CLEMSON — In his last game at Memorial Stadium, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns in less than two quarters of play Saturday, as the Tigers rolled to 45-10 victory over Furman.
The win improved the Tigers to 6-5 on the season, as the program became bowl eligible for a 27th consecutive season.
For Klubnik, it was an emotional good-bye when head coach Dabo Swinney called timeout with 12:15 to play in the second quarter so the senior could walk off the field with a standing obviation from the 80,000 Clemson fans.
He later did the same thing for several starters in the third quarter, including running back Adam Randall and wide receiver Antonio Williams.
Both of Klubnik’s touchdown passes were to Williams. The first was 22-yard TD reception with 8:34 to play in the first quarter. The second connection between the two was a 35-yard strike, a play where Williams did his best Jerry Butler impression of “The Catch.”
They were Williams’ only two catches in the game.
No. 6
Klubnik became the sixth Clemson quarterback since World War II to win 25 career games as a starting quarterback, joining Trevor Lawrence (34), Deshaun Watson (32), Tajh Boyd (32), Rodney Williams (32) and Charlie Whitehurst (25). Klubnik is currently 25-13 as Clemson’s starting quarterback.
Freshman to Freshman Connection
In the fourth quarter, Clemson let freshman quarterback Chris Denson finally show the fans at Memorial Stadium what he can do. The true freshman led the Tigers on a 5-play, 75-yard drive that took 2:33 off the clock.
He capped the drive with a 4-yard TD pass to fellow freshman Logan Brooking, Clemson’s standout tight end. Denson had 69 yards rushing on the drive, including runs of 50 and 14 yards. The 50-yard run down the far sideline went to the Furman 18.
Denson then ran 14 yards to the four before his 4-yard TD pass to Brooking. The touchdown and catch were both firsts for Brooking.
The freshman quarterback continued to shine on the next drive, as he scored on a 10-yard run with 0:09 seconds to play. The drive was 55-yards in 10 plays.
Denson finished the game with 106 yards on six carries. He also was 4-for-4 for 22 yards through the air.
ONE OF THE BEST
As mentioned, Clemson clinched bowl eligibility for a 27th consecutive season. Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma are the only schools to have won at least six games every year in that span. The Tigers have the fourth-longest active streak of consecutive seasons with a bowl appearance (20, dating to 2005) and is tied for the third-longest active streak of consecutive seasons being bowl eligible (27, dating to 1999).
THE STREAK LIVES
Clemson won its 33rd consecutive contest against Furman and extend its unbeaten streak (including ties) against the Paladins to 34 consecutive games. The last tie between the two teams occurred in 1937, and the most recent Furman victory in the series came during the 1936 campaign. Clemson’s current 33-game winning streak against Furman is its longest winning streak — both active and all-time — against any opponent.
Streak Ends
Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser missed a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter. The miss ended his streak of 11 consecutive makes, including a 45-yard field goal on the Tigers’ first drive.
The miss was also Hauser’s first inside 40 yards this season. He was 7-for-7 on kicks inside 40 yards prior to his second quarter miss.
Hauser is now 14 of 17 on the season.
Injures
Clemson freshman defensive tackle Amare Adams did not play on Saturday after being injured in practice earlier this week. The Tigers also lost tight end Olsen Patt-Henry to a knee injury in the first quarter. He left the game on crutches and did not return.
Patt-Henry was later seen wearing a knee brace on his right leg and in sweats.
The defense suffered a big loss in the third quarter when defensive end Jahiem Lawson was injured and carried off the field. He was seen leaving the game on crutches and did not return.
UP NEXT
Clemson heads to Columbia, S.C., to take on rival South Carolina next Saturday. Kickoff for the annual rivalry game is set for noon on the SEC Network.