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09/26 01:02 CDT Bryant Wesco's punt return TD leads Clemson to a 24-10 win over
Cal
Bryant Wesco's punt return TD leads Clemson to a 24-10 win over Cal
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) --- Bryant Wesco Jr. had Clemson's first punt return
touchdown in eight years to break a tie late in the third quarter and the
Tigers went on to beat California 24-10 Friday night in a game where both
offenses struggled.
Both Clemson (3-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) and Cal (2-2, 1-1) struggled
to generate much offense in the first matchup between the schools since the
Golden Bears joined the ACC in 2024.
The teams combined for one offensive touchdown until Gideon Davidson put the
game away with a 75-yard run with 2:59 to play. Davidson finished with 159
yards rushing and two TDs.
Cal got a field goal to tie the game on the opening drive of the second half,
but Clemson went back ahead after the Bears punted on their next possession.
Agnus Davies had a low 39-yard punt down the middle that Wesco fielded on the
run. He eluded two tacklers and then broke it toward the Clemson sideline
before racing in for the 65-yard score.
It was the first punt return touchdown for the Tigers since their national
championship season in 2018 when Amari Rodgers had a 58-yarder in a win at
Boston College.
The Tigers defense made the lead stand up as Cal never got close to the end
zone again. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele finished 16 for 29 for 119 yards and two
interceptions for his fewest yards in 17 career starts.
Clemson's Tait Reynolds wasn't much better, throwing for 108 yards and turning
the ball over twice in his second start.
The teams traded interceptions on each opening drive and that set the tone for
the first half dominated by the defenses. Cal struck first with a 35-yard
fumble return touchdown by Kamar Mothudi.
But Clemson got a field goal and then took the lead on a 1-yard run by Davidson
that capped a 17-play drive that was extended when Niles Davis jumped offside
on a fourth-and-4 pooch punt out of field-goal formation.
The takeaway Clemson: The Tigers played their fourth game ever in California and first since beating Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game on Jan. 7, 2019. Clemson looked nothing like that team led by Trevor Lawrence that went undefeated on the way to a third national title. Cal: The Bears offense that was supposed to be the strength of the team in Sagapolutele's second season struggled to move the ball with any consistency. Cal was held without an offensive touchdown at home for the first time since a 12-10 win over Washington in 2018. It last happened in a loss in a 21-3 defeat to Stanford in the 2012 Big Game.
Up next Clemson: Hosts No. 6 Miami on Oct. 3. Cal: At UNLV on Oct 3. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here.
The takeaway Clemson: The Tigers played their fourth game ever in California and first since beating Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game on Jan. 7, 2019. Clemson looked nothing like that team led by Trevor Lawrence that went undefeated on the way to a third national title. Cal: The Bears offense that was supposed to be the strength of the team in Sagapolutele's second season struggled to move the ball with any consistency. Cal was held without an offensive touchdown at home for the first time since a 12-10 win over Washington in 2018. It last happened in a loss in a 21-3 defeat to Stanford in the 2012 Big Game.
Up next Clemson: Hosts No. 6 Miami on Oct. 3. Cal: At UNLV on Oct 3. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here.
