CLEMSON – Clemson opened Saturday’s game at Georgia Tech exactly how they wanted to.

From his 25-yard line, Tait Reynolds threw a 3-yard screen. He then read the play on a run pass option, kept the football off the right side and ran 24 yards before being hammered to the ground.

On first down, Reynolds kept the ball again, this time on a scramble, as he raced up the middle and slid for a seven-yard gain. He popped up and immediately went to his left knee, grabbing the back of it.

Reynolds’ day was done. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed Reynolds will have an MRI on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury.

With Reynolds out Clemson leaned on its defense, a unit that has improved a lot through the course of the season.

Unfortunately, for the Tigers, they did not come through.

Georgia Tech, who has one of the worst rushing offenses in the country, ran for 269 yards and totaled 407, as the Yellow Jackets embarrassed Clemson 20-6 at Memorial Stadium.

Swinney, and linebacker Sammy Brown, admitted the defense was pressing and was trying to do too much with Reynolds knocked out of the game and the offense struggling.  

“I think so. They were pressing a little bit,” Swinney said. “Again, instead of staying focused on what they could control, they lost a little focus. They were a little frustrated.

“I do think they reset and they kind of rallied.”

The Tigers (6-4, 4-3 ACC) did rally a little bit. However, after Nolan Hauser missed a 52-yard field goal just before halftime, Brown and fellow linebacker Jeremiah Alexander gave up a big pass play to the tight end down the middle of a two deep zone, setting up a field goal for the Yellow Jackets just before halftime.

Then in the third quarter, while trailing 13-3, they gave up a 53-yard touchdown run to Justice Haynes, who ran for 113 yards on 13 carries.

“That one long touchdown drive was huge because that made it (a three-score game). Instead of 13-6, it is 20-6 in the fourth quarter,” Swinney said. “That and that play right before the half was really disappointing with the tight end splitting us down the middle in two deep.

“Again, you win as a team, and you lose as a team, and it is my job to get it done and I did not get it done. If you lose the line of scrimmage, you do not deserve to win.”