(Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA)
After enduring a lightning delay of nearly two hours, a lackluster offensive performance, an onside kick and a goal-line stand, Clemson came out on top of a slugfest with Georgia Tech 14-8, at Death Valley Saturday. The Tigers defense remains the headliner, again holding its opponent out of the end zone and forcing seven punts. Clemson has yet to allow an offensive touchdown this season, limiting the Yellow Jackets to a pair of short field goals.
Bryan Bresee put on a brilliant performance, shoving and swimming his way into the Jackets backfield for 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. Bresee joined with All-ACC linebacker James Skalski to thwart Georgia Tech’s last gasp effort as the pair combined to bring down Dylan Deveney short of the goal line in the final minute. Through three games, Brent Venables’ unit has surrendered just four field goals.
The Clemson offense, however, scuffled again and a consistent passing game continues to elude the Tigers. But while the staff is searching for the key to unlock the passing element, they may have found an answer at running back in Will Shipley. Lyn-J Dixon is a veteran and Kobe Pace has been the starter, but it was the freshman Shipley pacing the rushing attack with 88 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. The other backs combined for just 24 yards on a dozen carries. D.J. Uiagalelei supplemented the run game with 46 yards, but never found a rhythm with his receivers, finishing with 126 yards through the air.
Clemson will now prepare for its first true road game of the season at NC State. Kickoff at Raleigh’s Carter-Finley Stadium is set for 3:30. The Tigers have won eight in a row in the Textile Bowl series and 15 of the last 16.
SportsTalk at the Stadium presented by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives:
(Travis Bell/SIDELINE CAROLINA)
If clemtech doesn’t know it by now, they have problems. Ga-Tech gave them all they could handle. NC will beat the pants off clem-tech