Late in the third quarter on Saturday night, Clemson was comfortably in front of Boston College, 34-10, when all Tigers fans held their breath. Quarterback Cade Klubnik left after taking a hit inside the BC 5-yard line while scrambling.
Why Klubnik was scrambling like he was up 24 points on the Eagles is a question for another time. He left the field and didn’t return with a noticeable limp. He didn’t return in what turned into a 41-10 Clemson win on the road to get them back to .500 on the season at 3-3.
It was the second straight blowout road win for the Tigers after they beat North Carolina, 38-10, last weekend in Chapel Hill. After the win over Boston College, head coach Dabo Swinney gave an injury update on his QB.
Dabo Swinney Gives Cade Klubnik Injury Update
After the game, Swinney noted that Klubnik was dealing with a sore ankle going into the game. He rolled it late in the third quarter, something that clearly bothered him.
“He rolled his ankle up. Tried to come back in, but we just are going to see how it goes,” Swinney said. “Hopefully not too bad, but just really proud of him. He was precise; he made some big plays. Had one (interception) he’d like to have back, but he really put the ball on the money.”
Klubnik had a good night in Boston. He was 22-for-30 for 280 yards and a touchdown pass.. He also rushed nine times for 48 yards and a touchdown. Most of that damage was done in the first half when Clemson put up 34 points. Klubnik did that on an ankle that was heavily taped before the game.
“You’ve probably seen him taped up, but he just kind of rolled it up,” he said. “Just got rolled under it. He went in, they untaped it, and re-taped him. Said he was ready to go back in. I said, let’s just see how (backup QB Christopher Vizzina) does here. And it’s good for CV to have to go in there and play.”
Dabo Swinney Expects Cade Klubnik to Play Against SMU
Swinney was asked whether he thinks Klubnik will play on Saturday when SMU visits Clemson. At 2-2 in conference play, the Tigers’ hope of playing in a second straight ACC Championship Game is all but gone. They can, however, put a dent in SMU’s hopes.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Swinney said. “Like I said, he was trying to play tonight and come back in there. I’m sure he’ll be sore (Sunday). We’ll have to evaluate it, and y’all will ask me every day how he’s doing. I’ll say the same thing. But yeah, I don’t see anything at this point that (would stop him from playing).”
If Klubnik can’t go, backup Christopher Vizzina would be next in line. He finished the game against BC. On his first throw, he threw an interception in the end zone on a fourth-and-goal.
Clemson’s bigger goals remaining are becoming bowl-eligible and playing spoilers in the ACC. The Mustangs are 2-0 in ACC play, but are playing their first conference road game against the Tigers. Klubnik playing would be big for a team looking to build off two dominating road wins in the last two weeks. Just think where they were not too long ago at 1-3.
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