Uiagalelei and Clemson find their groove down the stretch as the Tigers defeat Georgia Tech

Clemson overcomes a rough start to take down Georgia Tech.

Dabo Swinney and Clemson picked up their first win of the season Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as the Tigers defeated the Yellow Jackets 41-10.

After a slow start for Uiagalelei and the offense, the group overcame their struggles and were able to put together some nice drives throughout the game. The junior quarterback started getting traction in the second quarter as he led an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was capped off by Beaux Collins six-yard connection for his first passing touchdown of the season.

Overall, it was an inspiring turnaround for Uiagalelei, who completed 19-32 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown while also adding a rushing touchdown. Freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik got some playtime late in the game as well and was mightily impressive. He completed 4-6 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Though the running game didn’t perform to its expected standard, starting running back, Will Shipley still managed 42-yards on ten carries, finding the end zone twice. He also brought in a 14-yard reception. There were eleven different players with a reception, with Joseph Ngata and Will Taylor on the receiving end of touchdowns.

Clemson’s defense showed up and showed out, performing up to expectation. They allowed just 164 passing yards and 73 rushing yards throughout the game. The defensive line wreaked havoc, while the linebackers and secondary were impressive as well.

The special teams unit was arguably the most impressive, blocking two punts that led to scores.

Clemson overcame and put together a solid performance in week one.

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Twitter explodes as Cade Klubnik scores his first Clemson touchdown

Cade Klubnik’s first Clemson touchdown has the people talking.

Cade Klubnik came in for Clemson’s final offensive drive, and boy, did he live up to the hype.

The freshman quarterback was smooth in his first game experience for the Tigers, finding Will Taylor for a 3-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a 41-10 lead over Georgia Tech.

Klubnik was everything Clemson fans could ask when given the opportunity. He completed 4-6 passes for 50-yards and a touchdown in his lone drive. He also added one carry for four yards on the drive.

It looked as if the playbook opened up a little with Klubnik on the field, and everyone loved it. The first person to greet the young quarterback after his first collegiate score was starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. It was a great way to cap off the Tigers’ first win of the season.

Here’s a look at how Twitter reacted to Klubnik’s first score for the Tigers:

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Clemson special teams strike again

Clemson’s special teams struck yet again to extend the Tigers lead to 34-10.

Clemson’s special teams stuck yet again in a big way for the Tigers in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 34-10 over Georgia Tech.

Clemson came up with another blocked punt, the second of the night, this time by Billy Wiles and recovered by linebacker LaVonta Bentley for 10 yards to the 15 yard line. The Tigers two blocked punts are the first of their kind since Clemson faced the Gamecocks back in 2007 when Dabo Swinney was a Clemson assistant under then-head coach Tommy Bowden.

Following the blocked punt, Will Shipley ran it in once again for three yards to extend Clemson’s lead to 17 over the Yellow Jackets with just under seven minutes left to play.

Clemson’s scored its fourth touchdown in four plays for 15 yards and spanned 1:03.

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Halftime Report: No. 4 Clemson 14, Georgia Tech 3

Clemson holds the lead 14-3 at the half over Georgia Tech.

After the first half of Clemson’s matchup against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Tigers came away with the 14-3 lead, but not without some struggles.

Clemson started off Monday night’s contest with a bang thanks to safety Andrew Mukuba’s pick off of Georgia Tech’s Jeff Sims in the first offensive play of the game. The Tigers were unable to convert though and struggled to make it happen offensively for the majority of the first half.

Will Shipley finally got Clemson on the board in the second. After a huge blocked punt by former walk-on Carson Donnelly on special teams that was recovered by wide receiver Brannon Spector for 15 yards, Shipley later returned the ball for a one-yard rushing touchdown to give the Tigers the 7-0 lead with 10 minutes to go.

Fourth-ranked Clemson struck yet again in the second quarter this time with a 6-yard connection between quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and wide receiver Beaux Collins to extend the lead to 14-0. The Yellow Jackets responded with Jude Kelley’s 45-yard field goal for a score of 14-3 at the half.

Though Clemson had its struggles on the offensive front, the Tigers defense so far has been lights out from the get-go. First-year defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin’s defense recorded 47 total tackles, 7 for a loss, one interception and one pass breakup.

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Clemson offense finds groove late as Tigers take halftime lead

It’s a new season, but the offensive woes that plagued Clemson’s offense a season prior persisted in the first half of the team’s season opener against Georgia Tech on Monday night. That was until the second quarter. Clemson headed into halftime at …

It’s a new season, but the offensive woes that plagued Clemson’s offense a season prior persisted in the first half of the team’s season opener against Georgia Tech on Monday night.

That was until the second quarter.

Clemson headed into halftime at Mercedes Benz Stadium with a commanding 14-3 lead, as the Tigers took advantage of multiple Tech special teams miscues, including a blocked punt and a missed field goal.

Though, Tech kicker Jude Kelley drilled a 45-yard field goal with one minute and 15 seconds remaining in the half to put the Yellow Jackets on the board.

On the first play from scrimmage, Andrew Mukuba came away with an interception. Jeff Sims was pressured by K.J. Henry, who forced the sophomore quarterback into an underthrown pass on a deep shot, which was picked off by the reigning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

After trading punts, Clemson was finally driving the ball down the field after consecutive completions, but D.J. Uiagalelei had the ball punched out on a designed quarterback run. After initially recovering the ball, Clemson wide receiver Joseph Ngata was outmuscled by Tech linebacker Ayinde Eley, who came away with the fumble recovery.

It was a rough first quarter for Uiagalelei, who mishandled a snap on Clemson’s first drive and coughed up the football on the next. After shedding over 20-pounds this offseason, Uiagalelei is a lot slimmer but was still not much of a factor in the run game for Clemson in the first half. 

The junior quarterback carried the ball nine times for 17 yards in the game’s first 30 minutes.

At the beginning of the second quarter, senior safety Carson Donnelly blocked a punt and helped shift the momentum in Clemson’s favor.

Donnelly, originally a walk-on, was placed on scholarship entering the 2021 season.

That put Clemson inside Tech’s five-yard line. After three failed run plays, Will Shipley ran off the left tackle and found paydirt for Clemson’s first touchdown of the season.

Later in the quarter, Uiagalelei flushed outside of the pocket and found Beaux Collins, who was streaking in the back of the end zone, for a six-yard touchdown 

Uiaglelei finished the first half 12-of-16 passing with 114 yards and a touchdown, while Collins had three receptions for 54 yards and a score.

On the other hand, Clemson’s defense held Tech scoreless in the first half. Between Mukhuba’s interception, Barrett Carter’s six tackles (one for loss), and Bryan Bresee and K.J. Henry constantly in the Yellow Jackets’ backfield, Sims had little time for plays to develop down the field.

Simms completed 17-of-22 passes for 111 yards with an interception. 

Clemson will receive the second-half kickoff.

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Shipley runs it in to put Clemson up 7-0

Shipley runs it in to give Clemson the 7-0 lead over Yellow Jackets.

After a scoreless first quarter, Clemson got on the board first in the second thanks to a huge special teams play that set up Will Shipley’s one-yard rushing touchdown to take the 7-0 lead over Georgia Tech.

It all came down to a clutch blocked punt by safety Carson Donnelly that was recovered by wide receiver Brannon Spector for 15 yards, which gave the Tigers the ball on the five yard line.

Following two runs for a three-yard gain by running back Phil Mafah, Shipley ran it in for one-yard to give Clemson the early edge.

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Andrew Mukuba snags an interception on the first play of the season

Andrew Mukuba picks off Jeff Sims on the first play of the season.

It didn’t take long for the Clemson defense to cause their first turnover of the 2022 season.

On Georgia Tech’s first offensive snap, sophomore safety Andrew Mukuba picked off Jeff Sims on a deep ball attempt for wide receiver Nate McCollum.

This is exactly the start the Tigers’ defense needed to get the season kicked off to a hot start. The Clemson defensive line swarmed Sims, who heaved one downfield, allowing the opportunity Mukuba to make a play.

It looks like new defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin has his group firing on all cylinders. Here’s a look at Mukuba’s first interception of the season.

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Pregame buzz: Clemson vs. Georgia Tech

With kickoff just hours away, here’s what Twitter has to say about the Clemson vs. Georgia Tech matchup.

Kickoff is right around the corner for No. 4 Clemson as they face Georgia Tech in a highly-touted Labor Day opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Tigers return what looks to be one of the best defenses in the country, but many questions still remain as to what kind of offense head coach Dabo Swinney and his team will bring to the field come kickoff.

Here’s a look at the pregame buzz surrounding the ACC matchup on Twitter.

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Five Clemson players to keep an eye on against Georgia Tech

Clemson football is finally here, and as you watch the game on Monday night, keep an eye on these players to make an impact against Georgia Tech.

Clemson will play its first game of the 2022 season on Monday, as the Tigers face off against Georgia Tech at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Coming off a 10-3 season in 2021, head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers will look to return to the College Football Playoff after missing it last season for the first time since the 2014-2015 season.

The first step in reaching that pedestal is defeating the Yellow Jackets.

Unlike in years past, Clemson struggled against Georgia Tech in 2021 when the Tigers came away with a 14-8 victory.

Clemson is a 23.5-point favorite to win this year’s matchup, according to Tipico Sportsbook, but as with any college football team in week one, there is a lot of uncertainty and questions for Clemson.

That being said, here are five players on the Tigers’ roster that spectators should watch closely against the Yellow Jackets.

Swinney updates why Bentley played for Spector

Baylon Spector was expected to start up until pregame. Spector, Clemson’s starting weakside linebacker, started the Tiger’s first two games but was noticeably absent for the team’s first defensive possession of the game against Georgia Tech. He …

Baylon Spector was expected to start up until pregame.

Spector, Clemson’s starting weakside linebacker, started the Tiger’s first two games but was noticeably absent for the team’s first defensive possession of the game against Georgia Tech.

He didn’t have his helmet on the sideline, signaling that he wouldn’t be playing Saturday.

As Spector found himself unable to go due to injury, LaVonta Bentley stepped up and rose to the occasion. The redshirt sophomore linebacker recorded 13 total tackles (2.5 for loss) and a sack during Clemson’s 14-8 win over the Yellow Jackets.

“Lavnota Bentley had to step in, literally right after pre-game when we find out that Baylon’s not going to be able to go,” Swinney said postgame. “He had a flare-up, some inflammation on Thursday, but thought he was gonna be able to go. He came out after pregame and said he didn’t think he could do it.”

Swinney did not offer a timetable for Spector’s return.