CLEMSON — People wondered how Clemson’s defense might hold up against Haynes King and a Georgia Tech offense that was averaging 33 points and 465.3 yards per game.
It is safe to say they held up pretty well.
The Tigers limited King to 126 total yards and held the Yellow Jackets to 254 overall. King was sacked four times, while being intercepted four times as well, as Clemson rolled to a 42-21 victory at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
King came into the game ranked second in the ACC in total yards at 319.4 yards per game.
While the defense was doing its thing, Cade Klubnik and the offense had one of their best games of the season. Klubnik tied a career-high with four touchdown passes while throwing for 205 yards on 23-of-34 passing.
The sophomore quarterback threw touchdown passes of five yards to Beaux Collins, three yards to Tyler Brown, five yards to tight end Jake Briningstool and 13 yards to tight end Josh Sapp.
The Tigers (6-4, 3-4 ACC) also got 97 rushing yards from Phil Mafah and 77 yards from Will Shipley, who had a 32-yard touchdown run before halftime. The Tigers ran for 260 yards overall and had 465 yards of total offense.
The Clemson defense even got into the scoring act when freshman corner Shelton Lewis returned a King pass 46 yards for a touchdown.
THE TAKEAWAY
Clemson’s defense dominated the Yellow Jackets, despite missing three starters. Linebacker Barrett Carter, cornerback Sheridan Jones and safety Jalyn Phillips were all held out of the game. The Tigers held the Yellow Jackets to 254 total yards. Clemson had four sacks, 11 tackles for loss and four interceptions. Georgia Tech was 6-of-16 on third down and there were four three-and-outs forced by the Clemson defense.
IMPLICATIONS
Clemson clinched bowl eligibility for a 25th consecutive season with Saturday’s victory. Clemson’s streak of bowl eligibility is the third longest active streak in the country. Georgia Tech falls to 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC and needs to win one of its final two games to become bowl eligible.
MVP
Klubnik finished the afternoon 23-of-34 for 205 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran six times for 20 yards, including a 17-yard gain.
TIDBITS
Clemson’s four interceptions were all by freshman defensive backs. Khail Barnes, Avieon Terrell, Kylon Griffin—a redshirt freshman—and Shelton Lewis all recorded interceptions off King passes. Lewis returned his interception 46 yards for a touchdown, which gave the Tigers a 42-7 lead with 12:46 to play in the game. His pick-six marked the second straight week, and third time this season, the Tigers returned an interception for a touchdown.
UP NEXT
Clemson closes out its home and ACC schedule when it hosts North Carolina next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
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