Cade Klubnik tossed three second-half touchdown passes as No. 23 Clemson overcame Virginia Tech 24-14 Saturday night in Atlantic Coast Conference play at Blacksburg, Va.
With the win, Clemson improves to 7-2 and 5-1 in the ACC. They are one of three teams with one loss in the conference behind SMU. Virginia Tech is 5-5 and 3-3 in conference play.
After a sloppy first half that saw Klubnik go 8-for-19 in the air, throw an interception at the Hokies’ 4-yard line, and take a sack to end another promising drive on fourth down, he showed athleticism and accuracy in the second.
Klubnik had two first-down runs on the Tigers’ first drive of the second half to keep the chains moving, and connected with speedy wide receiver Cole Turner on a 29-yard pump-and-go for his first score to tie the score at 7.
On the next Tigers’ drive, facing a third-and-seven, Klubnik evaded Virginia Tech defensive back Mansoor Delane, who came free on a blitz, and found T.J. Moore all alone behind the defense for a 41-yard score to make it 14-7.
Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton would make a brilliant one-armed interception of Virginia Tech quarterback Kyren Drones on the next Hokies’ drive and Clemson would march 93 yards on 10 plays with Klubnik connecting with Jake Briningstool for a 12-yard TD pass with 13:08 left. That catch gave Briningstool the most receptions for a tight end in Clemson history. He now has 114.
Drones was replaced on the next drive by Collin Schlee, who threw a touchdown pass with 1:43 left.
Earlier, the Hokies led 7-0 thanks to a blocked field goal by Keyshawn Burgos that fluttered into the arms of Quentin Reddish, who took it back 77 yards for a score early in the second quarter.
Coming into the week, both Drones and Hokies lead running back Bhayshul Tuten were listed as questionable dealing with injuries. Drones started, while Tuten entered the game on the third play. Tuten finished with zero yards on four carries before leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter.
Klubnik finished with 211 yards passing. Clemson running back Phil Mafah finished with a game-high 128 yards on 26 carries. Clemson held the Hokies to 228 total yards.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is now 7-0 in his career against Virginia Tech.
