CLEMSON – Eighth-ranked Clemson looked helpless in the first half against Troy, and hopes for a change were fading before a second-half charge led to a 27-16 victory Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Heading into halftime, the Tigers were down 16-3 with momentum anywhere but on their side. The Trojans had gained 144 passing yards, which was more than the Tigers’ total of 114 yards, and had also outgained Clemson on the ground.

The Tigers looked helpless against the Sun Belt team.

Many of the problems came against the run, as long carries on late downs gave Troy first downs and moved them down the field. Even with five penalties from the Trojans, Clemson couldn’t get stout on the defensive front, and opportunities to make plays were being missed.

Not all hope was lost, as the tide changed in the second half. The Trojans finished the second half with only 97 total yards, and the life they had earlier in the game was sucked away.

Clemson (1-1) started the third quarter with the ball. Unlike their previous drives, the Tigers were fast and strong, and Clemson found the end zone with a run from running back Adam Randall.

The Trojans (1-1) dug themselves into a hole when an unsportsmanlike penalty was given to Troy’s Elijah Davis, moving the kickoff up and allowing Clemson to down it at the six-yard line.

It was at that point that the defense woke up. The massive video board in Memorial Stadium lit up, and the speakers started blasting “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses. Clemson fans began making some of their loudest cheers of the entire night, and the energy from the atmosphere brought life to the Tigers on the field.

On first down from Clemson’s six, the Trojans were stopped for no gain when Troy’s running back Tae Meadows was brought down by a Peter Woods tackle. After that, the impossible happened, as a pass from Troy quarterback Goose Crowder was broken up. The ball proceeded to bounce off the back of defender Ashton Hampton as he fell to the ground and into the hands of safety Ricardo Jones, giving Clemson their second turnover of the game.

Immediately after the interception, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik connected with Bryant Wesco Jr. on a 26-yard pass for the Tigers the lead for good. In only a few moments, momentum moved into Clemson’s hands.

The following drive started off with an incomplete pass from quarterback Will Crowder and a false start on Troy’s offensive lineman, Garner Langlo. After a quick pass for 10 yards, it was third down for the Trojans, and the Clemson defense wasn’t done.

Defensive back Ronan Hanafin intercepted Crowder when a pass bounced off a receiver’s hands. The Tigers quickly found themselves with their third turnover of the game and another possession in Troy’s territory.

Life had fully returned to the Tigers, and they drove all the way down the field and added three points to extend their lead with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Nolan Hauser. With the four-point lead, the Tigers flipped the script that dominated the first half.

After that, the Trojans drove down the field and came up empty. Clemson answered with another Wesco catching another touchdown pass from Klubnik.

The Tigers wrapped things up after that by running out the final five minutes, and the energy was brought back into the jungle of Memorial Stadium.