Clemson wins big over Georgia Tech, but Tigers offense still under microscope

Clemson’s defense: as good as advertised.

Clemson’s offense: still a work in progress.

The Tigers got plenty from the former and just enough from the latter to fight past Georgia Tech, 41-10, in Monday night’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game season opener.

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei accounted for two touchdowns, running back Will Shipley scored two more and a vaunted defense made opportune plays all night against the Yellow Jackets as the Tigers passed their first test of 2022 … but not without some errors.

Playing in front of a primetime ESPN audience in the last game of college football’s Week 1 slate, the No. 4 Tigers looked a lot like they did during last season’s 10-3 campaign.

For coach Dabo Swinney’s program, that was both encouraging — because Clemson’s defense proved it remains among the best in the country — and troubling, because Clemson’s offense has lingering issues that must be fixed to stay in contention for the College Football Playoff.

Second-quarter touchdowns by running back Shipley and wide receiver Beaux Collins gave Clemson a 14-0 lead it wouldn’t relinquish against lowly Georgia Tech, but problems on that side of the ball were quite visible all night.

With highly touted freshman Cade Klubnik backing him up this year, starting quarterback Uiagalelei turned in a hot-and-cold performance in his 2022 debut.

At times he was excellent, like when he capped off a nine-play, 74-yard drive with a rushing touchdown to put Clemson up 24-10 in the third quarter. At times he wasn’t, like when he coughed up a plus-territory fumble and took a drive-ending sack in a scoreless first.

Clemson’s offensive line also turned in a middling performance, with Uiagalelei and center Will Putnam miscommunicating on two snaps (one appeared a tad high and one appeared a tad low) and the Tigers churning out 127 rushing yards on 40 carries (3.2 average).

While new offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter’s group struggled early, new defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin’s unit provided much-needed breathing room.

Clemson’s defensive line lived in the backfield with seven tackles for loss, linebacker Barrett Carter flew across the field and safety Andrew Mukuba nabbed an interception on the game’s first play from scrimmage as Clemson limited Georgia Tech to 237 total yards and 3.6 yards per play.

Backup safety Carson Donnelly also provided a spark with his second-quarter blocked punt, which set Clemson up at Georgia Tech’s five-yard line for its opening touchdown.

Once the Tigers’ defense finally came back down to Earth, allowing a field goal and touchdown on consecutive Georgia Tech drives to cut the score to 14-10, the offense was there to deliver consecutive scoring drives and, ultimately, 27 unanswered points.

Kicker BT Potter made field goals of 29 and 31 yards in the second half, while Collins (three catches for 54 yards), Shipley (team-high 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns) and true freshman Antonio Williams (four catches for 37 yards) also contributed on offense.

Clemson ended up outsourcing Georgia Tech 27-7 in the second half, with Shipley’s second touchdown after a Wade Woodaz punt block and Klubnik’s mop-up duty touchdown toss to Will Taylor serving as the game’s final points.

Cade Klubnik throws first TD pass

Game highlights

Clemson Georgia Tech stats, box score

Second Quarter

CLEM—Shipley 1 run (Potter kick), 9:53.

CLEM—B.Collins 6 pass from Uiagalelei (Potter kick), 3:52.

GT—FG Kelley 45, 1:15.

Third Quarter

GT—Jenkins 13 pass from J.Sims (Kelley kick), 9:47.

CLEM—FG Potter 29, 5:41.

CLEM—Uiagalelei 9 run (Potter kick), 1:18.

Fourth Quarter

CLEM—FG Potter 31, 8:45.

CLEM—Shipley 3 run (Potter kick), 5:20.

CLEM—Taylor 3 pass from Klubnik (Gunn kick), 1:35.

——Team stats——

• First down: CLE 21, GT 13

• Total yards: CLE 386, GT 237

• Rush yard: CLE 127, GT 74

• Pass yards: CLE 259, GT 164

• Sacks: CLE 2, GT 2

• Int: CLE 1, GT 0

• Time of poss: GT 30:26, CLE 29:38

——Player stats——

• RUSHING—Clemson, Shipley 10-42, Mafah 8-28, Uiagalelei 13-28, Pace 5-13, D.Thomas 3-12, Klubnik 1-4. Georgia Tech, J.Sims 13-41, Smith 9-30, McDuffie 3-5, Hall 4-1, Carter 1-(minus 4).

• PASSING—Clemson, Uiagalelei 19-32-0-209, Klubnik 4-6-0-50. Georgia Tech, J.Sims 23-36-1-164.

• RECEIVING—Clemson, A.Williams 4-37, Pace 4-22, B.Collins 3-54, D.Allen 2-44, D.Swinney 2-27, Taylor 2-23, Spector 2-11, Shipley 1-14, Briningstool 1-12, E.Williams 1-8, Ngata 1-7. Georgia Tech, McCollum 6-55, Jenkins 3-34, McDuffie 3-19, Smith 3-16, Hall 3-(minus 3), Carter 2-24, Benson 2-9, Rutherford 1-10.

• MISSED FIELD GOALS—Georgia Tech, Kelley 50.

Next Clemson game

• Who: Clemson (1-0) vs. Furman (1-0)

• When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

• Where: Memorial Stadium in Clemson

• TV: ACC Network