ATLANTA — DJ Uiagalelei threw for one landing and ran for one more, overcoming a sluggish begin within the season opener as No. 4 Clemson pulled away for a 41-10 victory over Georgia Tech on Monday evening.
Uiagalelei accomplished 19 of 32 passes for 209 yards, together with a 6-yard scoring play to Beaux Collins that gave the Tigers a two-touchdown lead within the first half.
Georgia Tech, trying to enhance on three straight three-win seasons which have put coach Geoff Collins on the recent seat, saved it nearer than anticipated a lot of the best way.
However the Yellow Jackets couldn’t overcome two blocked punts, each of which led to quick landing runs by Will Shipley.
Georgia Tech pulled inside 14-10 on a formidable drive within the third quarter, culminating with Jeff Sims tossing a 13-yard TD cross to 6-foot-7 switch E.J. Jenkins.
However Uiagalelei, in what was most likely the play of the sport, appeared headed for a sack when he was cornered by two Georgia Tech defenders on the third-and-4. However the quarterback managed to remain upright simply lengthy sufficient to flip a lateral to Shipley, who rumbled 10 yards to maintain the Clemson offense on the sphere.
“I used to be making an attempt to get out of the pocket, making an attempt to purchase a while to get the ball away,” Uiagalelei mentioned. “As I used to be going to the bottom I regarded to my left and noticed Shipley there. I simply pitched it to him. He made an important run.”
The Tigers drove 74 yards for a landing that lastly buried the Yellow Jackets. Uiagalelei ran it in from 9 yards out to push Clemson’s result in 24-10.
“I’m actually proud of DJ,” coach Dabo Swinney mentioned. “Hey, they made somewhat run. Subsequent factor , it’s somewhat tight. The offense has to reply.”
Clemson scored its first landing off particular groups after each groups had early struggles on offense.
Carson Donnelly broke via the road untouched and smothered a punt by David Shanahan. Brannon Specter scooped up the ball on the Georgia Tech 18 and took it down the 5 earlier than he was knocked out bounds.
Sims threw an interception on Georgia Tech’s first play of the season, an ill-advised deep cross whereas underneath strain that was picked off by Andrew Mukuba.
The Yellow Jackets’ third-year quarterback is taken into account a key to the crew’s possibilities of a turnaround season, a lot in order that Collins introduced in Chip Lengthy as offensive coordinator and Chris Weinke as quarterbacks coach with the precise purpose of getting extra constant play out of Sims.
He confirmed flashes each throwing and working, however it wasn’t practically sufficient to drag off the upset. Sims threw for 164 yards and led the crew in dashing with 41 yards.
The second Chick-fil-A Kickoff Recreation of the Labor Day weekend was performed earlier than a crowd at 47,712 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the place the higher deck was closed off to forestall it from wanting like a Clemson residence recreation.
Because it was, not less than half the group gave the impression to be decked out in orange.
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