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Boyd leads Clemson in rout of Wake Forest

Sep 29, 2013 - 4:44 AM Clemson, SC (Sports Network) - Tajh Boyd and third-ranked Clemson wasted little time revving up its high-powered offense on Saturday.

So much for another so-so start.

Boyd hit Sammy Watkins for a 64-yard touchdown on the third offensive play of the game and the Tigers coasted to a 56-7 win over Wake Forest.

Following a sluggish first half last Thursday against NC State, the Heisman hopeful Boyd led three first quarter touchdown drives within the first 7 1/2 minutes of the game.

Clemson (4-0, 2-0 ACC) finished with 415 yards of offense against the Wolfpack, its poorest showing of the season, but totaled 573 yards in this one.

"We played a complete game for all four quarters. There were no lulls in our play," Clemson head coach Dabo Swiney said.

Boyd, who went 27-of-38 for a career-best 428 yards and career high-tying five touchdown passes in a 42-13 victory at Wake Forest last season, was 17-of-24 for 311 yards and three touchdowns in 2 1/2 quarters of work.

The senior also carried the ball 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers, who have won the last five in the series over Wake Forest by combined 197-61 count.

Boyd joined NC State's Philip Rivers as the only two ACC quarterbacks to eclipse 100 career touchdowns.

"I have pretty much accomplished everything you can in a college career minus a couple of things - three things. I just need to enjoy this last go-round while I have it," Boyd said.

Watkins hauled in six receptions for 113 yards in the triumph.

Tanner Price completed 14-of-22 passes for 125 yards and a score for Wake Forest (2-3, 0-2), which defeated Army last Saturday.

"They ran a lot of blitzes on defenses that made it tough for us to run a lot of offensive stuff," Price said.

Boyd lofted a beautifully thrown deep ball along the right sideline that hit Watkins in stride for the first score of the game. Following a Wake Forest three-and-out, Zac Brooks scampered in from 10 yards out to complete a 10- play, 63-yard trek.

After another Demon Deacons punt, D.J. Heyward took a swing pass in the left flat and raced down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown for Clemson's 21-0 cushion midway through the first.

Price hooked up with Sherman Ragland III for a 10-yard score to get Wake Forest on the board late in the first, but the Tigers tallied two more touchdowns in the second quarter to take a huge advantage into the break.

Boyd ran it in for a 2-yard score on 4th-and-1 to complete a seven-play, 67- yard drive and later found Mike Williams for a 14-yard TD reception with 29 ticks left in the half to give the Tigers a 35-7 edge into the locker room.

Boyd was 13-of-18 for 286 yards in the first half.

C.J. Davidson plunged in from a yard out and Cole Stoudt tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Jordan Leggett to make it 49-7 after three and Davidson again ran it in from a yard out in the fourth to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

Boyd has thrown for 1,119 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career against Wake Forest ... The Tigers' 61 all-time wins against the Demon Deacons is second only to the 65 against South Carolina ... Boyd has tossed 166 consecutive passes without being intercepted ... Clemson holds a 61-17-1 edge in the all- time series against Wake Forest.