If somebody suggested last week that Clemson could beat Virginia Tech by three touchdowns with only 295 yards Dabo Swinney would have been skeptical considering the state of the defense. He said so.

Clemson quieted the skeptics Saturday, or at least made them more pensive, with a 38-17 victory achieved with huge lift from a defense that had been largely burdensome.

“I don’t have to be as miserable tonight,” Brett Venables said Saturday, clearly invigorated by the performance his players delivered in his seventh game as defensive coordinator.

Venables has been alternately optimistic and dismayed. Statistically the Clemson defense has been miserable. Stopping the run was a chore, pressuring the quarterback virtually nonexistent for painful stretches.

There were flashes. With the game in the balance at Boston College, after allowing 31 points, the defense made two critical stops. After another 31 by Georgia Tech the next week, defense protected a seven-point lead with a safety and a blocked field goal.

The next step was to cobble it together for four quarters. Virginia Tech wasn’t the ideal opponent, if for no other reason than quarterback Logan Thomas.

Some talent analysts presume Thomas to be a first-round NFL pick next spring. As big as a California redwood, they seem to want him to be the next Cam Newton. Apparently they didn’t watch either of his games last year with Clemson.

Thomas accounted for more than 300 of Virginia Tech’s 406 total yards Saturday in Death Valley but struggled with crowd noise and threw three interceptions including one that Jonathan Meeks returned 74 yards for a touchdown.

Venables tweaked the starting lineup, moving Spencer Shuey in at middle linebacker. Pressure from the middle kept Thomas off balance and helped create pass rush opportunities. Shuey had nine tackles including 2½ tackles for loss. Tackle D.J. Reader had seven tackles and nose guard Grady Jarrett six. Both are freshmen.

And that’s how the defense turned what was shaping up to be a miserable day at Clemson a very festive one. Virginia Tech rushed for 199 yards – 99 by Thomas – but was 6 of 16 on third downs and 1 of 3 on fourth. The first interception – also Meeks’ – ended a 15-play drive, the longest of the season by a Clemson opponent. Five of Tech’s next seven possessions ended in a punt. One was the pick six, which was timely in that it gave Clemson a 10-point lead and room to figure out what to do about the offense.

Tajh Boyd struggled, that was apparent to anybody watching. Nobody was willing to explain why, least of all Boyd, who said something about mechanics and miscommunication. Virginia Tech was credited with five sacks, but more than once he ate the ball rather than unloading it. When he needed touch on passes, often he didn’t have it and more than once he either overthrew an open receiver or locked onto his target.

“Definitely not his best game,” said Chad Morris. A couple shovel passes to Sammy Watkins and the 96 rushing yards by Andre Ellington bailed him out and Clemson finished with 295 total yards, the lowest total of the season by 131 (at Florida State).

It was the second time in 35 years that Clemson won by at least 20 points and was out-gained by at least 100 yards.  Two years ago Clemson beat Maryland, 31-7, but was outgained 350-213.

Swinney chuckled. He’s seen enough football to know stuff happens. Anyway, there’s a game at Wake Forest in four days, so there’s no time to fret.

And chuckling comes easier when you’re 6-1, nationally ranked and know you’ll be favored the next four weeks.