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GATECH |
CLEM |
Etienne's 3 TDs lead No. 1 Clemson past Georgia Tech, 52-14
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Travis Etienne spent all offseason trying to ignore the national attention headed his way. He'll have a harder time doing that after the show he put on in No. 1 Clemson's opener.
Etienne, the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, rushed for a career-high 205 yards and three touchdowns, including one from 90 yards out, as the Tigers overpowered Georgia Tech 52-14 Thursday night for their 16th straight victory in the opener for both ACC teams.
Etienne started slowly and had a first-quarter fumble to end a drive by the Tigers. The next time he touched the ball, the junior bounced to the left and outraced the Yellow Jackets to the end zone to tie the longest TD run in Clemson history.
Etienne added 14- and 48-yard rushing scores as Clemson went up 35-0. He averaged better than 17 yards on his 12 carries.
Still, Etienne brushed aside what this game might mean for him individually when Heisman Trophy voters are looking for performances like this.
''I really don't try to worry about who's out there watching,'' Etienne said. ''I try to play the best for my team and just try to get to 1-0 every week and be there for my brothers.''
Etienne was certainly there to lead the Tigers during a lackluster game for Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The 6-foot-6 sophomore, so poised and polished in leading the Tigers to a 15-0, title-winning season, threw two interceptions in the first half. Lawrence had just four picks all last year.
Still, Lawrence had his moments. His hustle after a bad interception knocked defensive back Tre Swilling out of bounds at the Clemson 3, and the Tigers defense kept the Yellow Jackets from scoring. Lawrence opened things with a 6-yard rushing score and threw a perfect pass to Tee Higgins for a 62-yard touchdown.
Lawrence finished 13 of 23 for 168 yards.
Lawrence knew when he released the ball that Swilling would pick it off. But he went back to his football training, took a good angle and made the play. He said his teammates were cheering his hustle play.
''They weren't happy I threw an interception, but just happy he didn't score,'' Lawrence said.
Georgia Tech, changing its offensive and defensive styles under first-year coach Geoff Collins, struggled on both sides. It committed four turnovers and gave up more than 500 yards of offense.
Early on, the Yellow Jackets muffed a punt that set up Clemson near its goal line for its first score. Swilling's pick set Tech up with a first-and-goal on the 3, but it could not score.
''We've just got learn to finish those things,'' Collins said.
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have some work to do to get all the option out of their system. Many of their offensive plays, especially in the first half, looked like the quarterback runs of former coach Paul Johnson.
Clemson: There were sloppy moments on both sides of the ball. But performers like Etienne, Lawrence and Higgins overshadowed any problems the Tigers might have.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Clemson came out fast and never let up. Expect the Tigers to remain No. 1, no matter how many points No. 2 Alabama or No. 3 Georgia hang on opponents this weekend.
TEACHING TIME
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was grateful for the win - and grateful he and his coaches will have their players' attention after some sloppy mistakes. Swinney said there were plenty of errors on all sides of the ball that will have to get fixed before No. 12 Texas A&M comes to Death Valley in 10 days. ''We can give them some truth,'' Swinney said. ''They have to receive the truth and we've got to get better.''
TURNOVER TIME
Clemson's defense picked up four turnovers, two fumbles and two interceptions, in the first game without eight starters off last year's national championship team - including its starting line of Dexter Lawrence, Austin Bryant and All-Americans Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins. The new unit also had two fourth-down stops in the opening half.
''I think we showed them a little something,'' said Clemson defensive back Denzel Johnson, who had one of the team's two interceptions.
UP NEXT
Georgia Tech hosts South Florida on Sept. 7.
Clemson remains at home to face No. 12 Texas A&M on Sept. 7.
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Copyright 2019 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 13 | 29 |
Rushing | 8 | 20 |
Passing | 5 | 9 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 5-16 | 6-12 |
4th Down Conv | 0-2 | 1-2 |
Total Net Yards | 280 | 632 |
Total Plays | 63 | 79 |
Avg Gain | 4.4 | 8.0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 157 | 411 |
Rush Attempts | 45 | 49 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.5 | 8.4 |
Yards Passing | 137 | 221 |
Comp. - Att. | 7-18 | 18-30 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.8 | 7.4 |
Penalties - Yards | 2-10 | 6-43 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 7 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 5 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 4 | 3 |
Fumbles - Lost | 3-2 | 1-1 |
Int. Thrown | 2 | 2 |
Punts - Avg | 8-43.1 | 3-40.0 |
Return Yards | 79 | 85 |
Punts - Returns | 1-0 | 1-8 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 3-40 | 3-58 |
Int. - Returns | 2-39 | 2-19 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. Graham
4 QB
|
J. Graham | 4/7 | 72 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Oliver
8 QB
|
T. Oliver | 3/9 | 65 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Johnson
7 QB
|
L. Johnson | 0/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Mason
27 RB
|
J. Mason | 13 | 72 | 1 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Oliver
8 QB
|
T. Oliver | 20 | 56 | 0 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Graham
4 QB
|
J. Graham | 4 | 15 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Howard Jr.
5 RB
|
J. Howard Jr. | 4 | 15 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ja. Griffin
22 RB
|
Ja. Griffin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Johnson
7 QB
|
L. Johnson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Cottrell
31 RB
|
N. Cottrell | 1 | -3 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Howard Jr.
5 RB
|
J. Howard Jr. | 0 | 2 | 57 | 0 | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Blancato
26 WR
|
J. Blancato | 0 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Brown
10 WR
|
A. Brown | 0 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Carter
15 WR
|
M. Carter | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Davis
9 TE
|
T. Davis | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mason
27 RB
|
J. Mason | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Sanders
12 WR
|
A. Sanders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ja. Camp
1 WR
|
Ja. Camp | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Thomas
1 DB
|
J. Thomas | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Thomas
25 LB
|
C. Thomas | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Owens
89 DL
|
A. Owens | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Bennett Jr
15 LB
|
C. Bennett Jr | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Carpenter
2 DB
|
T. Carpenter | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Curry
6 LB
|
D. Curry | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Oliver
22 DB
|
K. Oliver | 3-2 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Henderson
41 DL
|
J. Henderson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Walton
21 DB
|
Z. Walton | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Johnson
31 DB
|
K. Johnson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Jordan-Swilling
12 LB
|
B. Jordan-Swilling | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Swilling
3 DB
|
T. Swilling | 2-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Kerr
38 DB
|
A. Kerr | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Chimedza
93 DL
|
T. Chimedza | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Jackson
44 LB
|
Q. Jackson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Campbell
10 DB
|
C. Campbell | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Knight II
17 LB
|
D. Knight II | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Askew
33 DB
|
J. Askew | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Glanton
97 DL
|
B. Glanton | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Dolphus
21 WR
|
S. Dolphus | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brooks
86 DL
|
D. Brooks | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. King
14 DB
|
J. King | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Showell
13 DB
|
A. Showell | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Martin
96 DL
|
C. Martin | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
W. Wells
38 K
|
W. Wells | 0/0 | 0 | 2/2 | 2 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
P. Harvin III
27 P
|
P. Harvin III | 8 | 43.1 | 2 | 51 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
T. Lawrence
16 QB
|
T. Lawrence | 13/23 | 168 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Brice
7 QB
|
C. Brice | 5/7 | 53 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
T. Etienne
9 RB
|
T. Etienne | 12 | 205 | 3 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Dixon
23 RB
|
L. Dixon | 8 | 64 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Mellusi
27 RB
|
C. Mellusi | 6 | 36 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Dukes
19 RB
|
M. Dukes | 7 | 29 | 0 | 13 |