CLEMSON — Clemson football earned its second ranked win in the month of November on Saturday when it defeated No. 20 North Carolina 31-20 at Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers have won three consecutive games: an upset of No. 12 Notre Dame and a win over Georgia Tech.
The Tigers (7-4, 4-4) close their regular season on Saturday against archrival South Carolina (7:30 p.m. SEC).
UNC (8-3, 4-3 ACC) hasn’t beaten Clemson since 2010, and it hasn’t won at Memorial Stadium since 2001. The Tigers own the all-time series 40-19-1.
It’s the Tigers’ final home game of the season. Twenty-five Clemson players are eligible to be honored as part of Senior Day festivities. Some are academic seniors with additional eligibility, but no Tigers have yet made official announcements about whether they will return for another season.
Fourth quarter
UNC scores on fourth-down play to draw closer, but …
Clemson 31, North Carolina 20: Drake Maye rushed 17 yards for a first and passed for two more first downs, and Omarion Hampton scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1 on a second-effort run. The Tar Heels tried a two-point conversion pass and failed, leaving the Tigers with an 11-point lead with 7:03 remaining.
Will Shipley reception helps Clemson widen lead
Clemson 31, North Carolina 14: Will Shipley took a pass from Cade Klubnik and turned into to a 36-yard gain to the UNC 9. Four plays later, Jonathan Weitz kicked a 21-yard field goal with 10:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Clemson 28, UNC 14: Will Shipley started Clemson’s drive with a 31-yard run, and he later ended it with a 33-yard touchdown run. Clemson’s third score on the ground made it a two-score game again with 3:19 left in the third.
Clemson 21, UNC 14: Less than a minute after Clemson went up two scores, UNC running back Omarion Hampton broke multiple tackles on his way to a 55-yard touchdown run. It was UNC’s first touchdown since the first quarter and made it a one-score game with 6:20 to play in the quarter.
Clemson 21, UNC 7: Running back Phil Mafah took a direct snap on a fourth-and-1 wildcat play, scoring a three-yard touchdown to put Clemson up with 7:15 to play in the third quarter.
Clemson 14, UNC 7: Cade Klubnik scored a three-yard touchdown with three seconds left in the half to put Clemson ahead. The Tigers faced 4th-and-goal from the 3, and Klubnik managed to reach across the goal line. It was close, but the ruling on the field of a touchdown stood after review. Clemson led at the break.
UNC 7, Clemson 7: Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins both saved a UNC touchdown and gave the Tigers possession when he forced a fumble on running back Omarion Hampton near the goal line. The fumble went through the end zone for a Clemson touchback. The Tigers capitalized on the opportunity with an 80-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Cade Klubnik to tight end Jake Briningstool. The touchdown tied the game with about 10 minutes left in the half.
UNC 7, Clemson 0: A failed fake punt by Clemson gave UNC the ball at the Tigers’ 46-yard-line. A few plays later, Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye heaved a pass toward the end zone under pressure and found receiver J.J. Jones for the game’s first touchdown with 4:31 left in the first quarter.
2023-11-19 00:22:30
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