Clemson football rolled past The Citadel on Saturday with a dominant 51-14 victory at Memorial Stadium, fueled by standout moments on both sides of the ball.
Defensive tackle Payton Page set the tone early, intercepting a rushed throw by Citadel quarterback Jonathan Bennett and returning it 57 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter. Ricardo Jones provided a crucial block to secure the score, giving Clemson a 14-0 lead. This followed Cade
Klubnik’s opening touchdown pass to Antonio Williams, a flawless 30-yard connection capping a 5-play, 78-yard drive.
The Tigers’ offense dominated, piling up over 500 yards. Klubnik delivered another stellar performance, completing 12 of 16 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns while adding 34 rushing yards. His day ended early in the second half.
Jay Haynes shined with a career-best 118 yards on five carries, including a 70-yard touchdown that highlighted his speed. Clemson reached a 42-0 lead by halftime, with additional scoring contributions from Bryant Wesco and linebacker Barrett Carter in a goal-line package.
Defensively, however, Clemson struggled to contain The Citadel’s option offense, allowing 288 rushing yards. The Bulldogs controlled early possession, racking up 196 yards on the ground in the first half alone. Despite lapses, notable plays such as Aveion Terrell’s hustle to force a fumble after a 48-yard run showed resilience.
The victory extended Clemson’s perfect record against FCS opponents to 39-0 and secured its 19th consecutive win over The Citadel. It also marked Clemson’s 14th straight nine-win season, tying Florida State’s historic streak.
The Tigers are now focused on their archrival, South Carolina, in a pivotal matchup next week.