No. 2 Clemson Trounces No. 14 Louisville 47-21

LOUISVILLE, KY. – Six different Tigers scored at Papa John’s Stadium on Saturday night, as No. 2 Clemson defeated No. 14 Louisville 47-21 in the Tigers’ first road game and ACC opener. With the win, Clemson moved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, while Louisville fell to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the ACC.

Kelly Bryant powered Clemson’s offense on Saturday, passing for a career-high 316 yards and rushing for 26 yards with two touchdowns in his first road start. Ray-Ray McCloud was Bryant’s most popular target, totaling a career-high 115 yards with a touchdown on seven catches. Greg Huegel, Dorian O’Daniel, Adam Choice and Travis Etienne all also put points on the scoreboard for the Tigers.

The Tigers struck first, scoring on their opening drive on a Bryant eight-yard touchdown run five minutes into the first quarter. After two three-and-outs in their first two drives, Louisville tied the score late in the first quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Charles Standberry.

A Huegel 31-yard field goal gave the Tigers a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter, and that lead increased to 16-7 after a Bryant 79-yard touchdown pass to McCloud. The first half ended with a career-long 49-yard field goal by Huegel that put the Tigers up 19-7.

O’Daniel opened the second-half scoring when he returned an interception 44 yards for his first career score, and Bryant ran in a one-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 33-7 lead in the third quarter.

Both teams scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Choice (39 yards) and Etienne (81 yards) both had long touchdowns runs for the Tigers.

Clemson hosts Boston College next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.