Cade Klubnik fired three touchdown passes and No. 10 Clemson spoiled Virginia coach Tony Elliott’s return to campus with a 48-31 victory over the Cavaliers in Atlantic Coast Conference action Saturday.
The Tigers (6-1, 5-0 ACC) extended their winning streak to six games and posted their sixth straight win in the series with the Cavaliers (4-3, 2-2).
Elliott played at Clemson and worked on Tigers coach Dabo Swinney’s staff for 11 seasons, serving as the offensive coordinator for two national champions. This was his first game at Clemson, S.C., since taking over at Virginia in 2022.
Klubnik completed 23 of 35 passes for 308 yards with an interception. Phil Mafah rushed for 78 yards and two scores and Olsen Patt-Henry had two TD catches as Clemson outgained Virginia 539-346.
Anthony Colandrea and Tony Muskett each had two TD passes for the Cavaliers, who played their first ranked opponent of the season and held a brief lead in the second quarter before Clemson rattled off 35 unanswered points.
Kam Robinson intercepted Klubnik on the final play of the first quarter, just the fourth turnover of the season for the Tigers. Six plays later, Colandrea’s 8-yard pass to Dakota Twitty put the Cavaliers ahead 10-3.
Clemson answered with two short TD runs by Mafah (1 and 3 yards) to build a 17-10 lead at the half. His second score was set up by wide receiver Antonio Williams’ 34-yard pass to Troy Stellato.
The Tigers scored three straight touchdowns in the third quarter to turn a tight game into a blowout.
They pushed the lead to 24-10 on Klubnik’s 11-yard pass to Patt-Henry. Williams’ 36-yard TD run made it 31-10. After a Virginia turnover, Klubnik and Patt-Henry hooked up again for a 40-yard TD on fourth down for a 38-10 lead.
Colandrea threw a 44-yard TD pass to Malachi Fields on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Nolan Hauser’s second field goal lifted Clemson over the 40-point mark for the fifth time this season.
The teams combined for 21 points in the final 2:11. Muskett replaced Colandrea and threw touchdowns to Sackett Wood Jr. (8 yards) and Ethan Davies (65 yards), wrapped around Klubnik’s 34-yard TD to T.J. Moore.
