Clemson vs The Citadel live updates: Big first half carries Tigers to win
Clemson opens its 2020 home schedule with a game Saturday against The Citadel that kicks off at 4 p.m. on the ACC Network. Follow our game and score updates here.
Final: Clemson 49, The Citadel 0
The Tigers did all their damage in the first half as they improved to 2-0 on the season. Clemson outgained The Citadel, 405-162, in total yards.
Hunter Helms sees action
Former Gray Collegiate standout and freshman quarterback Hunter Helms saw his first college action on Saturday.
Helms, who walked on, entered the game with seven minutes in the fourth quarter and completed his first pass, a 3-yarder to Drew Swinney.
No running clock for Clemson-Citadel
With Clemson up 49-0 at halftime, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney offered to have a running clock in the second half but The Citadel declined. This is the second of four games the Bulldogs are playing during COVID-19.
How to pronounce Clemson backup QBs’ names
Clemson back=up quarterbacks are getting plenty of playing time in the first half and their names might not be the easiest to pronounce.
Five-star freshman QB DJ Uiagalelei is pronounced ooh-ee-AHN-guh-luh-lay. Sophomore third-string quarterback Taisun Phommachanh is pronounced PUMA-chon.
Uiagalelei TD: Clemson 49, The Citadel 0
DJ Uiagalelei scored his second touchdown of the quarter after a he took a high snap and ran it in for a 6-yard touchdown.
The Tigers take the 49-0 lead into locker room at halftime.
Clemson quarterbacks have six rushing toucdowns in six quarters this season. Starting QB Trevor Lawrence day is likely done. The junior was 8-of-9 for 168 yards passing and three TDs and also ran for a score.
Ladson TD: Clemson 42, The Citadel 0
Trevor Lawrence returns on the next series and finds Frank Ladson on a 54-yard touchdown pass to Frank Ladson with 9:55 left in the second.
Lawrence has 26 TDs and no interceptions over his last nine games dating back to last season.
Uiagalelei TD: Clemson 35, The Citadel 0
Trevor Lawrence came out for a series and highly-touted freshman QB DJ Uiagalelei started the second quarter and scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run.
James Skalski TD: Clemson 28, The Citadel 0
The first play after Clemson TD, linebacker James Skalski picked up a fumble and returned it 12 yards for the touchdown with 1:51 left in the first.
The fumble was caused when freshman Myles Murphy knocked the ball from The Citadel’s Cooper Wallace.
Trevor Lawrence TD: Clemson 21, The Citadel 0
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence scored his third rushing touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run with 2:00 minutes left in first quarter. It is the fourth straight game Lawrence has had a rushing TD dating back to last season.
The drive was set up by a Travis Etienne 22-yard run to The Citadel 3-yard line.
Former Gamecock Carlay in lineup for The Citadel
Former South Carolina offensive lineman Summie Carlay is getting a chance to play against Clemson again.
Carlay was a grad transfer and announced in May that he was transferirng to The Citadel to play alongside his brother. He played offensive line for the Gamecocks but was playing tight end for the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Amari Rodgers TD: Clemson 14, The Citadel 0
Two possessions and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Trevor Lawrence found Amari Rodgers on a 44-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with 8:41 in the first quarter. Lawrence is 4-of-5 for 85 yards so far in the quarter.
Frank Ladson TD: Clemson 7, The Citadel 0
The Tigers scored on their opening possession when Trevor Lawrence found Frank Ladson on a 17-yard score with 12:36 left in first quarter. It was a 7-play, 75-yard drive.
Freshman Bresee making first start
Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is making his first career start this afternoon against The Citadel.
The No. 1 ranked player for the class of 2020, Bresee is starting in place of All-ACC performer Tyler Davis, who was injured last week against Wake Forest. Bresee had two tackles, including half a sack, against the Demon Deacons. He also blocked a kick.
How Clemson is promoting social justice
Clemson has social justice messages painted on four different parts of the sideline. Two of the boxes read “equality,” while the other two say “unity.” The black boxes with white words painted on top are posted from the 5-yard line to 15-yard on each end of the field and on both sidelines. Clemson players are also wearing helmet stickers with social justice messages on them throughout the 2020 season.
Players out for Clemson-Citadel
Clemson’s inactive list for Saturday’s game against The Citadel includes DT Tyler Davis, DE Justin Foster, CB Mario Goodrich, CB LeAnthony Williams. Goodrich, Spector and Williams are surprise inactives — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said this week that he expected to have Goodrich back after he missed last week at Wake Forest. Clemson did not clarify why each player is out. Many schools have changed how they report injuries and week-to-week player availability because of privacy concerns during COVID-19 pandemic.
Welcome, Clemson fans
Only parents of senior Wake Forest players were able to watch the game last week between Clemson and the Demon Deacons. This week, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, there will be approximately 19,000 socially-distanced fans on hand. Big-time tailgating is banned, and fans inside the stadium will be asked to wear face coverings. The Tigers will still run down the hill before the game, but the postgame tradition of fans gathering on the field won’t happen in 2020.
ACC News: FSU’s Mike Norvell tests positive for COVID-19
Elsewhere in the ACC on Saturday, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 in the team’s latest testing. The Seminoles are off this weekend (one of two open weeks built into the schedule). Deputy head coach Chris Thomsen will take over the coaching duties until Norvell is able to return. FSU plays at Miami next weekend.
This story was originally published September 19, 2020 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Clemson vs The Citadel live updates: Big first half carries Tigers to win."
