Wait a Minute—This is Death Valley! Clemson Tigers vs. App State Mountaineers | Home Opener
The Tigers have their Home Opener game with a sold out crowd in Death Valley. Photo: Dez Barnes
Tigers Ready to Silence Critics
Coming into the game, a fiery 1-0 Appalachian State had their eyes on one thing—a Tiger upset! Ranked No. 25, Clemson entered the game ready to hush the critics and prove they have way more gas in the tank for the season. Though they’ll still face criticism over their loss to Georgia, the Tigers didn’t shy away from being the "All In" team they're expected to be.
Many would say playing an Appalachian State team is a confidence booster, as Clemson was expected to beat them and cover the spread. While the Mountaineers have developed a solid football program, they are no match for the Tigers in a strong ACC conference. This game allowed Clemson’s stars to shine and iron out any mishaps from last week in front of a sold-out home crowd.
Clemson struck early, with a solid pass from QB Cade Klubnik to #12 Bryant Wesco Jr. for a Tiger touchdown! The crowd erupted—the Tigers had set the tone early. Coming off a tough loss, they knew they needed a fast start to silence those writing them off after just one defeat.
App State struggled on possessions, meeting a relentless Tiger defense that forced two back-to-back three-and-outs. Clemson capitalized, with Klubnik connecting again with Wesco for a 52-yard touchdown. On their next possession, star player #4 Phil Mafah broke loose for an 83-yard run, giving Clemson an early 21-0 lead with seven minutes left in the first quarter. App State was quickly down by three scores and needed to regroup fast.
With 2:34 remaining in the first, #9 Jake Briningstool scored on a 41-yard touchdown, putting the Tigers up 28-0. As the crowd roared in support, many fans felt the Tigers were getting revenge for last week’s Georgia loss. Near the one-minute mark, Klubnik found #0 Antonio Williams for a 29-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 35-0.
The first touchdown of the game that set the tine for the remainder of the game. Photo: Dez Barnes
Mountaineers Struggle to Keep Up
By the end of the first quarter, it felt as though the game was already over. Clemson’s 35-0 lead had the Mountaineers on the ropes, with little hope of a comeback. The Tigers appeared to be taking out their frustrations on App State after last week's defeat.
As the second quarter kicked off, Clemson tacked on another touchdown, making it 42-0. While the crowd was still energized, the blowout was becoming less thrilling. Tiger fans love an intense game, but App State seemed to have left their fight in the mountains.
With 10:39 remaining in the half, App State finally showed some life, scoring on a 7-play, 63-yard drive capped by a touchdown from #1 Anderson Castle. Although they were still down 42-7, getting points on the board was a small victory.
Clemson responded with a 9-play drive ending in a 33-yard touchdown run by #1, pushing the score to 49-7. Shortly after, App State managed a fumble recovery and added a field goal to make it 49-10. The Mountaineers kept fighting, but by halftime, Clemson held a commanding 56-13 lead.
App State came out strong in the third quarter, adding another touchdown to bring the score to 56-20. Though they were outmatched, the Mountaineers never gave up. Their offensive line held up well for QB Joey Aguilar, but the overall game plan failed to make a significant impact. Still, putting up 20 points after a devastating 35-point first quarter showed their resilience.
App State will likely remain a contender in the Sun Belt, but for Clemson, the real challenges lie ahead. The Tigers made a statement tonight, but conference play will reveal whether they can maintain this dominance against tougher competition.
Clemson finished the game with a dominant victory, 66 to 20. The Tigers have a bye next week as they prepare for their September 21 matchup against NC State.
