Clemson vs. Georgia Tech Notes

Clemson Team Notes

• Tonight marks the first time Clemson has left Grant Field with a perfect record since 1903. Previously, the Tigers lost their last 11 times when entering the game in Atlanta against the Yellow Jackets with a perfect record.
• The Tigers snapped a five-game losing skid in the series in Bobby Dodd Stadium. Clemson’s last win in Atlanta prior to Thursday came in 2003, when co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott was a senior wide receiver for the Tigers.
• Clemson scored a safety for the second straight year against Georgia Tech. In the 2015 game at Memorial Stadium, Jadar Johnson blocked a punt in the Tigers’ 43-24 win.
• Clemson ran 56 plays in the opening half, compared to just 21 for Georgia Tech.
• The Tigers held the Yellow Jackets to just 124 yards of total offense Thursday, lowest figure by a Paul Johnson coached Georgia Tech team.
• Clemson is now 71-6 under head coach Dabo Swinney win outgaining the opponent in total offense.
• The Tigers are now 65-7 all time under Swinney when leading at halftime and 70-4 when leading heading into the fourth quarter.

Clemson Individual Notes

• Deshaun Watson passed for a season-high 304 yards Thursday, on 32 completions.
• Watson led the Tigers to a touchdown on their opening possession, making it nine straight over the course of Clemson’s three games. The streak ended on a missed field goal on Clemson’s second possession.
• Watson completed his 500th career pass in the second quarter to Mike Williams.
• Watson now has a 22-2 record as Clemson’s starting quarterback.
• Williams scored his first touchdown of the season on a perfect four-yard fade on Clemson’s opening possession. It was his first score since the opening possession of the 2015 season, when he suffered a neck injury that forced him to miss the season.
• Ray-Ray McCloud posted the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, matching his previous best with eight catches Thursday.
• Jordan Leggett entered the game with just one catch on the season, but had four in the first half of play, including his first touchdown on a nine-yard strike from Watson.
• Leggett tied John Mcmakin (1969-71), Dwayne Allen (2009-11) and Brandon Ford (2009-12) for the Clemson tight end record with his 12th career touchdown catch.
• Freshman wideout Cornell Powell caught a season-high five passes.
• Wayne Gallman scored his 20th career rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
• Adam Choice had his top rush of the season, a 16-yard scamper in the second quarter.
• Carlos Watkins’ first-quarter sack was the 500th tackle for loss recorded under defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who joined the Clemson coaching staff in 2012.
• Dorian O’Daniel recorded his first sack of the season, and first since the 2014 season. Both sacks have come against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
• Van Smith intercepted his first pass of the season in the fourth quarter, returning it into Georgia Tech territory.
• Greg Huegel matched his career long with a 47-yard field goal.