By Heath Bradley.

By Heath Bradley

CLEMSON – With No. 15 Clemson boasting one of the nation’s top offenses as well as some of the nation’s most explosive offensive playmakers, one would not expect a backup linebacker to come up with the play of the day in an offensive shootout.

Well that was exactly the case Saturday in Clemson’s 47-31 victory over Georgia Tech inside Death Valley.  In a game that featured over 1,000 yards of total offense and 88 combined points, a safety, only two of Clemson’s 47 points, was the turning point of the game.

The Tigers (5-1, 2-1 ACC) had just battled back to take a 38-31 lead over Georgia Tech with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, kickoff specialist Spencer Benton missed hit the ball, producing an odd spinning line drive straight at return man Chris Milton, who fumbled the ball and slipped while recovering it, giving the Yellow Jackets the ball at their own two-yard line.

On first down, Clemson nearly intercepted a Tevin Washington pass when defensive end Corey Crawford batted down the Washington pass, and nearly hauling it in while standing in the end zone.

The defense rose to the challenge again on second down, as Orwin Smith took the handoff from Washington and was met almost immediately in the end zone by linebacker Spencer Shuey. The junior tackled Smith with perfect form, recording the Tigers first safety since 2008.

“It was great for the game,” Shuey said. “Once the crowd erupted, we knew it was a big momentum play. It turned out to be a big factor in the game.”

The play was a huge moment for Shuey, too, easily the biggest in his Clemson career. The Charlotte, NC native credits his ability to make such an important play on the work the Clemson defense put in during this past week of practice.

“We had been preparing for that play all week,” he said. “I got a good read, made a good jump on the ball and made a play.”

For two straight weeks the Clemson defense had made big plays in the late stages of the game to help secure Tiger victories. Shuey says this is a welcome sign to the defense, a defense who has steadily improved over the past few weeks.

“We work every day to get better, and I think it finally showed today,” he said. “We had a hard week of practice, and I am glad it is starting to show and pay off.”