Clemson football benches DJ Uiagalelei for Cade Klubnik in ACC championship game

CHARLOTTE – Clemson turned to freshman backup quarterback Cade Klubnik in the first quarter of Saturday’s ACC Championship game against North Carolina at Bank of America Stadium.

Tigers junior starter DJ Uiagalelei received a vote of confidence from the coaches all week despite recent struggles but was pulled from the game after Clemson failed to get a first down on its first two possessions. Klubnik immediately gave the Tigers a spark, leading a TD drive and finishing it with a 1-yard TD pass to Davis Allen.

Klubnik was 5-for-5 for 50 yards and rushed for 8 yards on one carry. He started 7-of-7 for 127 yards and also had a rushing TD from the 1-yard line for a 21-7 lead.

Klubnik played 30 snaps and rallied Clemson from a deficit to beat Syracuse but just 15 snaps in the four games since.

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Uiagalelei was pulled from two straight games for lack of production. He watched from the sideline as Clemson rallied to beat Syracuse and then was replaced again last week at Notre Dame, albeit briefly, only to come back in and throw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in a 35-14 loss in South Bend, Indiana.

Clemson averaged 39.1 points in going 7-0. Between the opening drive against Syracuse and the fourth quarter against Notre Dame, however, the Tigers when directed by Uiagalelei managed three points on 15 possessions.

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Cade Klubnik replaces DJ Uiagalelei for Clemson football in ACC final