Running back Gideon Davidson rumbled 75 yards for a touchdown with 2:59 to play, to seal Clemson’s 24-10 victory over California Friday at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif.

The sophomore finished the night with 159 yards and 2 TDs on 22 carries. Davidson has now produced back-to-back 100-yard performances after going for 105 yards in last week’s win over North Carolina.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 2-0 in the ACC and 3-1 overall. Cal fell to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Clemson grabbed back the lead when Bryant Wesco took a punt at his own 35-yard line and raced 65 yards for a touchdown with 3:57 to play in the third quarter.
• Wesco’s punt return for a TD was the first by a Clemson player since Amari Rodgers had a 58-yard punt return for a TD at Boston College on November 10, 2018.
• Clemson’s defense was the story of the game. Cal quarterback Jaron-KeaweSagapolutele came into the game as one of the top passers in the country. However, the Tigers held him to 16 of 29 passing for 119 yards, 2 interceptions and no TDs.
• Elliot Washington II recorded both interceptions, after grabbing the game-clinching interception in last week’s win over UNC. He now has three on the season. Washington recorded an interception on Cal’s first drive of the game and then his second one on Cal’s last drive of the night.
• Clemson held Cal to 231 total yards.
• The Tigers held the Cal offense to three total points. The Bears TD came on a fumble recovery and return. Friday marked the first time since 2022 a Clemson defense held an opponent without an offensive TD.
• The Tigers have now won four straight road games in the ACC and they are 10-2 in their last 12 ACC road games.
• Clemson dominated the lines of scrimmage on Friday. The Tigers ran for 255 yards, while holding Cal to 86 yards. Clemson averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
• Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds ran for a first down to end the game for the Tigers. The freshman improved to 2-0 as a starter. He was 13-for-21 for 108 yards, 1 interception and no TDs. He added 28 rushing yards, including a 20-yard run.
• Using different looks and blitzes, the Tigers held Sagapolutele to 6 of 13 passing for 47 yards in the first half with one interception. Clemson took a 10-7 lead into the locker room thanks to its defense, which limited the Golden Bears to 93 total yards in the first 30 minutes.
• Cal’s offense was 3-for-12 on third down and averaged just 4.1 yards per play. Cal was 0-for-2 on fourth down.
• Clemson was 7 of 15 on third down and 2-for-2 on fourth down in the game. The Tigers averaged 5.2 yards per play.
• Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser made a 30-yard field goal to start the second quarter, his 10^th of the season. However, he missed a 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. It was his first miss of the season in 11 tries.

UP NEXT

Clemson will host No. 6 Miami next Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson.

–photo courtesy of Clemson Athletics