Cade Klubnik, Clemson football offense asputter in season-starting disillusioned loss at Duke
DURHAM, N.C. — Clemson football’s 2023 season got off to an inauspicious start. The No. Nine Tigers fell to Duke 28-7 on the road, ending their five-sport win streak over the Blue Devils
It changed into Clemson’s first loss to Duke due to the fact that 2004.
Clemson debuted a brand new offense underneath coordinator Garrett Riley and quarterback Cade Klubnik, and the complete institution looked unbalanced from its very first power.
That 5-play, 11-backyard starting force ended on what was nearly a 3rd-down interception with the aid of Duke safety Jeremiah Lewis, but Lewis dropped it.
From then on, Clemson appeared out of kinds on offense.
Klubnik threw into double insurance a couple of instances early, scrambled out of his safety and into a sack inside the 2d zone and became nearly picked off two times greater within the first 1/2. Clemson’s wide receivers had trouble getting open, and the Tigers spent a good deal of the primary half of going for walks quick screens.
They punted on 4 of their six drives in the first half of.
But its worst disasters came within the pink area.
Even whilst Clemson managed to position drives collectively within the 2d half, it fell apart whilst it came close to scoring. The Tigers fumbled on again-to-lower back drives in the Duke five-yard-line.
The first, wherein Klubnik and jogging back Will Shipley botched a handoff and Duke recovered, led to a Blue Devils 3-and-out. But the second one, a fumble via running back Phil Mafah close to the purpose line, turned into returned to the Clemson 33 and set up a Duke touchdown that made it 21-7.
Clemson protection struggles with Riley Leonard
Clemson’s defense stored the Tigers in the sport, however it did not appearance dominant. It had its hands full with a twin-danger quarterback in Riley Leonard, who ran for ninety eight yards and threw for a hundred seventy five.
He had He broke off a 44-backyard touchdown run after escaping a close to sack by linebacker Barrett Carter, setting Duke ahead inside the third region.
The protection limited harm for maximum of the game, but the performance was overall uninspiring.
All three of Duke’s touchdowns came on the ground.
Clemson managed tackles for loss, one from linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. And another from nook Sheridan Jones.
Trotter forced a fumble that Mukuba recovered in the 1/3 area, however the offense couldn’t capitalize.
Special teams errors on both facets
Clemson’s offense become having problem getting it to the purple area, so its unique teams stepped in. Linebacker Wade Woodaz recovered a muffed punt via Duke’s Jalon Calhoun, a Greenville native.
That let Klubnik and the offense take over at the Duke 18.
Five performs later, Clemson had its first touchdown of the season on a 2-yard swing skip to junior strolling again Will Shipley, the primary receiving landing of Shipley’s profession.
SHIPLEY’S MILESTONE:Clemson going for walks again Will Shipley reaches 2,000 profession rushing yards
That was the unique teams bright spot for Clemson. It dedicated some errors of its personal.
In the second zone, sophomore receiver Antonio Williams selected to field a punt that seemed like it was going to become ultimately area for a touchback.
The return went handiest one yard to the Clemson eight.Five performs later, Clemson had its first touchdown of the season on a 2-backyard swing skip to junior strolling returned Will Shipley, the first receiving landing of Shipley’s career.
SHIPLEY’S MILESTONE:Clemson walking again Will Shipley reaches 2,000 profession rushing yards
That was the special groups vibrant spot for Clemson. It dedicated a few mistakes of its own.
In the second one region, sophomore receiver Antonio Williams chose to field a punt that appeared love it turned into going to emerge as in the end quarter for a touchback.
The go back went simplest one backyard to the Clemson 8.
But the worst through a long way were the 2 botched area dreams.
Freshman kicker Robert Gun III attempted his first in the first zone, and Duke protective cease Wesley Williams blocked the forty one-backyard try that could’ve tied the game at 3.
In the 0.33 sector, when Clemson ultimately had a hazard in the purple region, it was compelled to try another discipline goal.
Williams were given a hand at the 23-yard try, which sailed low and huge left for a omit.
Christina Long covers the Clemson Tigers for the Greenville News and the us TODAY Network.
You can follow her on Twitter @christinalong00 or e mail her at clong@greenvillenews.Com.But the worst by way of a long way were the two botched field dreams.
Freshman kicker Robert Gun III attempted his first within the first quarter, and Duke protecting end Wesley Williams blocked the 41-backyard strive that would’ve tied the game at three.
Williams got a hand at the 23-yard attempt, which sailed low and extensive left for a leave out.
Christina Long covers the Clemson Tigers for the Greenville News and america TODAY Network. You can comply with her on Twitter @christinalong00 or email her at