BERKELEY, Calif. — Running back Gideon Davidson rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries as Clemson (3-1, 2-0 ACC) powered past Cal (2-2, 1-1 ACC) on Friday night at California Memorial Stadium. Clemson held Cal to just three offensive points, led by cornerback Elliot Washington II’s two interceptions.
Quarterback Tait Reynolds, making his first career road start, completed 13-of-21 passes for 108 yards and added 28 yards on the ground. Safeties Jerome Carter III and Corey Myrick and linebacker Sammy Brown led the Tigers defensively with eight tackles each. Jeremiah Alexander, London Merritt and Champ Thompson combined to account for two sacks.
Clemson received the opening kickoff and converted its first third down of the game before Isaiah Crosby intercepted a Tait Reynolds deep shot on a flea flicker. Four plays later, cornerback Elliot Washington II intercepted Jaron Keawe-Sagopolutele to give Clemson the ball back at its own 25-yard line.
After a Clemson punt, Cal drove into Clemson territory but Darien Mayo broke up a pass on fourth-and-2 to reclaim possession at the 26-yard line. Cal opened the scoring on a scoop-and-score by Kamar Mothudi to give the Golden Bears a 7-0 lead with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Clemson responded with a 30-yard Nolan Hauser field goal on the opening play of the second quarter to finish an 11-play, 59-yard drive, bringing the score to 7-3.
Following a third-down London Merritt sack that forced a Cal punt, Clemson embarked upon a 66-yard, 17-play touchdown drive that included two fourth-down conversions. Gideon Davidson capped the drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Tigers a 10-7 lead with 5:37 remaining in the first half.
On the ensuing possession, Cal drove into Clemson territory but was forced to settle for a 51-yard field goal attempt that fell short. Clemson’s lead remained at 10-7 heading into the halftime break. Clemson outgained Cal, 179-94, in the first half, holding the Golden Bears to zero offensive points while maintaining possession for 19:12.
Cal received the opening kickoff of the second half and drove into Clemson territory, but a third-and-2 pass breakup by Andy Burburija forced the Golden Bears to settle for a 30-yard field goal, which tied the game at 10-10.
Clemson regained the lead, 17-10, with a 65-yard punt return touchdown by Bryant Wesco Jr. with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter. The score marked Clemson’s first on a punt return since Nov. 10, 2018, when Amari Rodgers returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown at Boston College.
After forcing Cal to punt, Clemson drove into opposing territory, but a Hauser 48-yard field goal missed wide left, his first miss of the season, gave the Golden Bears possession at their own 30-yard line with 9:14 remaining in the contest.
Cal was forced to punt on the ensuing possession thanks in part to Champ Thompson and Jeremiah Alexander combining for a sack to set up a third-and-long situation. Clemson took over at its own two-yard line with 5:32 remaining.
Davidson exploded for a 75-yard score to give the Tigers a commanding 24-10 lead a few plays later. Washington recorded his second interception of the night on the ensuing possession, and Reynolds scrambled to convert a third-and-6 a few plays later to seal the victory.
The Tigers will return to Memorial Stadium in Clemson on Saturday, Oct. 3, when Clemson hosts the sixth-ranked Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes. Earlier this week, the ACC and its rightsholders put the game on a six-day hold for kickoff time and broadcast network designations; kickoff timing and the presenting television network are still to be announced. Ticket information for the contest is available at ClemsonTigers.com/FootballTickets.