By Hale McGranahan.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Just how satisfying was Cole Stoudt’s Saturday night?

“Extremely,” he said under his breath, after completing 29 of 45 passes for 285 yards and receiving MVP honors in the 17-13 win over Boston College.

But that was all Stoudt offered while meeting with reporters in the bowels of Alumni Stadium. Instead of talking about how good it felt to quarterback Clemson to a win, he deflected.

“It’s all up to (the) coaches,” Stoudt said. “They gave us a great game plan and they got everyone prepared, and it makes it a very comfortable situation when you go out there and there’s a great game plan that the coaches put together for you.”

Spoken like a guy who patiently waited three years to be the starting quarterback, only to have it taken from him just a few games into his senior season.

Chad Morris offered a little more insight into what Stoudt was feeling.

“This is one (Stoudt) wanted extremely bad — and needed — and he got it, was able to come away with that thing,” Morris said. “Proud of Cole. We’re only going to continue to get better.”

Just seven days ago, most folks would have chuckled at the notion that Clemson could actually progress with Stoudt running the show, especially with the way things played out over the weeks following the Tigers’ trip to Tallahassee.

Artavis Scott, who caught 10 passes for 72 yards against Boston College, didn’t see any quit in Stoudt after he was displaced by Deshaun Watson as the starting signal caller.

“Cole’s always been a leader on our team,” Scott said. “He faced some adversity and he’s just coming out there, showing that he can play still. “He’s just doing the things that we know he could do. He went out there and did his game, did what he normally does and he just made plays. That’s big for us, and that’s what we needed him to do.”

Grady Jarrett said they’re lucky to have him. “We have full confidence in (Stoudt),” Jarrett said. “He showed why tonight. He had a really good game and led the offense, scored when we needed points.

“Really proud of him.”

Same goes for Dabo Swinney.

“Man, hats off to Cole,” he said. “He was under the gun all week, was very focused in his preparation, played a lot better than he did last week, obviously…he did just enough for his team, managed the game.”