No. 12 Clemson fell behind 13-0 to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first half, but notched a 16-play scoring drive that cut the home team’s lead to one score.
Cade Klubnik has been up-and-down throughout. Through the first couple of drives, he looked in rhythm and was able to find receivers on time. However, a critical fumble led to GT’s first points of the day.
The Jackets started the day with a physical drive that featured power runs from quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes. Clemson stopped that possession when cornerback Richardo Jones blew up a screen pass on a 4th-and-2 from the Tigers’ 4 yard line.
Klubnik’s fumble on the subsequent possession set up Georgia Tech, who got on the board with a 40-yard field goal by Aidan Birr. A fire blitz by linebacker Wade Woodaz forced an incompletion from King on the 3rd down.
Clemson drove into Yellow Jacket territory, as Klubnik settled in. A Nolan Hauser 52-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right, and GT kept their 3-0 lead.
King and the Georgia Tech offense kept their foot on the gas. A 42-yard connection to wide receiver Eric Rivers set up a 5-yard Jamal Haynes touchdown run. Bobby Dodd Stadium erupted, and Clemson had its work cut out for them.
A 3-and-out by the Tigers was followed by a Yellow Jackets field goal. The game was teetering on the edge of a blowout, but Klubnik and the Clemson offense responded. CU’s senior signal-caller leapt over the goal line and a pile of players from a yard out, punctuating a 16-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to cut the lead to 13-7 before halftime.
Looking ahead to the second half, the Tigers must continue to stay in rhythm with the passing game. Adam Randall has also flashed in the run game (8 carries for 51 yards, including a 30-yard scamper on Clemson’s touchdown drive), and should be used more than usual. In the end, though, the game will likely hinge on the play (and consistency) of Cade Klubnik.
