When Clemson needed to most, it failed to run the football effectively against one of the nation’s worst run defenses.

In Saturday’s matchup against Georgia Tech, the Tigers struggled mightily on the ground and were unable to generate any kind of rushing attack against a porous Yellow Jackets defense.

Tigers freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds broke off a 24-yard run on the game’s second play from scrimmage. And when he went down with a knee injury on the third play of the contest and did not return, Clemson desperately needed its running game to step up, stabilize the offense and provide production to help out backup quarterbacks Christopher Vizzina and Trent Pearman.

Instead, Clemson mustered just 86 rushing yards on 34 total team carries (2.5 yards per carry) during the 20-6 defeat at Memorial Stadium – the Tigers’ first loss to the Yellow Jackets at Death Valley since 2008, snapping Clemson’s eight-game home winning streak in the series.

Coming into the game, you would have never imagined that Clemson’s running game would be so futile and ineffective against Georgia Tech.

Entering the contest, Georgia Tech ranked last in the ACC and 136th out of 138 FBS teams nationally — and last among all Power 4 teams — in rushing defense (surrendering over 222 rushing yards per game), and had recently made defensive staff changes following a four-game losing streak.

However, Clemson’s offensive line, playing shorthanded, and struggling ground game failed to capitalize, managing only a pair of field goals as the Yellow Jackets pulled away for the 14-point victory. Once the Tigers fell behind by 17 points early in the second half, they were pretty much forced to abandon the run altogether.

With starting running back Gideon Davidson out for a second straight game due to injury, and starting offensive linemen Harris Sewell and Elyjah Thurmon also once again sidelined, senior backup running back Jarvis Green was the Tigers’ leading rusher with just 39 yards on 13 carries (3 yards per carry).

On the other side, despite averaging just 118.7 rushing yards per game coming in, Georgia Tech had no issue running the ball against Clemson’s defense, racking up 269 rushing yards and two rushing scores on 52 carries (5.2 yards per carry).

After losing to a previously woeful Georgia Tech team that improved to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in ACC play, the Tigers (6-4, 4-3) will return to the field next Friday when they travel to face Duke at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.