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THE FLATS — Georgia Tech was limited to 203 yards of total offense by Clemson’s formidable defense and fell to the No. 3/2-ranked Tigers, 49-21, on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Georgia Tech looked poised to jump out to an early lead when it marched 59 yards to the Clemson 16 on the opening drive of the game but a penalty, fumble, sack and another penalty pushed the Yellow Jackets out of field-goal range. After the teams exchanged punts, another disastrous sequence followed for the Jackets with a fumble, sack and another fumble, the latter of which was recovered by Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell in the end zone to give the Tigers a 7-0 advantage.
From that point, Tech managed just 70 yards over its next seven possessions and fell into a 42-7 hole. The Jackets scored on two of their final four possessions to eclipse the 20-point mark for the 108th time in head coach Paul Johnson’s 133 games as head coach.
Georgia Tech (1-3, 0-2 ACC) looks to rebound next Saturday when it hosts Bowling Green at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.
Clinton Lynch led Georgia Tech with three receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Postgame Notes
- Georgia Tech lost for only the second time in its last 11 home games.
- Georgia Tech fell to 5-2 in its last seven home games against Clemson.
- Georgia Tech fell to 50-31-2 all-time against Clemson.
- Georgia Tech fell to 3-30-2 all-time against teams ranked among the nation’s top three.
- Georgia Tech’s second-quarter touchdown (an 11-yard run by QB TaQuon Marshall with 2:08 to go in the period) was the first touchdown scored against Clemson in the first half of any game this season.
- With two interceptions on the day, Georgia Tech has intercepted five passes in four games this season. The Yellow Jackets had six interceptions in 11 games last season.
- Georgia Tech was outrushed (248-146) for only the 19th time in 133 games under Johnson.
- Georgia Tech fumbled eight times (lost one). The eight fumbles are tied for the second-most fumbles in a game in school history (record: 9 at Miami, Nov. 21, 2015).
Individual Notes
- BB Jerry Howard and So. CB Ajani Kerr both made their first-career starts for Georgia Tech.
- QB TaQuon Marshall scored the 23rd rushing touchdown of his career in the second quarter to move alone into third place all-time for rushing touchdowns by a Georgia Tech QB – 1: Tevin Washington (2009-12) – 38; 2: Joshua Nesbitt (2007-10) – 35; 3: TaQuon Marshall (2015-pres.) – 23; 4: Justin Thomas (2013-16) – 22.
- Marshall has scored at least one rushing touchdown in 13 of his 15 career starts, including all four games this season.
- DL Desmond Branch recorded the first interception of his career in the second quarter.
- In the 26th game of his career, Jr. AB Nathan Cottrell scored his first-career touchdown on a two-yard run in the third quarter.
- DB Malik Rivera recorded his second interception of the season in the fourth quarter. He had just one interception in three seasons (28 games) at Wofford before arriving at Georgia Tech as a graduate transfer prior to this season.
- QB Tobias Oliver threw the first touchdown pass of his career on a five-yard pass to Sr. AB Clinton Lynch in the fourth quarter. Oliver’s 23-yard pass to Lynch earlier in the touchdown drive was the first completion of his career.
Junior Nathan Cottrell scored the first touchdown of his career on a two-yard run in the third quarter.
ACC Digital Network highlights (Video)
Head coach Paul Johnson postgame press conference (Video)
Georgia Tech student-athletes postgame press conference (Video)
Head coach Paul Johnson postgame press conference (Audio)
