It wasn’t just lip service.

“We’ve got 23 guys in the two-deep that this is their fourth or fifth year in the program. They’ve been in these games, they know how to handle them. They know how to manage the clock,” Clawson said. “Even some of our tackles at the end there, that we were keeping guys in bounds and forcing the clock to run, I think that comes with experience.

“We’ve been in these situations how many times? I don’t think we panic when we get in them.”

There didn’t seem to be panic when, clutching a three-point lead and taking over with 6:39 left, the Deacons’ offense embarked on a drive that enveloped almost the rest of the time in the game.

On third-and-1, it was a designed run for Newman for 4 yards. On third-and-6, a 9-yard pass from Newman to Kendall Hinton, a dart to the right sideline. On third-and-4, a 7-yard pass from Newman to Jack Freudenthal, a laser over the middle, which was finally open because of success on the outside of Scotty Washington and Sage Surratt.

The Eagles (3-2, 1-1) spent all of their timeouts on that drive and still only got the ball back on their own 5-yard line with 28 seconds left. It’s situational training throughout spring practices and fall camp that pays off when it matters most.