The title of the AP Recap article they wrote for ESPN should tell you all you need to know about this one. It reads; “No. 17 Clemson wears down Stanford with Klubnik’s 5 TDs and defense’s 3 takeaways in 40-14 win.” Cade Klubnik is Clemson’s Junior QB who, although not that accurate, threw for 255 yards, 4 TD’s, and one interception while also rushing 7 times for 48 yards and their only rushing TD. With Stanford fumbling and losing the ball on their first possession and throwing interceptions on their second and third, Clemson got out to an early lead and never looked back. Up 10-0 on a TD and field goal at the end of the 1st Qtr and 17-to-7 at the half with the Cardinal finally getting on the board in their seventh possession after three turnovers and three punts in their first six.
Clemson led off the second half with a field goal to go up 20-7 where it would stay until Stanford threw another interception, late in the 3rd Qtr, which led to a Clemson TD on their very next possession to go up 27-to-7 and then 33-7 after Stanford, sitting 4th and 1 at their own 34, failed to convert and had to turn the ball over—leading to a TD pass from Cade Klubnik to Bryant West Jr. on the very next play. After holding the Cardinal to a three-and-out and blocking their punt, on their next possession the Tigers, starting at the Stanford 35 yard line, would score once again four plays later on another Klubnik TD pass—this one to Olsen Patt-Henry to go up 40-7. The Cardinal would get one more score late in the 4th Qtr on a 22 yard Justin Lamson TD pass to Emmett Mosley V to make it 40-to-14. But it was all way too little, way too late.
The Stanford starter, Junior QB Ashton Daniels, completed less than 50% of his passes for a discouraging 71 yards, 1 TD, and 3 interceptions. Their backup, Junior Justin Lamson who came in later, also connected at just a 50% clip for 1 TD but didn’t turn the ball over. On the ground Stanford rushed for quite a bit, 44 times for 236 yards, but never found the end zone with Freshman RB Micah Ford and Daniels leading the way—rushing 26 times collectively for over 200 yards. Dealing with Clemson’s four sacks, 79 tackles—ten for loss, and multiple pass disruptions Stanford could never get it going. Daniels has now passed for 5 TD’s and 6 interceptions on the year.