Clemson cruises past Furman to clinch bowl eligibility

Cade Klubnik threw two touchdown passes and backups Christopher Vizzina and Chris Denson each completed another to lead host Clemson to its 27th consecutive year of bowl eligibility with a 45-10 nonconference victory over Furman on Saturday.

Clemson (6-5) took a 24-0 lead with 14:15 remaining in the first half after Klubnik's second touchdown pass to Antonio Williams. They hooked up for 22 and 35 yards for Williams' only catches of the game.

Klubnik, honored as part of Clemson's Senior Day, and Vizzina each completed 9 of 15 passes. Klubnik passed for 159 yards and Vizzina for 52 yards as the Tigers finished with 456 total yards and no turnovers.

Vizzina replaced Klubnik in the second quarter and threw his touchdown pass, a 6-yard connection to Christian Bentancur, to give Clemson a 31-0 lead with 6:48 left until halftime.

Furman (6-6) cut the lead to 31-10 following a 49-yard field goal by Ian Williams with 30 seconds left in the second quarter and a 19-yard touchdown pass from Trey Hedden to Evan James with 1:53 remaining in the third.

Hedden completed 22 of 38 for 179 yards with a touchdown and interception.

Clemson punted three straight times in the second half before Denson, a true freshman, entered the game in the fourth quarter.

He led the Tigers on a 75-yard touchdown drive in five plays highlighted by his 50-yard run -- the longest from scrimmage this season for Clemson.

The possession was capped by Denson's 4-yard touchdown pass to Logan Brooking with 7:48 remaining. Denson completed all four of his passes for 22 yards.

Denson engineered another scoring drive that ended with his 10-yard run with nine seconds remaining. His 106 yards rushing on six carries within a quarter were more than what Furman produced as a team.

Clemson's defense limited Furman to 66 yards on 28 carries as the Paladins finished with 271 yards.

--Field Level Media