Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Clemson Tigers Match Player Stats On Oct 10, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 10, 2015

CLEMSON, S.C. - Quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns and Clemson's defense throttled Georgia Tech's potent option rushing attack Saturday afternoon in a 43-24 victory at Memorial Stadium.

The sixth-ranked Tigers improved to 5-0 and 2-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play while Georgia Tech slipped to 2-4, 0-3.

Clemson, which has led the Football Bowl Subdivision in tackles for loss each of the last two seasons, had 10 tackles for loss and held the Yellow Jackets to 57 yards rushing. Georgia Tech entered the game ranked sixth nationally with an average of 311 yards per game.

Clemson running back Wayne Gallman rushed for more than 100 yards for a third consecutive game and set the tone for the day when he swept left for a 66-yard touchdown run on the third play of the game. Gallman finished with 115 yards on 13 carries.

Clemson added a 21-yard Greg Huegel field goal for a 10-0 advantage before a fumble by the Tigers deep in their own territory resulted in a 39-yard field goal by Georgia Tech's Harrison Butker.

But Clemson scored again on a 1-yard touchdown run by Gallman, then recorded a safety on a bad snap on a Georgia Tech punt to push the lead to 17-3 by quarter's end. The Tigers outgained the Yellow Jackets 196-10 in the first quarter.

Watson completed nine consecutive passes during one stretch over the first and second quarters, the last snagged by tight end Jordan Leggett for a 29-yard touchdown and a 26-3 Clemson lead on the third play of the second quarter. Watson completed 21-of-30 passes in amassing his season-high yardage total.

Georgia Tech responded with a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Thomas to a wide-open Clinton Lynch to cut the Tigers' lead to 26-10 with 5:27 left in the first half, but the Tigers closed the half with a nine-play, 70-yard drive capped by a 16-yard scoring toss from Watson to Leggett that provided a 33-10 halftime cushion.

Clemson had 318 total yards at the half while holding the Yellow Jackets to 109 total yards, including 46 on the ground.

In the second half, senior running back Zac Brooks scored on a 35-yard run and senior placekicker Ammon Lakip added a 42-yard field goal for Clemson.

The Yellow Jackets had two second-half touchdowns - the first coming when defensive tackle Adam Gotsis recovered a fumble in the end zone after a bad snap by Clemson and the second via a 46-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Ricky Jeune with 8:52 remaining.

NOTES: Clemson RB Wayne Gallman rushed for more than 100 yards for a third consecutive game, becoming the first Clemson running back to accomplish that since Andre Ellington in 2011-12. ... Clemson K Ammon Lakip, who was suspended for the Tigers' first three games, made his first field goal this season when he converted from 42 yards with 12:07 left in the game. ... Georgia Tech junior QB Justin Thomas has thrown a touchdown pass in 10 consecutive games. ... Saturday's game was the 100th for Paul Johnson as Georgia Tech's coach; he's 60-40 in eight seasons.