On This Date: 1996 Clemson- 24 (15)Virginia- 16

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Posted: Nov 9, 2020, 1:08 PM

11/9/1996
Charlottesville, VA

Virginia Loses To Clemson, 24-16

(Clemson's defense held Virginia to 114 yards on the ground and limited Tiki Barber, the ACC's leading rusher, to 86 yards. Gutsy performance by backup RB Kelton Dunnican,who led the Tigers in rushing after filling in for the injured Emory Smith. The 1996 UVA team posted victories over 13Texas, 19Miami, and 6UNC)

Raymond Priester, quarterback Nealon Greene and Kelton Dunnican each ran for a touchdown as Clemson upset 15th-ranked Virginia, 24-16, in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.

Priester got the Tigers (6-3, 5-2 ACC) on the board on a 15-yard score with 9:33 left in the first quarter and Clemson never surrendered the lead. The Tigers beat the Cavaliers for the first time since 1993 but have dominanted the series, 32-3-1.

"This football team did what it had to do to win the ball game," said Tigers' coach Tommy West. "They won the turnover battle, they stopped the run, they won the kicking game and they gained when they had to with the rush."

Clemson rushed for 263 yards, getting 123 from Dunnican and 122 from Priester, who is ranked third in the conference in rushing average.

"I can't give enough credit to Dunnican, who came in when Emory (Smith) couldn't go because of his hurt shoulder," said West. "But Kelton stepped up and really put an exclamation point on our offense."

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