Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
Clemson vs. California: Wesco’s Punt Return Unlocks a 24-10 Win
Clemson broke a third-quarter tie with a special-teams touchdown, then Gideon Davidson’s late burst finished a game in which Cal’s offense scored only three points.
Clemson beat California 24-10 in Berkeley on Friday night, with Bryant Wesco Jr.’s 65-yard punt-return touchdown breaking a 10-10 tie and Gideon Davidson’s 75-yard scoring run sealing the result. The Tigers improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC; Cal fell to 2-2 and 1-1.
The important distinction is how those points arrived. Cal’s defense supplied its only touchdown, while Clemson found its decisive second-half scores through a punt return and the running game—not a passing shootout.
The return that broke the tie
A 30-yard field goal by Cal’s Chase Meyer brought the score to 10-10 in the third quarter. Wesco then returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown with 3:57 remaining in the period, giving Clemson a lead it did not surrender.
That was a special-teams score, not a reception. Keeping it separate from Davidson’s later 75-yard run explains the two different plays that turned a tied game into a two-touchdown finish.
Why Cal’s 10 points flatter its offense
Cal’s first-quarter touchdown came when Kamar Mothudi returned a fumble 35 yards. After that defensive score, the Bears’ offense produced only Meyer’s field goal; Clemson held Cal to 231 total yards.
Clemson did not need a high-volume passing night to pull away. Davidson carried 22 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns. His 75-yard scoring run with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter moved the lead from seven points to 14 and removed the need for another late defensive stand to preserve a one-score margin.
Miami is next, but the kickoff is not set
Clemson returns home to face Miami on Saturday, October 3 at its own Memorial Stadium. The official postgame report said the kickoff time and television assignment would be announced later; an unconfirmed time should not be treated as a schedule.
The next question is whether this combination of rushing production, defensive control and a game-changing return can carry into that matchup. The win keeps Clemson unbeaten in conference play, but one special-teams touchdown is a result—not a guarantee that the same opening will appear next week.
