CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — With Clemson sitting at a disappointing 1-3 heading into a bye week, all eyes were on how the Tigers would respond on the road against North Carolina.

With that kind of start, which included dropping the first two games of ACC play, some wondered what was still left for this team to play for.

However, despite all the negativity surrounding the start, the Tigers decided that if nothing else, they were going to play for pride, and that was on full display in the 38-10 win over North Carolina.

“We responded really well this week,” quarterback Cade Klubnik said. “If you guys could have been at practice this week and watched us, you would have had no idea what our record was.”

The offense was particularly crisp, and it started on the very first play from scrimmage, with Garrett Riley dialing up a double pass that saw Antonio Williams hit TJ Moore for a 75-yard touchdown. From there, the route was on as the Tigers scored 35 first-half points.

Klubnik had his best game of the season, despite only playing about 2.5 quarters. The senior finished the game 22-of-24 for 254 yards with four touchdown passes.

“I wasn’t special, I feel like I just managed the game very well,” Klubnik added. “Made some good plays, but when stuff didn’t go exactly right, just felt like we were in a really good spot to just go manage the game.”

Saturday’s blowout win was evidence of what the Clemson offense can be when it’s not getting in its own way, when all 11 guys are pulling in the same direction.

With a road trip to Boston College up next, the Tigers are hoping for a repeat performance up in Chestnut Hill.

“It was 11 guys doing their job, and it was really cool to see,” Klubnik said.

“Like I said, this team is going to keep fighting. We are not going anywhere.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright