newYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
DJ Uiagalelie threw one touchdown, ran another, and got off to a weak start to the season opener as No. 4 Clemson pulled away in Monday night’s 41-10 win over Georgia Tech. Overcame.
Wiagarelly completed 19 of 32 passes for 209 yards, including a 6-yard scoring play to Beau Collins that gave the Tigers a two-touchdown lead in the first half.
Georgia Tech, looking to improve on their third straight season of three wins with coach Jeff Collins in the hot seat, was much closer than expected.
However, the Yellow Jackets were unable to overcome two blocked punts, both leading to Will Shipley’s short touchdown runs.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM.
Georgia Tech pulled within 14–10 on an impressive drive in the third quarter, culminating in Jeff Sims throwing a 13-yard TD pass to 6-foot-7 transfer EJ Jenkins.
But Wiagarelly, perhaps in game play, appeared towards the bag When he was cornered by two Georgia Tech defenders in the third and fourth. It remained upright long enough for the
“I was trying to get out of my pocket and buy time to steal the ball,” said Uiaghalery. “I went to the ground and looked to my left and Shipley was there. I just threw him. He ran great.”
The Tigers drove 74 yards for a touchdown that eventually buried the Yellow Jackets. Uiagalelie ran in from his nine yards out and he pushed Clemson’s lead to 24–10.
“I’m really happy with the DJ,” said coach Dabo Swinney.
Clemson scored the first touchdown from a special teams after both teams had an early struggle on offense.
Carson Donnelly burst over the line untouched and stifled David Shanahan’s punt.
Jim Harbaugh hopes players will benefit from ‘massive TV deal’ expected in college football playoff expansion
Sims threw an interception in Georgia Tech’s first play of the season. This was a deep, unadvised pass under pressure picked up by Andrew Mukba.
The Yellow Jackets’ third-year quarterback is seen as key to the team’s turnaround season chances, so Collins brought in Chip Long as offensive coordinator and Chris Winekey as quarterback coach. Sims.
Both throws and runs showed flashes, but they weren’t enough to upset him. Sims threw for 164 yards and led the team with 41 yards.
The second Chick-fil-A kick-off game of Labor Day weekend was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of a crowd of 47,712.
In fact, at least half of the crowd appeared to be decked out in orange.
College Football Playoffs Expanding to 12 Teams: Report
Cade’s debut
Much-hyped freshman Cade Krabnik received a loud cheer from the rest of the Clemson crowd as he secured the win and entered quarterback.
Krabnik led the Tigers to the final touchdown on his only possession, completing 4 of 6 passes for 49 yards, including a 3-yard score to Will Taylor.
“We weren’t trying to score,” said Swinney. “But we needed to let him play so he could take some really meaningful snaps there.”
Takeaway
Clemson: A 10-3 season was considered a disappointment by the Tigers’ high standards, but the team still seems to have a long way to go.
For the first time in 14 full seasons as Swinney’s coach, Clemson has welcomed two new coordinators, so it may take time to get everyone on the same page.
However, the offensive line was barely dominant until the fourth quarter, with a big difference between the 3rd and 4th place teams in the country. No. 3 Georgia defeated No. 11 Oregon 49-3 in his game on Saturday’s first kickoff.
Georgia Tech: Collins seems to have done little to fix a well-known problem that plagued his first three years at Atlanta.
There were too many false starts, unnecessary pass interference penalties that extended drives when the Yellow Jackets had momentum, and a targeting call that led to the ejection of Charlie Thomas.
Moreover, the special team was a mess. Two blocked punts not allowed.
“We have to fix that. It can’t happen,” Collins said. “Disappointing.”
poll meaning
Clemson will likely stay in the AP rankings after pulling away to get a final score in the expected range.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
next
Clemson: You’ll face FCS Southern Conference member Furman in Saturday’s home opener. It’s a short trip for Paladin, whose campus is about 35 miles from Death Valley.
Georgia Tech: Opening campus on Saturday when another Southern Conference team, the Western Carolina, visited Bobby Dodd Stadium.