SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 10, 2011
Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another score, as the Tigers survived a scare from tiny Wofford and held on for a 35-27 victory Saturday.
The Tigers (2-0) have beaten defending conference champions in each of their first two games with wins against Troy (Sun Belt) and Wofford (Southern Conference).
Wofford (1-1) took a 21-13 lead late in the second quarter on Eric Breitenstein's 2-yard touchdown run, but the Tigers tied it before halftime on Sammy Watkins' leaping 38-yard touchdown catch from Boyd and a two-point conversion pass from Boyd to DeAndre Hopkins.
Boyd took over in the second half, punching in a 5-yard touchdown run for a 28-24 lead midway through the third quarter and padding the margin with a 17-yard strike to Hopkins on the second play of the fourth quarter.
Boyd has thrown six touchdowns through two games — his first two collegiate starts. He was 18 of 29 for 263 yards against the Terriers.
Clemson's Andre Ellington rushed for 169 yards on 22 carries, including a 74-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Clemson improved to 25-0 against FCS teams since that division was formed before the 1978 season, but the Tigers got their toughest test in any of those games. They had won the previous 24 by 11 points or more.
The Tigers have not lost to a Southern Conference team since they left the conference to help form the ACC in 1953, a streak of 40 games.
Wofford dropped to 1-13 all-time against FBS teams. The lone win was a 24-6 victory against Louisiana-Monroe.