No. 8 Clemson knocks off No. 5 Georgia in shootout in the Valley |
CLEMSON – A ton of yards and points were expected between Clemson and Georgia Saturday night in the season opener, and the teams didn’t disappoint as No. 8 Clemson claimed a 38-35 victory over No. 5 Georgia in Death Valley, the highest-scoring contest in the series.
Tajh Boyd The win was Clemson’s second straight over a Top 10 team from the SEC. The teams traded three-and-outs to open the game, but the Tigers got the early lead on their second drive on a four-yard keeper by Boyd. The Tigers ran the ball six times on a drive that covered nine plays and 78 yards, and led 7-0 at the 9:29 mark. It took Georgia exactly one play and 12 seconds to answer as Todd Gurley took the handoff on the first play from scrimmage and went almost untouched on a 75-yard scoring run, tying the score at 7-7. The run was a career-long for Gurley. It then took Clemson – you guessed it – one play and 12 seconds to score when Boyd hit Watkins over the middle at midfield, and Watkins outraced the defense down the field for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead. The pass was the longest pass in Boyd’s career and longest reception in Watkins’ career. The Bulldogs kept the madness and the momentum going, capping an 11-play drive with a four-yard scoring plunge by Keith Marshall, tying the score at 14. Georgia forced a Clemson punt, and then marched down the field again – making it look all too easy against the Tigers – and the Bulldogs capped the drive on a one-yard plunge by fullback Quayvon Hicks, giving Georgia a 21-14 lead. The Clemson offense then went to sleep, but the Tiger defense responded with its best effort of the first half on the next two drives.
Vic Beasley Boyd made the Bulldogs pay for the first turnover of the night with a two-yard run to pay dirt, tying the score at 21-21 with just under four minutes remaining in the half. The Clemson defense then forced a Georgia three-and-out, but Watkins muffed the catch on the punt and Georgia took over at the Clemson 30-yard line. However, Murray’s first throw was intercepted by defensive end
Corey Crawford The Clemson defense forced a punt on Georgia’s opening possession of the second half, and Clemson’s offense finally got back in synch. A key play on the drive came on a 4th-and-inches play, and instead of running Boyd, Morris called for a pass to
Charone Peake Clemson forced a Georgia fourth down on the ensuing possession, but the Bulldogs faked and picked up the first down, then scored four plays later on a 12-yard run by Gurley that tied the score at 28-28 with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Chandler Catanzaro However, the review showed that Seckinger stretched out across the goal line and Clemson led 38-28 with just under eight minutes remaining in the game. Georgia advanced to near midfield, but was forced to punt, and the Tigers were able to run the clock down to the 2:30 mark before Pinion punted to the Georgia 36 yard line. It didn’t take Murray and the Dogs long to score, with Murray capping off a quick drive with a one-yard plunge that made it 38-35 with 1:19 remaining on the game clock. The Bulldogs were out of timeouts, however, and the onside kick attempt was recovered by the Tigers, who ran out the clock. 
Tajh Boyd
RS Sr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
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threw for 270 yards, Roderick McDowell rushed for a career-high 132 yards and
Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
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had six catches for 127 yards as Clemson rolled up 467 yards of total offense. Georgia was also explosive offensively, gaining 544 total yards. Georgia’s Todd Gurley rushed 12 times for 154 yards. 
Vic Beasley
RS Jr. Defensive End
#3 6-3, 225
Adairsville, GA
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ended the first drive by burying Murray in the turf for a sack that forced a punt, and on the ensuing possession
Stephone Anthony
Stephone Anthony
Jr. Linebacker
#42 6-2, 235
Polkton, NC
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stripped Murray of the football and it was recovered by
Spencer Shuey
Spencer Shuey
Gr. Linebacker
#33 6-3, 230
Charlotte, NC
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at the Georgia 16 yard line. 
Corey Crawford
Jr. Defensive End
#93 6-5, 270
Columbus, GA
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– who sat back in a zone blitz situation – and the Tigers had the ball back with 2:08 remaining in the half. However, they were unable to gain a first down and the half ended with the 21-21 tie. 
Charone Peake
Jr. Wide Receiver
#19 6-3, 200
Moore, SC
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, who battled for the conversion. A play later, Boyd hit running back
Zac Brooks
Zac Brooks
So. Running Back
#24 6-1, 185
Jonesboro, AR
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on a wheel route down the sideline for a 31-yard touchdown and a 28-21 Clemson lead. 
Chandler Catanzaro
Gr. Punter / Kicker
#39 6-2, 195
Greenville, SC
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ended Clemson’s next possession with a 24-yard field goal for a 31-28 lead, and Clemson’s defense continued to harass Murray and hold, but a Georgia punt pinned Clemson deep at its own 13-yard line. Boyd led the Tigers down the field – mixed in with runs by Brooks and McDowell – but the drive appeared to stall inside the Georgia five when tight end
Stanton Seckinger
Stanton Seckinger
RS So. Tight End
#81 6-4, 210
Isle of Palms, SC
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was ruled out of bounds at the two yard line on a fourth down play.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
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