CLEMSON — Starting with the final drive of the first half, you could see Clemson’s offense starting to put some things together.

The Tigers had struggled to do much on that side of the ball over most of the first two quarters, before an 18-play drive that covered 88 yards late in the half. While Clemson was not able to punch it into the end zone, a chip-shot field goal from Nolan Hauser not only pulled the team to within 17-6, but it also sent Clemson into the locker room with a little much-needed momentum.

North Carolina kept letting the Tigers hang around, as two more Hauser field goals in the third quarter and a Tait Reynolds touchdown pass to Christian Bentancur pulled Clemson to within two at 17-15.

Then, early in the fourth, the Tar Heels quickly marched down to the Clemson eight-yard line, looking to try and put the game away. However, that is when a lengthy lightning delay took place, sending both teams to the locker room. It is the third time in as many games that Clemson has experienced a lightning delay this season.

When play resumed more than two hours later, instead of the Heels punching it in, the Tigers’ defense bowed up, holding UNC to a field goal. Over the final six and a half minutes of the game, Clemson took over, putting two more touchdowns on the board en route to a 28-20 comeback win.

Running back Gideon Davidson was responsible for the first of those scores, with his 8-yard touchdown run giving the Tigers their first lead of the game, with just over five minutes to go. It was a lead Clemson would never relinquish.

Being this was the third weather delay, the Tigers are now well-versed in how to handle those, and there was no doubt, a little more energy when the team came out of the tunnel once the storms had cleared.

“Honestly. I would just say we were really motivated to get out there and really perform,” Davidson said after the win. “The past few games we have had weather delays, and we have kind of gotten used to it. We were like, let’s take this as an opportunity to collect our wits and all that. We just did our normal stuff, but we did have a little bit more juice.”

Davidson had his best day since arriving at Clemson. The sophomore back carried the ball 16 times for 105 yards, with the one touchdown. Not only was Saturday the first time he went over the century mark as a college running back, it was also his first time finding the end zone. That is one accomplishment he’s glad to finally have under his belt.

“Honestly, I have been beating myself up about it,” Davidson added. “Now that I have got it, it is like there is more coming.”

The kind of scoring drought is not something Davidson is accustomed to. Being one of the top running backs in the 2025 recruiting class, the former four-star talent found the end zone more than 120 times as a runner at the high school level.

It’s probably safe to assume he won’t have to wait nearly as long for the next one.

“Yeah, the first touchdown was very exciting,” Davidson said. “Been waiting a long time for it. It was a great way to do it, and really I am envisioning more touchdowns as well. I will just say it starts with one, and that was a great way to start.”