Clemson racked up 414 yards of total offense against Presbytertian in the 37-point thrashing, scoring twice on their first five plays at the line of scrimmage.
The Tigers scored on eight possessions before the Blue Hose scored their first point, taking a commanding 52-0 lead over Presbyterian that left the Blue Hose wishing they had just stayed home.
“We were able to take the game over like we should,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “It didn’t take long to do that.”
Clemson began the game with great field position after the Tigers blocked a punt on Presbyterian’s opening possession.
The Tigers took the ball from the Presbyterian 11-yard line and after two short runs by tailback Jamie Harper, Parker found Cheraw’s own Jaron Brown for an 8-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.
Clemson would post points on their next possession, with Parker again leading a short drive that began at midfield.
Parker reared back and fired a 47-yard pass to tight end Dwayne Allen to put Clemson on the Blue Hoses’ 3-yard line. Running back Andre Ellington ran the ball into the end zone from three yards out, giving the Tigers an early 14-0 lead with 12:22 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers’ first two drives lasted only five plays and Clemson’s early lead continued to balloon before heading into the second frame.
Clemson would get their third score of the day nine minutes later after a Presbyterian fumble set Clemson up at Presbyterian’s 38-yard line.
With the Tigers up big, Clemson put in freshman quarterback Boyd under center for a drive to see what the young playmaker could do.
With the ball in his hands, Boyd found freshman wide receiver Bryce McNeal for a 24-yard strike down the field, setting himself up for an easy 6-yard touchdown run to close the drive.
Clemson would force a Presbyterian punt after an 8-play drive and Parker retook control at the quarterback position, leading Clemson on a 77-yard scoring drive to put the Tigers ahead by four touchdowns.
The drive began at the Clemson 23-yard line before a 23-yard run by Brown put the Tigers in Presbyterian territory.
Parker found wideout Brandon Clear for a 29 yard pass and then threw a perfect 19-yard strike to Allen for the duo’s second touchdown of the game to go up by 28 points.
On the ensuing kickoff, Presbyterian return man Seth Moreland fumbled the ball after a 13-yard return, turning the ball over to Clemson’s Spencer Shuey at the Blue Hoses’ 15.
Three plays later Boyd would score his second touchdown of the day after a 9-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins to put the Tigers up 35-0 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
Clemson would score three more times with another touchdown pass by Boyd, a 2-yard run by Roderick McDowell and a 47-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro before Presbyterian would reach the end zone in the third quarter.
The Blue Hose would score back-to-back touchdowns against the Tigers’ defense on two touchdown passes to Michael Ruff to cut the lead to 52-14, but the Tigers would respond with one last touchdown with four minutes left in the fourth frame with a 1-yard pass from Donny McElveen to Kasey Nobles to end the scoring slaughter.
The Blue Hose would close the game with a 1-yard touchdown run by Lance Byrd with 21 seconds left in the game.
Parker finished the game with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 6-of-9 passing in limited action.
Boyd matched Parker’s scoring output, putting up two touchdowns and 87 yards on 4-of-9 passing.
McDowell finished the game as Clemson’s leading rusher with 86 yards on nine carries.
The win pushes Clemson’s record to 2-0 this season.
The Tigers will have their first real test of the season this week as they travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on the 16-ranked Auburn Tigers on Sept. 18 in out-of-conference action.
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