Cade Klubnik throws for a TD and runs for one before injury in Clemson's 41-10 victory over BC
BOSTON -- — Clemson had a little scare with quarterback Cade Klubnik getting hurt. Boston College, however, didn't really give the Tigers any trouble at all.Klubnik threw for a touchdown and ran for another when Clemson opened a big first-half lead before leaving with an injury late in the third quarter, and the Tigers beat struggling Boston College 41-10 on Saturday night.
“He was trying to come back in there,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “It was his ankle, so we just held him (out).”
Klubnik completed 22 of 30 passes for 280 yards with an interception for the Tigers (3-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). He went to the tent after taking a hard hit on a run and remained there for a while before exiting a few minutes into the fourth.
The Tigers led 34-10 when he got injured.
“I could have gone back in the game and kind of pushed it,” Klubnik said, standing outside Clemson's locker room. “Definitely could have, but I just felt like in the situation of the game we were in ... I definitely could have returned but was excited for the guys that got in there.”
Adam Randall and Peter Woods (defensive-tackle-turned-running-back for the play) each had a short scoring run for Clemson, which beat BC for the 13th consecutive time.
Dylan Lonergan went 12 of 19 for 117 yards for BC (1-5, 0-4). The Eagles have lost five straight.
“It starts with me,” BC coach Bill O'Brien said. “I told the team this: ‘I’m the head coach, right? I can't figure out how to get this team to play.”'
Scoring on all six of their first-half drives, the Tigers opened a 34-10 edge at halftime.
Clemson had moved ahead 24-10 on Klubnik’s 6-yard TD run around the right end, but the Eagles drove to the Tigers’ 30 before linebacker Sammy Brown came around the right edge, forcing Lonergan’s fumble that teammate T.J. Parker recovered.
Three pays later, Klubnik hit Bryant Wesco in the left corner of the end zone for a 38-yard score that made it 31-10.
“Good to see the guys battling back,” Swinney said. “The leadership's been great.”
Boston College: The Eagles’ defense was terrible for the second straight week. Last Saturday, Pittsburgh scored on five of its six first-half drives and led 31-0 at halftime.
“With all the man coverage they play, we're going to take what they're giving us," he said.
Boston College: Hosts Connecticut in a nonconference game next Saturday at noon.
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