True freshman Tait Reynolds throws for 215 yards in his first start and Gideon Davidson rushes for 105 as Clemson closes on a 25-3 run to stun the Tar Heels at Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers erased a 14-point deficit and scored 22 second-half points to rally past North Carolina 28-20 Saturday at Memorial Stadium in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC) trailed 17-3 during the second quarter before closing the game on a 25-3 run. The Tigers took their first lead late in the fourth quarter on Gideon Davidson’s 8-yard touchdown run, then added an insurance score after a critical fourth-down stop.
North Carolina (2-1, 0-1) rushed for a season-high 214 yards and led 17-6 at halftime but could not sustain an offense that controlled the opening two quarters.
True freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds overcame a slow start and an interception in his first career start for Clemson, completing 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown.
Davidson rushed 16 times for 105 yards and a score.
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NORTH CAROLINA CONTROLS THE FIRST HALF
The Tar Heels wasted little time establishing themselves.
After forcing Clemson into a three-and-out on its opening possession, North Carolina took advantage of favorable field position and drove for the game's first touchdown. Demon June scored on a 3-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
Clemson answered with a field goal, but North Carolina responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive.
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Benjamin Hall for a 15-yard touchdown, extending the advantage to 14-3 with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter.
The Tar Heels had an opportunity to add to the lead after Greg Smith forced a Jarvis Green fumble and Jaylen Harvey recovered at Clemson’s 25. Aeron Burrell missed a 47-yard field goal, keeping the margin at 11.
Burrell converted from 33 yards midway through the second quarter to make it 17-3 after another methodical North Carolina possession that covered 61 yards in 13 plays.
Clemson finally generated some offensive momentum before halftime, putting together an 18-play, 88-yard drive. Nolan Hauser's 21-yard field goal cut North Carolina’s lead to 17-6.
The Tar Heels entered halftime with a 195-117 advantage in total offense and had outrushed Clemson 112-41.
TURNOVERS SWING MOMENTUM
Clemson opened the second half threatening to score, but Smith intercepted Reynolds at the North Carolina 2-yard line.
The momentum shift lasted exactly one play.
June fumbled on North Carolina’s next snap, and Clemson’s Vic Burley recovered at the Tar Heels’ 12.
North Carolina’s defense prevented a touchdown, forcing Clemson to settle for a field goal that cut the lead to 17-9.
The Tigers kept coming.
Reynolds connected with Bryant Wesco Jr. for 41 yards on Clemson's next possession before finding Christian Bentacur for a 27-yard touchdown.
Clemson failed on the two-point conversion but had cut a 14-point deficit to 17-15 entering the final stages of the game.
LIGHTNING DELAY SETS UP DRAMATIC FINISH
North Carolina was threatening to extend its lead when severe weather stopped play with 8:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The lightning delay lasted 2 hours, 27 minutes.
When play resumed, North Carolina had the ball inside Clemson's 10-yard line but could not reach the end zone. Burrell kicked a field goal to give the Tar Heels a 20-15 lead with 6:34 remaining.
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That left Clemson enough time.
Davidson broke through the middle for 45 yards on the Tigers’ ensuing possession, taking Clemson inside the North Carolina 10.
Two plays later, Davidson scored from 8 yards out.
The two-point attempt failed, but Clemson had its first lead of the night, 21-20.
CLEMSON DEFENSE DELIVERS, BROWN PUTS IT AWAY
North Carolina still had an opportunity to answer.
Clemson’s defense did not allow it.
The Tigers stopped the Tar Heels on fourth down and turned the possession into the game-clinching touchdown.
Five plays after the turnover on downs, Tyler Brown broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run, extending Clemson's advantage to 28-20.
It completed a remarkable turnaround.
After trailing 17-3, Clemson outscored North Carolina 25-3 the rest of the way.
TAR HEELS’ STRONG RUSHING NIGHT NOT ENOUGH
North Carolina finished with a season-high 214 rushing yards.
Hall led the way with a career-high 130 yards on 18 carries, while June added 57 yards and a touchdown.
Edwards completed 13 of 30 passes for 135 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Defensively, Xavier Lewis continued his disruptive start to the season. The sophomore recorded five tackles and two sacks, including a fourth-quarter sack that forced a Clemson punt while North Carolina still held a two-point lead.
Lewis entered the game leading the ACC in sacks and tied for the national lead in tackles for loss.
Derek McDonald led the Tar Heels with 10 tackles, including five solo stops, and added a pass breakup.
REYNOLDS SETTLES IN DURING FIRST CAREER START
Reynolds' night changed considerably after a difficult opening stretch.
The true freshman started 5-for-9 for only 17 yards before finishing 20-for-29 for 215 yards and a touchdown.
His 27-yard scoring pass to Bentacur helped ignite Clemson’s second-half comeback, while Davidson gave the Tigers the balance they needed on the ground.
Clemson scored 22 points after halftime and overcame an early North Carolina advantage at the line of scrimmage.
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The result moved the Tigers to 2-1 and gave them their first ACC victory of the season.
For North Carolina, it was a game of two sharply different halves: early control followed by missed opportunities and Clemson's late surge.
NORTH CAROLINA GETS BYE BEFORE NOTRE DAME
The Tar Heels will have an open week before returning to Kenan Stadium to host Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 3.
North Carolina enters the break at 2-1 after seeing a 14-point road lead disappear in its conference opener.
The challenge now will be turning a dominant opening stretch against Clemson into a complete performance when the Tar Heels return to the field.
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-- By Michele Robinson and Jessica Perry
© Copyright 2026 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
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