This game was over before it started. This one got so bad that Will Spiers finished up at quarterback. Yes, that Will Spiers, the punter.
The Tigers scored seven first half touchdowns and the only thing that stopped the offense in that first half was themselves, when they turned it over twice.
Despite that, the number one team in the country still was able to flex its muscles and take a 52-7 lead into halftime on their way to a dominating 73-7 win over Georgia Tech.
It was the Tigers sixth straight win over the Yellow Jackets and third straight in Bobby Dodd. Clemson had never won three straight road games against Tech before today.
Rapid Reactions:
- Not a whole lot went wrong in this one. Even with the two first half turnovers, this Clemson team is just to good to be stopped by this Georgia Tech team.
- Trevor Lawrence was phenomenal. Can we just give him the Heiman now? 24-32 for 404 yards and a career high 5 touchdown passes. He averaged over 12 yards per attempt. He did see his streak of passing attempts without an interception come to an end, but nothing lasts for forever.
- If there is one thing to critique, it is the running game. 22 carries for just over 80 yards in that first half and 21 of those came on one Lyn-J Dixon run. This Georgia Tech defense has not stopped the run all season long and once again the Tigers had some issues creating running room for the backs, especially early on. Tech was stacking the box at times to take it away but they were not stacking it on every play. The Tigers did finish with more than 170 yards rushing but trying to get the running game established early on is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
- After his spectacular performance last week, Travis Etienne just could not get it going today. 11 carries for just 44 yards and his longest run was for just 8 yards. There just wasn’t any room for him to run in this one and again this was against a defense that has struggled stopping the run. The Yellow Jackets came in allowing teams more than 180 rushing yards per game and twice had allowed more than 240 yards.
- While we are on the running game, Kobe Pace just keeps impressing and is doing so in limited playing time. He isn’t the talent that Demarkcus Bowman is, but this kid is going to be a player. He straight up trucked a safety on a run in that second half.
- Clemson receivers were running free in that Yellow Jackets secondary all day long. If there was one positive to come out of the Justyn Ross injury it is the way Amari Rodgers has stepped up and put this group of his receivers on his back. 6 catches for 161 yards and tow touchdowns for Amari, with all of that coming in the first half. It was a career high for him as far as yards go.
- Can’t say enough about Cornell Powell. He has a really solid first half, hauling in 4 ball for 50 yards and even caught a touchdown pass. His first catch on that back shoulder throw from Lawrence was a thing of beauty and his touchdown grad was a great catch too.
- Frank Ladson is still struggling with consistency issues. He had another drop on an easy long ball. Second straight game he has dropped an easy one, and both were likely touchdowns if he brings them in. He has got to catch those balls. Good to see him come back and get a touchdown grab later on in that first half though. Just got to be a little more consistent.
- Good to see Joseph Ngata back on the field today. He didn’t play much but the fact that he was out there means he is getting close. With Ladson’s inconsistencies, this team is going to need Ngata down the stretch.
- The two freshman receivers also showing off their talent today. EJ Williams hauled in two passes in that first half. This kid is going to be a stud after he’s had a season in the strength program and adds a little bulk. Ajou Ajou also showing off his athleticism on his 35 yard touchdown catch in the second half. He refused to go down breaking multiple tackles on the way to the end zone. It will be fun watching these kids develop over the next couple of years.
- Braden Galloway is the tight end that gets most of the publicity but Davis Allen might just have the higher ceiling. He can get it done in as a run blocker and he can get it done down the field in the passing game. 3 catches 67 yards and a 34 yard touchdown.
- And how about this defense. Another suffocating effort, holding Tech to just 6 first downs and 1-13 on third downs and 0-3 on fourth downs. That is getting it done. The Tigers allowed just over 100 yards of offense in that first half and 59 of those came on the one long touchdown pass the Yellow Jackets had. Tech only had 204 yards of offense. Myles Murphy and Tyler Davis were in the Tech backfield all afternoon. Or while they were playing anyways. Jeff Sims is a talented quarterback but the Tigers made him look like the freshman he is. Sims was just 6-13 for 81 yards, with the one long touchdown and one interception.
