CLEMSON – With Clemson up seven points with 4:12 left to play in the third quarter, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., hit the A-gap and plastered Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis to the ground on what looked like a clean hit.

Everyone at Memorial Stadium, and those watching on television, felt the hit of Griffis was clean, which forced an incomplete pass and a fourth-and-14 situation for the Demon Deacons.

However, head referee Jerry Magallanes did not see it that way. He instead he called Trotter with a roughing the passer penalty, giving Wake Forest a first down at the Clemson 24.

“I’d probably get in trouble if I got into all that, I’ll plead the 5th,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said asked about the roughing the passer call.

Luckly for Clemson, the penalty did not cost the Tigers too much, as it just led to a 22-yard field goal. Clemson eventually went on to win the game, 17-12.

“I’m just a player,” Trotter said. “The ref said roughing the passer and I had to keep playing and move on. I will let the fans have their own opinion on that.”

A driving force on Clemson’s defense, Trotter made great contributions to push the Tigers to victory.  Trotter provided constant pressure on quarterback Griffis, while the Demon Deacons were limited to 239 total yards.

Ultimately, Clemson held Wake to two field goals and one touchdown. They also had a goal line stand following a Tigers’ fumble at their own nine and forced a missed field goal attempt after wide receiver Tyler Brown muffed a second quarter punt at his own 30 just before halftime.

“Our mindset was ‘don’t let them score.’ Coming into this game, a big emphasis for us that we wanted to make sure we improved on was our red zone defense,” said Trotter.

Clemson will have next week off before heading to Miami Gardens, Fla., to face the Miami Hurricanes on Oct. 21.

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