WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- No. 4 Clemson didnt let its first loss turn into two. Instead, the Tigers wrapped up one championship, assured themselves of playing for another -- and made a case for a shot at the biggest one of all.Deshaun Watson rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another score, and Clemson bounced back from its first loss of the season by clinching a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and beating Wake Forest 35-13 on Saturday night.Coming in this week, we understood that last week didnt define us, and our goals are still in front of us, Watson said. So weve just got to keep preparing each week, preparing each day, to go out there and earn it.Wayne Gallman rushed for a season-high 161 yards and two touchdowns, including a 42-yarder on fourth-and-inches that started the scoring for the Tigers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 AP).The Atlantic Division champions earned a spot in the ACC title game in two weeks in Orlando, justifying their top-four spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.Playing with something to prove after a last-second loss to Pittsburgh was its first in the regular season in nearly two full years, Clemson reeled off touchdowns on its first four possessions to take a 28-0 lead and then essentially went into protection mode while holding the Demon Deacons to 197 yards -- their fewest since the opener against Tulane.Consider that a huge step forward for a group that gave up 464 yards in the loss to Pitt.It was a good week for us to grow our team, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said.One mitigating factor: A persistent northerly wind that gusted at nearly 30 mph. Clemsons starters scored four of their five touchdowns with the wind at their backs, but had just 185 total yards in the second and third quarters -- when those gusts were in their faces.Watson was 23 of 33 for 202 yards and sandwiched a pair of short scoring runs around a pretty 15-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams, checking out after Gallmans second TD with 10:50 to play.Cade Carney had a 1-yard touchdown run and Mike Weaver kicked field goals of 42 and 23 yards for Wake Forest (6-5, 3-4).We got off to an awful start, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. A lot of it was that they played well, and a lot of it is, we just didnt execute.THE TAKEAWAYClemson: Despite that lull midway through the game -- which could be rationalized by the effects of the wind -- there was no reason for concern for the Tigers, who certainly looked like the ACCs most playoff-worthy team while stripping all the drama from this one early. Clemson had 192 total yards and 21 points in the first quarter.Wake Forest: Giving a redshirt freshman quarterback his first start against one of the ACCs toughest defenses -- not to mention, one carrying a grudge after giving up 43 points last week -- is hardly a recipe for an upset. Kyle Kearns replaced John Wolford, who was in uniform but did not play with what team officials said was an ankle injury, and was 7 of 18 for 126 yards.We didnt sweat it too much, receiver Chuck Wade said. We all have faith in KK. We all rallied around him.POLL IMPLICATIONSIts a safe bet the Tigers will once again be the ACCs highest-ranked team, if for no other reason than Louisvilles loss at Houston certainly will cost the Cardinals their No. 5 ranking. No reason to drop Clemson for a 22-point victory on the road.STAT WATCHThe struggles that haunted Wake Forests defense late in last weeks loss at Louisville spilled over into the start of this one. The Demon Deacons gave up 34 points in the fourth quarter of that loss, then 21 more in the first quarter against Clemson before they regrouped and allowed just 14 points during the final 45 minutes.UP NEXTClemson: Plays host to rival South Carolina in its regular-season finale.Wake Forest: Finishes the regular season at home next Saturday against a Boston College team chasing bowl eligibility.Bobby Ryan Senators Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Christian Jaros Jersey . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. http://www.senatorssale.com/authentic-colin-white-senators-jersey/ . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Colin White Jersey . 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Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona.ATLANTA -- A five-game winning streak has the New York Mets in the middle of the wild-card race again, but theyd be in better position if they had been able to take care of business in June against the Atlanta Braves.The Braves, who have the worst record in the National League, swept a three-game series in New York and then split a four-game set in Atlanta as part of the Mets funk.The teams play six more times beginning with a weekend series in the Mets farewell to Turner Field, and the Braves are no longer the patsies they were for most teams -- if not the Mets -- during the first half of the season.Were not having the kind of season we wanted to, but we want to finish strong, said Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has led the teams offensive revival.The same thing can be said about the defending National League champion Mets, who have had their season nearly dashed by injury after injury.The Mets are back in postseason contention thanks to 14 victories in their past 18 games.Theres nothing like coming to the ballpark in September when (games) mean something, manager Terry Collins said. The energy is better. The aches and pains just dont seem to hurt as bad. Were fortunate to be where we are.The Mets also have a favorable schedule, with next weeks series at National League East leader Washington the only one against a team with a winning record.Of course, that means New York (74-66) cant slip up again against a team like the Braves (54-86).Our guys are completely focused on what theyve got to do and how theyve got to go about it, Collins said.The Mets will continue to live and die offensively with the home run. They hit three in each of the three gamees of their sweep at Cincinnati to start their road trip and have 192 for the season.ddddddddddddhen the Mets hit at least one homer, theyre 64-36. When theyve failed to go deep, theyre 10-30.New York, of course, also is dependent on its makeshift rotation to go deep into games and rookie right-hander Robert Gsellman (2-1, 2.87 ERA) will try to do that again Friday night in the series opener against the Braves.Gsellman has pitched six innings in each of his two starts and is coming off a victory over the Nationals in which he allowed four hits and a run while striking out four and walking three.A victory against the Braves would push the Mets nine games over .500 -- matching their high-water mark for the season. They will face a nemesis, though, in right-hander Julio Teheran (5-9, 3.01 ERA).Teheran, who pitched in the All-Star Game, tossed a one-hit shutout in New York on June 19 and hasnt allowed a run in his past three starts against the Mets.Teheran finally got a home victory this year in his most recent start at Turner Field against San Diego and is 6-3 with a 2.40 ERA in 13 career games against the Mets.Freeman, who has always hit well against New York, will take a 14-game streak into the series and center fielder Ender Inciarte has hit in 18 straight games.The Braves, who lost three games at Washington after a three-game sweep at Philadelphia, need to go 9-13 the rest of the way to avoid 100 losses.Were not looking at the big picture, interim manager Brian Snitker said. Were just trying to put our best foot forward every day. ' ' '