Clemson celebrated a historic achievement by defeating NC State 59-35, marking the school’s 800th all-time victory and making them the first team in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to reach this milestone. The game was held at a sold-out Memorial Stadium as part of the yearly Textile Bowl rivalry.
Clemson’s junior quarterback Cade Klubnik showcased his skills, leading the team to touchdowns on seven of his nine drives. He finished with 254 total yards, made up of 209 passing yards and 70 rushing yards, including a career-long 55-yard touchdown run. Klubnik has led the Tigers to 15 touchdowns on the last 17 drive opportunities, contributing to a total of 11 touchdowns in that span.
The Tigers jumped out to a dominating lead thanks to an aggressive defense that forced two turnovers in the first quarter. By the end of the first quarter, Clemson was ahead 28-0 and they extended their lead to 45-7 by halftime. Running back Phil Mafah also had an impressive game, rushing for 107 yards, highlighted by a 38-yard touchdown run that helped him surpass 2,000 career rushing yards.
Defensively, Clemson’s playmakers stood out. They recorded eight tackles for loss, with freshman linebacker Sammy Brown achieving four tackles for loss, the highest by a Tiger since 2019. Cornerback Ashton Hampton added to the excitement with a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the game.
The scoring began with Klubnik’s 55-yard touchdown run, followed by a series of successful offensive plays that quickly built Clemson’s lead. NC State managed to get on the board with a touchdown before Clemson responded and extended their lead even further. The second half saw more action, including another touchdown pass from Klubnik and additional scores from both teams. Ultimately, NC State managed to score late in the game, but Clemson’s lead established a significant victory margin.
Clemson will continue its homestand with a matchup against Stanford on Saturday, September 28, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN. Ticket packages for upcoming games at Memorial Stadium are available for fans.