Clemson’s Jonathan Weitz kicked three field goals, and the No. 24 Tigers relied on their defense to stymie South Carolina in the 120th version of the Palmetto Bowl on Saturday night, toppling the Gamecocks 16-7 in Columbia, S.C.
Weitz made kicks from 50, 49 and 42 yards, while safety Khalil Barnes returned a fumble for a touchdown as Clemson (8-4) won its fourth straight game and its eighth in the past nine meetings with the Gamecocks (5-7).
The Tigers’ defense held its in-state rival to 169 total yards on 56 plays — 3 yards per play — and forced two turnovers.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik finished 15 for 27 passing for 100 yards with an interception. He added 52 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Phil Mafah rushed for a game-high 89 yards on 19 attempts, and teammate Will Shipley had 80 yards on 15 carries.
Clemson improved to 73-43-4 in the all-time series.
Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 16 of 32 passes for 112 yards with an interception. Xavier Legette had six catches for 68 yards.
South Carolina had its three-game winning streak snapped and failed to become bowl eligible.
On the second play from scrimmage, Clemson stunned the home crowd when Rattler’s swing pass to Legette was dropped and recovered by Barnes, who raced 42 yards for a score. The play was reviewed and upheld as a fumble.
When the Gamecocks started on the ensuing series, Barnes was at it again on the next snap. He picked off Rattler’s long pass downfield for his third interception.
Rattler’s 16-yard scamper on South Carolina’s third series set up a double-reverse on fourth-and-goal at the 1. Legette’s pitch to backup quarterback Luke Doty tied the score at 6:39.
Weitz put Clemson up 10-7 with a career-best 50-yard field goal late in the first quarter. He added one from 49 yards out with 5:07 left in the half.
Clemson’s Barrett Carter sacked Rattler late in the half to stop a drive and leave the Tigers up 13-7.
Weitz capped the first series of the second half by booting a 42-yarder to give Clemson a two-score edge, 16-7.
But with the visitors driving later in the quarter, Nick Emmanwori made a one-handed interception of Klubnik in the end zone to stuff a developing Clemson series.
–Field Level Media
