CFB Recap: The best from outside the region

Mandatory Credit: Photo by John Amis/AP/Shutterstock (13370088l) Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) plays against Ball State during an NCAA football game, in Knoxville, Tenn Ball St Tennessee Football, Knoxville, United States – 01 Sep 2022

CFB Recap: The best from outside the region

#5 Clemson- 51, #21 Wake Forest- 45 (2OT)

What. A. Game. A combined 11 passing touchdowns between Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman and Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei resulted in an absolute firework show disguised as an actual college football game. We said it would be a QB battle, and it was.

It will go down as a heartbreaking loss for Wake Forest. After trailing at the half, the Demon Deacons put up a 21-point third quarter with three passing scores from Hartman, Donavon Greene being the receiver on two of them. The offense for Wake went stagnant in the fourth, however, allowing Clemson to tie it up, sending the game into overtime. Hartman and Uiagalelei went toe-to-toe in overtime, matching each other’s production up until the final snaps of the game, where Nate Wiggins broke up Hartman’s pass to A.T. Perry. Hartman finished the day with 337 passing yards and six touchdowns without suffering any turnovers. Jahmal Banks continued his steady progression by pulling in six catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Wake’s biggest issue was once again the running game, as they only put up 110 yards on the ground. Top rusher Justice Ellison averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on 21 attempts for 73 yards.

The ball just seemed to roll out of DJ Uiagalelei’s hand better today than we have almost ever seen from him. He looked like the kid that Clemson recruited when he was one of the top prospects in the country. DJ finished the day with five touchdowns on 371 passing yards without throwing an interception. He also helped in the running game by putting up 52 yards on the ground. Tight end Davis Allen proved to be a favorite for Uiagalelei today as he pulled in four catches for 36 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead TD in overtime. The Tiger’s biggest contributor offensively outside of their QB was star running back Will Shipley. He helped Clemson control the pace of the game offensively with his 104 rushing yards while also punching one into the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

This win likely puts Clemson deeper into the College Football Playoff conversation as it could go down as the biggest win of their season. They gear up to play another major conference opponent in NC State next weekend. As for the Demon Deacons, this will likely drop them out of the AP poll. With that being said, make no mistake about it; this team will be fighting for a conference title by year’s end.

Up Next (Clemson): vs. #12 NC State

Up Next (Wake Forest): @ Florida State

#11 Tennessee- 38, #20 Florida- 33

In a game that looked like it was all Volunteers, Tennessee was given quite the scare in the final minute of the game. After Florida had led a late fourth-quarter drive to score a touchdown and make it a one-score game, the Gators successfully executed a perfect onside kick to get the ball back with 16 seconds left. Finally, with six seconds left in the game, the Tennessee pass rush overtook Florida’s offensive line forcing Anthony Richardson to throw while being hit, forcing an interception to end the game. A tough loss for Florida in Knoxville.

In case you did not know, Hendon Hooker is incredibly good at football. You could argue that he single-handedly carried the Tennessee offense this afternoon. Hooker was responsible for 460 of the Vol’s 575 total yards. He threw for 349 yards while completing 22 of 28 attempts and two touchdowns. He also ran for 111 yards and a touchdown, which led the team. Star wide receiver, Bru McCoy, pulled in five catches for 102 yards and a touchdown as Hooker’s top target of the afternoon.

Anthony Richardson put on quite a show in the loss, finally getting into the touchdown pass column for the season. He threw for 453 yards and two touchdowns with the one game-ending interception under pressure. He also ran for 62 yards and two scores. Richardson once again proved that he can be one of the most dynamic players in college football when he is on. Florida had two 100-plus yard receivers in Justin Shorter and Ricky Pearsall. Shorter had seven catches for 155 yards, while Pearsall had caught five balls for 103 yards, including the late game score.

Up Next (Tennessee): @ LSU

Up Next (Florida): vs. Eastern Washington

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