Record-Breaking Day for Travis Etienne Helps Propel Tigers Comeback 

By Zach Wagner

The Clemson Tigers Football Team overcame a 18-point first half deficit to the Boston College Eagles on Saturday afternoon inside of Memorial Stadium, securing a 34-28 win. Clemson (7-0, 6-0 ACC) scored 24 unanswered points and the defense shut out the Eagles in the second half to help the Tigers remain perfect on the 2020 season. 

Travis Etienne broke two records on his 84 rushing and 140 receiving yards performance. On his first receiving touchdown of the day, Etienne broke the FBS record for career games with a touchdown (42), passing San Diego State’s Donnel Phumphrey for the FBS lead. In the third quarter, Etienne broke North Carolina State’s Ted Brown for most rushing yards in ACC history. Etienne added one rushing touchdown and also caught one touchdown to help the come-from-behind victory for the Tigers.

In his first collegiate start, D.J. Uiagalelei did not disappoint. The true freshman quarterback threw for 342 yards on 30-of-41 passing and tossed two touchdowns. The California native also rushed the ball six times for 25 yards including a third quarter rushing touchdown to give the Clemson team life again. 

The Clemson defense held one of the top passing offenses in the league to 204 yards through the air and came up big in the second half, shutting out the Eagles to help the offense find new life in the final 30 minutes of play.

 

BC controlled the first half of play, heading into the locker room with a commanding 28-13 lead. For the third straight game, Travis Etienne coughed the ball up, this time resulting in a 97-yard scoop N’ score for the Boston College defense. 

The second half saw the Tigers control the pace of play and D.J. Uiagalelei shined when the light was the brightest on him. The freshman kept the ball on a zone-read on fourth and short on Clemson’s first possession of the second half, and took it 30-yards for the walk-in touchdown. 

Clemson made it a two point game on the next possession, as Uiagalelei found Amari Rodgers for an eight yard strike to make it a 28-26 game. 

Etienne gave the Tigers the lead the following drive, one that saw the Clemson offense march down 91 yards in 10 plays. The drive was capped off with a 17-yard rushing touchdown from none other than Mr. Travis Etienne. 

Bryan Bresee made sure Boston College had no plans to spoil the Halloween fun for Clemson fans, sacking the Eagles quarterback in the endzone for a safety with under a minute remaining to give the Tigers a 36-28 win.

Clemson will travel to South Bend, Indiana next weekend for a top-5 matchup with ACC opponent Notre Dame. It is still unsure if Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be available, but if he is not, D.J. Uiagalelei showed today that he can control and lead this offense.