, 0-4 in the ACC. The regular season is half over. Next opponent is UConn (4-2), for Homecoming at Alumni Stadium. Kick off is 9 am PT.