The Sports Xchange
Nov 21, 2015
CLEMSON, S.C. - Deshaun Watson passed for 343 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a fourth score as No. 1 Clemson capped a perfect Atlantic Coast Conference season with a 33-13 victory against Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
Clemson improved to 11-0, including an 8-0 mark in ACC play, and needs a victory at rival South Carolina on Saturday to complete the third undefeated regular season in school history.
The Tigers have won 14 consecutive games and would match the program's longest winning streak with a win against the Gamecocks in Columbia next week.
Saturday's victory also gave the Tigers' senior class a school-record 43 victories over the last four years.
Watson notched his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season while guiding the Tigers to 500 or more yards for a seventh consecutive game.
Clemson's defense did its part, too, holding Wake Forest to 153 yards and recording a season-high 13 tackles for loss.
Wake Forest slipped to 3-8 (1-6 ACC) with a game remaining against Duke.
Clemson took control from the outset, driving 63 yards in seven plays for a touchdown on its first possession, with Watson dashing in from 3 yards out for the score. It marked the seventh time in 11 games this season that the Tigers had scored on their first possession.
By quarter's end, Clemson's lead had swelled to 20-0 as Watson lofted a 44-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Charone Peake, then threw a quick strike on a slant to freshman receiver Deon Cain for an 11-yard score.
Wake Forest got its first touchdown midway through the second quarter after linebacker Hunter Williams intercepted a Watson pass and returned it 17 yards to the Clemson 11-yard line. Backup quarterback Kendall Hinton scored on an 8-yard run two plays later.
But Watson shrugged off that miscue, guiding the Tigers 74 yards on a seven-play drive capped by a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Germone Hopper. Freshman placekicker Greg Huegel added a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the half for a 30-7 Clemson lead and the Tigers coasted from there.
NOTES: Clemson DE Shaq Lawson had 1.5 tackles for loss Saturday, giving him a team- and ACC-leading 19 for the season. ... Tigers K Greg Huegel has made 15 consecutive field goals and is 16-for-16 in ACC play. ... Wake Forest LB Brandon Chubb led the Demon Deacons with 11 tackles. ... Wake Forest TE Cam Serigne, who entered the game with a team-leading 40 receptions, didn't catch his first pass until six minutes remained in the third quarter. He finished with one reception for six yards.