Clemson entered the halftime break with a 14-7 lead over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.
The Tigers jumped in front at the end of the half on a two yard touchdown run by Kobe Pace with 0:09 to play in the second quarter.
Clemson struck first after Tyler Venables set up a scoring drive and stopped the Orange in the red zone with 1:03 to play in the first quarter with an interception at Clemson’s own seven yard-line.
On the ensuing drive Clemson moved the ball 87 yards in 13 plays and chewed 6:57 off the clock.
The Tigers capped off the drive with a 19 yard touchdown pass on third-and-13 from D.J. Uiagalelei to Joseph Ngata to take a 7-0 lead with 9:06 to play in the half.
Syracuse evened things up on a two yard touchdown run by Garrett Shrader on the next drive to answer Tigers with 5:33 remaining in the second quarter. Sean Tucker set up the score with a 39 yard run to the Clemson two.
The Orange drive covered 91 yards in 10 plays and 3:28.
Tucker finished the first half with 12 carries for 132 yards and a score, it marked his sixth consecutive 100 yard rushing game as he became the country’s leading rusher in the FBS.
After stalling offensively its next possession Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made a gutsy call when faced with fourth-and-5 on the Syracuse 41 with 1:05 left in the half. Will Spiers executed a fake punt pass for a 17 yard completion to Davis Allen.
The decision paid off when Kobe Pace punched it in for a two yard touchdown run with 0:09 left in the half to give Clemson a 14-7 lead.
The Tigers get the ball to start the second half.