|
|
GATECH |
CLEM |
No. 6 Clemson uses goal-line stand to hold off Georgia Tech
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson coach Dabo Swinney sees a championship group on defense. His offense? That's another matter.
Swinney said the Tigers' attack is closer to its strong past than it has looked this season, including in a 14-8 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday night.
''I didn't get a whole lot of reward from what I've seen'' on offense, Swinney said. ''But we'll get there.''
How soon is what many are wondering, accustomed to watching the attack for Clemson (2-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) light up scoreboards and win championship.
''We made a lot of mistakes, my gosh,'' Swinney said. ''But we won the game.''
Will Shipley ran for two touchdowns and the sixth-ranked Tigers had a goal-line stand in the final seconds in a wild ending.
The Yellow Jackets (1-2, 0-1) had a chance to force overtime after recovering an onside kick with 1:19 to play. But they were held out of the end zone on four plays from the Clemson 2 in the closing seconds - the last when linebacker James Skalski t ackled Dylan Deveney a yard short.
The chaos continued, though, when Shipley fumbled in the end zone with Clemson (2-1, 1-0) attempting to run out the clock and was tackled after recovering for a safety with seven seconds left.
''I knew I had to get that ball back,'' Shipley said.
The Tigers kicked the ball away and Georgia Tech quarterback Jordan Yates' last ditch throw with three seconds left was ruled an incomplete forward pass, ending the game.
The game was delayed nearly two hours just before the half because of the threat of lightning around Memorial Stadium.
Clemson was favored by nearly four touchdowns and had beaten the Yellow Jackets 73-7 a season ago. This time, though, Clemson and quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei couldn't get the offense going for the second time in three games.
Clemson was held to 180 yards in a 10-3 loss to No. 2 Georgia two weeks ago. Georgia Tech limited Clemson to 207 yards the first three quarters and it continually came up with third-down stops.
Shipley opened things with a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. But that was it for the offense until very late in the game before Shipley's 3-yard bull-rush into the end zone let much of the remaining fans who returned after the delay exhale.
Clemson's defense has played at a championship level so far. The group has yet to yield a TD, holding its first three opponents to a total of four field goals. Georgia's touchdown in the opener came on a pick-six interception.
''The name of this game is points,'' Swinney said. ''And when the other team can't score, you're going to win a lot of games.''
Yates drove his team to Clemson's 5 at the end of both halves. The Yellow Jackets left with a field goals both times. He finished 20 of 33 for 203 yards.
It's clear Clemson does not have the same rhythm on offense it did the past three years when a pair of NFL first-rounders in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and tailback Travis Etienne were leading the way.
Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said Georgia Tech used a defensive scheme designed to take the deep ball away from Uiagalelei. During the team's extended half-time, weather delay, Elliott said the Tigers knew they had to stick to the ground.
''Hey, we're going to have to run the football to win this game,'' he said.
To struggle this much this season was not expected out of Uiagalelei and heralded running prospects like Shipley and sophomore Kobe Pace.
Georgia Tech outgained Clemson 309-284 in its late comeback. Shipley led the rushing attack with 88 yards.
The Tigers didn't score a touchdown in the opener against Georgia, where Uiagalelei was sacked seven times and misfired several passes.
Things appeared on the right track a week ago when Clemson scored touchdowns on its four opening possessions - Uiagalelei ran for two touchdowns and threw for a third - in a 49-3 blowout of South Carolina State.
But the Tigers again couldn't get anything going against a Georgia Tech defense ranked ninth in the ACC in points allowed at just fewer than 20 a game.
No matter the defeat, Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins said the group of Yellow Jackets that played against Clemson, ''they can play with anybody.''
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets certainly come away with a jolt of confidence after playing toe-to-toe at Clemson, despite their seventh straight loss to the Tigers. It's unlikely they'll see another defense as deep and talented in the ACC.
Clemson: The Tigers have work ahead if they hope for a seventh consecutive ACC title and trip to the College Football Playoff. Their defense is championship caliber. The offense is not and Uiagalelei and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott must find some answers quickly.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Expect Clemson to slide in the new rankings because of the showing against Georgia Tech. The Tigers, who entered the season ranked No. 3, could slip out of the top 10.
HOME STREAK INTACT
Clemson won its 30th straight game at Death Valley, continuing its record run. The streak is the longest in the country and seemed in jeopardy - the Tigers hadn't lost at home since a 43-42 win by Pitt here in November 2016 - down the stretch as Georgia Tech kept control of the ball at the end.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech: Hosts North Carolina on Saturday night.
Clemson: At North Carolina State on Saturday.
---
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. Sign up for the AP's college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
W. Shipley
1 RB 89 RuYds, 2 RuTDs, 6 ReYds, 2 RECs |
|
W. Shipley
1 RB 89 RuYds, 2 RuTDs, 6 ReYds, 2 RECs |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 20 | 19 |
Rushing | 7 | 11 |
Passing | 10 | 6 |
Penalty | 3 | 2 |
3rd Down Conv | 3-14 | 9-15 |
4th Down Conv | 2-3 | 0-1 |
Total Net Yards | 314 | 292 |
Total Plays | 72 | 66 |
Avg Gain | 4.4 | 4.4 |
Net Yards Rushing | 102 | 159 |
Rush Attempts | 39 | 41 |
Avg Rush Yards | 2.6 | 3.9 |
Yards Passing | 212 | 133 |
Comp. - Att. | 20-33 | 18-25 |
Yards Per Pass | 5.1 | 5.3 |
Penalties - Yards | 9-54 | 9-74 |
Touchdowns | 0 | 2 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 2 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-1 | 4-1 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 7-39.1 | 4-39.5 |
Return Yards | -2 | 10 |
Punts - Returns | 1--2 | 2-10 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 1 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. Yates
13 QB
|
J. Yates | 20/33 | 203 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Yates
13 QB
|
J. Yates | 16 | 32 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gibbs
1 RB
|
J. Gibbs | 11 | 30 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Smith
4 RB
|
D. Smith | 3 | 24 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mason
27 RB
|
J. Mason | 9 | 20 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
K. McGowan
2 WR
|
K. McGowan | 8 | 4 | 82 | 0 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Carter
7 WR
|
M. Carter | 4 | 4 | 47 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Sanders
12 WR
|
A. Sanders | 7 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gibbs
1 RB
|
J. Gibbs | 3 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Smith
4 RB
|
D. Smith | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Deveney
83 TE
|
D. Deveney | 5 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Harris
18 WR
|
P. Harris | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. McCollum
8 WR
|
N. McCollum | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Norris
17 WR
|
K. Norris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
T. Carpenter
2 DB
|
T. Carpenter | 10-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Thomas
25 LB
|
C. Thomas | 7-6 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Eley
10 LB
|
A. Eley | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Jackson
4 LB
|
Q. Jackson | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Walker
13 DB
|
W. Walker | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thomas
1 DB
|
J. Thomas | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ivey
15 DL
|
J. Ivey | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Biggers
88 DL
|
Z. Biggers | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Yondjouen
32 DL
|
S. Yondjouen | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lockhart
94 DL
|
M. Lockhart | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sims
16 DB
|
M. Sims | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brooks
0 DL
|
D. Brooks | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Griffin
95 DL
|
J. Griffin | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Oliver
8 DB
|
T. Oliver | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Harris
11 DL
|
K. Harris | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. King
14 DB
|
J. King | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Brooks
20 DB
|
M. Brooks | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Allen
18 DB
|
D. Allen | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Domineck
42 DL
|
J. Domineck | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Kennard
31 DL
|
K. Kennard | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
B. Cimaglia
42 K
|
B. Cimaglia | 2/2 | 22 | 0/0 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
D. Shanahan
43 P
|
D. Shanahan | 7 | 39.1 | 1 | 45 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. McGowan 2 WR
|
K. McGowan | 1 | -2.0 | -2 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
D. Uiagalelei
5 QB
|
D. Uiagalelei | 18/25 | 126 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
W. Shipley
1 RB
|
W. Shipley | 21 | 89 | 2 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Uiagalelei
5 QB
|
D. Uiagalelei | 8 | 46 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Pace
20 RB
|
K. Pace | 7 | 13 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Dixon
23 RB
|
L. Dixon | 5 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Ross
8 WR
|
J. Ross | 9 | 7 | 61 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ngata
10 WR
|
J. Ngata | 5 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Pace
20 RB
|
K. Pace | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Allen
84 TE
|
D. Allen | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Shipley
1 RB
|
W. Shipley | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Taylor
16 QB
|
W. Taylor | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F. Ladson Jr.
2 WR
|
F. Ladson Jr. | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Galloway
88 TE
|
B. Galloway | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Williams
6 WR
|
E. Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Dixon
23 RB
|
L. Dixon | 1 | 1 | -7 | 0 | -7 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
L. Bentley
42 LB
|
L. Bentley | 6-7 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Booth Jr.
23 CB
|
A. Booth Jr. | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Skalski
47 LB
|
J. Skalski | 5-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Davis
13 DT
|
T. Davis | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Simpson
22 LB
|