CLEMSON, S.C. - Will Proctor knew from his Friday night movie snack it would be a different Saturday than all his others at Clemson.
Once Proctor realized he and not longtime starter Charlie Whitehurst would get the call against Duke, he felt a high he didn't get preparing to be a backup.
"The popcorn tasted a little bit different last night at the movie when you feel like you might get to play," he said. "It tastes better."
Proctor's snack Saturday night should taste just as good after his performance against the Blue Devils - two passing touchdowns and a third rushing in Clemson's 49-20 victory.
"It was just a good deal," said Proctor, who came to Clemson in 2002, the same year Whitehurst began his streak of 37 consecutive starts that ended because of lingering pain in his throwing shoulder.
Proctor said most of his nerves were gone by gametime. Offensive line coach Brad Scott offered some advice.
"He told me just to take what was given me and don't try and make any plays on my own," Proctor said. "I definitely got settled in and tried to have a good game."
It was one of the best games Clemson (5-4, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) has had all year. The team scored its most points in 20 games dating back to its 63-17 victory to close the 2003 regular season against South Carolina.
The backup gave the Homecoming crowd of 77,000 fans at Death Valley something to cheer about - and perhaps a taste of what's to come when Whitehurst is gone.
"We have full confidence in Will," said tailback Reggie Merriweather, who ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns. "We had it before and this just boosts it."
Especially when Proctor got the team off to such a fast start, leading them to touchdowns on their first two drives.
Then when Clemson blocked a Duke field goal with 32 seconds to go before the half, Proctor directed a drive that finished with an 11-yard scoring pass to Chansi Stuckey to put the Tigers up 28-3.
Merriweather added rushing touchdowns of 19, 8 and 12 yards while Stuckey caught the first two touchdowns of his career for Clemson, which has won six of its past seven with the Blue Devils.
The best news for Duke? College basketball season starts in a few weeks.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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