Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Clemson Tigers Match Player Stats On Oct 28, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 28, 2017

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Quarterback Kelly Bryant passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns as No. 7 Clemson defeated Georgia Tech 24-10 in an ACC game Saturday night.

Bryant, who was returning to action for the first time since suffering a concussion in Clemson's loss at Syracuse on Oct. 13, showed no lingering effects from that head injury nor an ankle injury that knocked him out of the Wake Forest game Oct. 7.

Bryant also rushed 12 times for 67 yards, leading the Tigers in rushing for the third time this season.

Clemson, which is 14-1 in night games over the past two seasons, improved to 7-1, 5-1 ACC while beating Georgia Tech (4-3, 3-2) for the fifth time in their last six meetings.

Coach Dabo Swinney is 5-1 against Georgia Tech at Memorial Stadium, with the lone defeat coming in the seventh game of the 2008 season, five days after Swinney was named the Tigers' interim head coach.

Swinney moved into a tie for fifth place with his 96th ACC victory, sharing that spot with two former Clemson coaches -- Danny Ford and Frank Howard. Swinney and Ford have 96 wins and 29 losses, but Ford's record also includes four ties.

Ford, who guided Clemson to its first national title in 1981, was honored before the game for his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Once the game began in a steady rain, it was all Clemson. The Tigers scored on their second play from scrimmage, bolted to a 21-3 halftime lead before turning the game over to a stingy defense.

Clemson held Georgia Tech, which entered the game second nationally in rushing at 372.8 yards per game, to 198 yards on the ground and 230 total yards, with 103 of those coming in the final quarter.

Bryant passed for two touchdowns in the first half and was on target from the outset, connecting with wide receiver Deon Cain for a 38-yard touchdown on the Tigers' second play from scrimmage.

After Georgia Tech recovered a fumble at its own 26-yard line, KirVonte Benson broke free for a 65-yard run to set up a 25-yard field goal by Brenton King four plays later.

But Clemson answered quickly, driving 55 yards in eight plays and scoring on a 20-yard pass from Bryant to tight end Milan Richard. It was the first touchdown reception of his career for Richard, whose uncle -- former University of Georgia All-American and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker -- was among the crowd at Clemson's Memorial Stadium.

Clemson extended its lead to 21-3 late in the first half, driving 71 yards in 10 plays to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Travis Etienne with 3:26 left.

Bryant finished the half 14 of 19 for 149 yards through the air. He also had 62 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Clemson, which was off last week, also flexed its defensive muscle in the opening half, holding the Yellow Jackets to three first downs and 110 total yards. The Tigers had seven tackles for loss, including two sacks.

Benson had 120 yards rushing on 12 attempts for Georgia Tech, but the rest of the offense totaled minus-10 yards.

NOTES: Clemson LB Dorian O'Daniel has33 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks in four career games against Georgia Tech. ... DE Austin Bryant has a team-leading 13.5 tackles for loss. ... Georgia Tech RB KirVonte Benson's 65-yard run in the first quarter was the longest of his career and the longest allowed by Clemson's defense this season. ... QB TaQuon Marshall has 11 rushing touchdowns this season and is only the third quarterback in Tech history to rush for double-digit touchdowns in a single season. ... DT Antonio Simmons forced a fumble to end Clemson's second possession, his team-best second forced fumble of the season.