CLEMSON – Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore was due.

Due to make the explosive play, or the tough catch. Due for some swagger and confidence.

In the Tigers’ 35-24 loss to SMU at Memorial Stadium Saturday, the sophomore cashed in on all of what he was owed, catching five passes from quarterback Christopher Vizzina for 124 yards and two of Clemson’s three touchdowns.

For nearly four hours, Clemson’s offense started and stopped with the Key West., Fla., native-– and it started mere minutes after kickoff.

On his fourth play as a collegiate starter, Vizzina found Moore for a short gain of six yards, the Tigers’ (3-4, 2-3 ACC) first positive play in the air. The catch turned a long second-down into a manageable third-down, and gave Vizzina confidence after hitting a “layup,” or easy pass.

One quarter later, Moore continued to boost confidence when he opened the Tigers’ first scoring drive with a contested catch for 12 yards and, in turn, an immediate first down. Four plays later, he bookended the drive with a 32-yard catch for his second touchdown of the year.

For the first time in a month, the offense, and the stadium, had life pumping through its orange-tinted blood.

As orange-and-purple fans cheered and let themselves feel hope, Vizzina began to fall in a rhythm looking for Moore. Because for four hours, the wideout wrangled any pass that came in his vicinity. He refused to drop passes with defenders woven around his jersey, above his head, or below his knees.

Despite several candidates, the greatest catch from Moore, and arguably any player, came in the third quarter. After two rushing plays helped Vizzina and his offense march to Clemson’s own 47-yard line, the signal-caller launched a 62-yard spiraling bomb down the sideline, with a certain-red-hot target in mind.

Moore locked on the ball in a full sprint, made a one-handed-catch with his fingertips, and yanked the ball to his chest as he ran in for his second touchdown of the night.

Just a few minutes later, he caught another dart from Vizzina to extend a drive that turned into a field goal.

Moore had had prior success this season with now-injured quarterback Cade Klubnik, like with a 75-yard reception at North Carolina, and with eight receptions against Syracuse. Still, at times his catches have been overshadowed by Clemson’s struggles to punch in touchdowns.

Despite Moore’s contributions, however, the Tigers’ defense allowed the Mustangs to score after every Clemson score, and after coming into the second-half down 16-7, Clemson could not get over the hump.

Still, Moore’s confidence will be crucial for the rest of this season, as the Tigers still have three ACC games left on their schedule.

The Moore and Vizzina connection may also be foreshadowing for seasons to come at Clemson. And there was plenty of swagger to like.