COLUMBIA, S.C. — Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik did not make any bones about it – Saturday’s 28-14 win over rival South Carolina was redemption.

It was redemption for his last-second interception deep in Carolina territory that sealed the Tigers’ loss to the Gamecocks a year ago. It was redemption for his teammates and coaches, who had to suffer through a difficult loss for a whole year.

It was redemption for the Clemson fans, who he felt he let down.

“Absolutely it was,” Klubnik said when asked was Saturday’s win redemption for him. “To go out with a win against those guys at their place, I could not ask for anything more.”

Klubnik paced the Clemson offense with 268 passing yards, while running for a second-quarter touchdown as well. The senior did not have his best day as a starter, as he completed 24 of 39 passes and was intercepted once.

However, he made the plays he had to make when the Tigers needed him to the most.

For instance, his TD run could have been disaster when defensive end Bryan Thomas knocked the ball from Klubnik’s hand as he rolled to his right on third-and-goal from the Carolina 3-yard line. However, the senior did not panic. He realized he had plenty of time to pick up the football and run, which he did as he ran to the left and sprinted as fast as he could to the South Carolina pylon.

Klubnik outran diving defensive end Desmond Umeozulu for the score, which gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead at the time.

“I somehow made a play,” a relieved Klubnik said. “It was good to catch a break.”

Klubnik did not just use his feet to make plays. He also used his arm to keep drives alive. He found pass catchers like Antonio Williams, T.J. Moore, Christian Bentancur, Cole Turner and Josh Sapp for big gains or to convert on third down.

Moore finished with 6 catches for 101 yards, while Williams had 66 yards on seven catches.

“Coach (Garrett) Riley and that offensive staff, they dialed it up,” Klubnik said. “We really should have had two more touchdowns.”

Thanks to the win, Klubnik (26-13) passed Charlie Whitehurst (25-15) for sole possession of the fifth-most wins by a Clemson starting quarterback since World War II.

Klubnik also (2-1) became the 13th Clemson quarterback, since 1953, to earn multiple rivalry wins against South Carolina.

“I don’t think my legacy is my record versus (the Gamecocks),” he said. “I think my legacy is the impact I have had on people’s lives and the people I am going to spend every day with. That is what I hope my legacy is because thirty or forty years from now, no one is going to remember my record as a starting quarterback. They are going to remember what kind of person I was.

“So, I think about that and think about what kind of legacy I want to have, but it is pretty great to be 2-1 against these guys.”

Klubnik is wrong about one thing, though. Clemson fans will remember his record against South Carolina.