Final: Clemson 33, Louisiana Tech 13

The Clemson defense picked off Luke McCown three times and Aaron Hunt had a career high four field goals as Clemson defeated Louisiana Tech 33-13 Saturday in Death Valley.

Yusef Kelly’s two touchdown runs highlighted an exciting first half as Clemson leads Louisiana Tech 17-13 at halftime. The Tigers took the lead on the game’s first drive. Brian Mance returned the opening kickoff 31 yards and the offense marched 55 yards in 10 plays, capped by Kelly’s 1-yard touchdown run.

Louisiana Tech seized momentum midway through the quarter when Booker T. Washington blocked Wynn Kopp’s punt and Ryan Motes recovered the ball on the 13-yard line. Josh Scobee kicked a 21-yard field goal to get the Bulldogs on the board.

On Clemson’s next possession, Adam McConathy stripped Ben Hall and Michael Johnson recovered to give Louisiana Tech possession on the Clemson 44. Scobee then booted a 51-yard field goal seven plays later to make it a 7-6 score.

The Tigers answered with Aaron Hunt 47-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-6. On the ensuing kickoff, Chad Jasmin. Jasmin was stopped short of the first down, and Louisiana Tech gained possession.

The Tiger defense stopped the Bulldogs on three plays, and Rony Delusme blocked a punt to give Clemson possession on the 17-yard line. Kelly scored on another touchdown run, this one from 6 yards, to put his team on top 17-6.

With Louisiana Tech driving, Brian Mance intercepted a tipped pass on the Clemson 33-yard line. But the Bulldogs came back just before halftime with a 10-play, 61-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Joe Smith.

Hunt kicked his second field goal of the game for the only scoring in the third quarter. The placekicker started the scoring early in the fourth with a 38-yard field goal to make the score 23-13, and added his career high fourth field goal of the game with 11:49 left to give the Tigers a 26-13 advantage.

Louisiana Tech drove the ball down the field but faced 4th-and-7 on the 15-yard line. The defense came up big once again as cornerback Justin Miller intercepted a pass in the endzone. It was a big day for the freshman, who also caught a pass on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

On Tech’s next drive, defensive end Mo Fountain made his first career interception and returned the ball 43 yards to the Bulldog 6-yard line. Kelly then punched in his third touchdown of the game to give Clemson an insurmountable 33-13 lead with 4:09 remaining.

Simmons sizes up the situation. Kelly looks for a hole.Kelly runs in his second touchdown of the game.

Simmons is sacked by the Bulldog defense.

Safety Eric Meekins blocks to spring Derrick Hamilton.

Aaron Hunt kicks one of his four field goals on the day.

Louisiana Tech’s Joe Smith looks for daylight.

Simmons rears back and fires a strike.

Brian Mance gets inon the run-stopping action.

Moe Fountain returns his first career interception in the fourth quarter.