There’s nothing that represents Rivalry Week in college football more than the physical battles that take place on the field. Clemson walked away with a win Saturday, and it came by strength.

The Tigers gave a sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium a performance the South Carolina fans will want to forget quickly. It was ugly, and the Gamecocks were beat in the trenches from the start.

Clemson rushed for 219 yards over 46 carries. That was more than double the passing total for Garrett Riley’s offense and it became the game-plan quickly.

With graduate senior Will Putnam leading the way at center, the Tigers imposed their will on the South Carolina front. Putnam lives for opportunities to win up front, and it’s only right as an offensive lineman.

“We had some growing pains to start the game, but I think we slowly kind of found our stride. Again, just like how it’s always been. It’s great having really great running backs back there. And I think you started build some continuity. So we got the run game going a little bit, and that’s always good to see,” Putnam said.

The duo of Will Shipley and Phil Mafah each rushed at least 15 times for a combined 169 yards. Shipley didn’t have a single rush that went for negative yards, and it’s a testament to the push Putnam and company got up front.

On top of their success, quarterback Cade Klubnik had 11 carries for 52 yards. It was an all-around effort, and the Tigers were burying the Gamecocks after the whistle as well.

It’s something that was a mindset coming in, and Putnam was all for it.

“That was one-hundred percent the mentality and that was one thing that I want to see out of people,” Putnam said. “That’s something that if I want to see that other people, then I have to do with myself, and also just being a really big rivalry week. Big game. Obviously, they beat us last year and we obviously did not want that to happen again. We’re back in their place, and so it’s just a really physical game, so you got to take it to them.”

The emotion from last year’s loss was prevalent on the field as the Tigers dominated the time of possession by 16 minutes and sucked the life out of the opposing team and fanbase. Clemson got their revenge, and displayed its importance with their physicality.