CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for four touchdowns and ran for another and the Tigers' defense had three interceptions in a 40-14 victory over Stanford on Saturday night.
The victory for the 17th-ranked Tigers (3-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) was the 173rd for coach Dabo Swinney, who tied the Florida State's late national championship coach Bobby Bowden for most coaching victories with an ACC school. And unlike Clemson's wins the past two games, the defense led the way. The Tigers stopped the Cardinal (2-2, 1-1) three times inside the Clemson 20, two on interceptions and the last when safety R.
J. Mickens forced Emmett Mosley V out of bounds on fourth-and-5 at the Clemson 10 with the Tigers up just 20-7. Clemson's defense stopped the Cardinal on downs three times despite giving up 361 yards, 236 of that rushing.
The Tigers held Stanford to 71 yards passing through three quarters with quarterback Ashton Daniels going just 9 of 19 before he was helped off the field in the fourth after Clemson stopped him short on fourth-and-1. Klubnik put things away a moment later with his final scoring pass, a 34-yard throw to dynamic freshman Bryant Wesco Jr. for a 33-7 lead.
The game took place a day after Hurricane Helene struck the Southeast, including South Carolina. The storm was responsible for at least 56 deaths and left millions without power, including many areas near Clemson's campus. It also delayed Stanford's arrival into the area until Friday, s.
