Clemson Tigers vs Georgia Bulldogs Match Player Stats On Aug 30, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 30, 2014

No. 12 Georgia 45, No. 16 Clemson 21: Todd Gurley accounted for a career-high 293 total yards and four touchdowns as the host Bulldogs topped the Tigers in both teams' season opener.

Gurley ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score, going in virtually untouched on all four of his TDs. The junior standout carried the load for Georgia (1-0) while senior Hutson Mason, beginning his first full year as the team's starter, threw for just 131 yards and no touchdowns on 26 attempts.

Clemson (0-1) also has a senior in his first year as a full-time starter, and Cole Stoudt finished 15-of-28 for 130 yards with an interception. Mike Williams had a game-high 88 receiving yards for the Tigers while C.J. Davidson contributed 66 yards and a TD on the ground.

Georgia fell behind 7-0 early in the first quarter before Gurley sprinted around left tackle for a 23-yard score to forge a 7-7 tie. Mason tacked on a 2-yard TD run late in the period, but the Tigers answered with a pair of second-quarter scores to go ahead by a touchdown.

Gurley altered the momentum for good with his kickoff return for a score - a sprint up the middle of the Clemson kick coverage - with 7:15 to play in the first half. He then broke open a tight game early in the fourth with an 18-yard TD run on a cutback up the middle and piled on with a 51-yard gallop down the right sideline to make it 45-21 with 7:34 to go.

GAME NOTEBOOK: In between Gurley's two fourth-quarter TDs, Georgia RB Nick Chubb had a 47-yard touchdown run. In all, that stretch saw Georgia score 21 points in less than three minutes. ... Gurley's previous career high was 154 yards, set in last year's loss to Clemson. ... While Gurley had 293 total yards, Clemson finished with 291 as a team. He also outrushed the Tigers by himself, 198-102.