CLEMSON — The first 25 minutes of the first half could not have gone any worse for Tait Reynolds and the Clemson offense in Saturday’s 28-20 win over North Carolina.

The Tigers had just 36 total yards at that point, with Reynolds producing 17 through the air. Bill Belichick, like he has done to most young quarterbacks over the years, had Clemson’s freshman quarterback second guessing himself and throwing the football late.

But something happened in the last five minutes of the first half – the freshman grew up.

Reynolds led the Tigers on an 18-play, 88-yard drive that ended with Nolan Hauser connecting on a 21-yard field goal to cut UNC’s lead to 17-6 at the break.

On the last drive before the half, the freshman looked more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie quarterback making his first start. He completed 8 of 11 passes for 72 yards on the drive, while also rushing three times for nine yards.

Reynolds carried his confidence into the second half, as he opened the third quarter with a 17-yard run and then a 24-yard pass to tight end Olsen Patt-Henry. His next pass was intercepted at the one-yard line on a post to Bryant Wesco.

But that did not hurt Reynolds’ confidence. After the defense forced a fumble that led to another Hauser field goal, the freshman came out slinging again.

After a couple of Jarvis Green runs, he hit Bryant Wesco in stride on a skinny post that went for 41 yards. After a couple of runs and a pass to Juju Preston, Reynolds hit Christian Bentancur for a 27-yard TD that cut the Tar Heels’ lead to 17-15.

Reynolds finished the third quarter 6-for-8 for 107 yards.

Following a near two-and-a-half lightning delay, Reynolds led the Tigers on two scoring drives, as they rallied for the victory.

Reynolds finished the afternoon 20 of 29 for 210 yards.