Clemson Defense Bounces Back
By: Robert MacRae September 8, 2024

CLEMSON — Though Cade Klubnik and the Clemson offense stole the show in the 25th-ranked Tigers’ 66-20 win over App State Saturday at Memorial Stadium, the defense did it’s part too, especially as the offense built a 35-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

In all, the Clemson defense held the Mountaineers to 38 total yards on their first five offensive possessions.

“All throughout the week, we had great energy,” linebacker Wade Woodaz said. “We know we have the pieces to get the job done and reach the goals we want to accomplish.

“So, we have been putting it together at practice and we just keep believing.”

The Tigers (1-1) believed they could shut down App State, and they did.

Quarterback Joey Aguilar, who lit up East Tennessee State a week ago, was just 18 of 41 overall for 214 yards and a touchdown. Though Aguilar did not throw an interception, the Tigers picked off two passes from the backups and forced one fumble.

In all, the Tigers forced three turnovers. It was a much better performance than a week ago, when Georgia dominated Clemson and the defense did not force a turnover.

Clemson built a 42-0 lead before App State got on the board and that did not come until the Tigers started playing a lot of its younger players. In all, it was a nice bounce back performance by the Clemson defense.

App State finished the night with 363 total yards and was just 4-for-13 on third down. They were 18 of 43 through the air. The Tigers limited the Mountaineers to 46 rushing yards in the second half.

“We were sloppy in the second quarter,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “But I thought they settled in and did a great job the rest of the way. We were playing a million guys, but it was good to see us get the turnover in the red zone.”

Clemson will try to keep the momentum going when it hosts NC State on Sept. 21 at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers are off this coming week.

“We have an extra week to prepare,” Woodaz said. “Our eyes are on the next opponent. We will take this time to take care of our bodies and get prepared.”