Clemson vs. Georgia Tech Postgame Notes

Oct. 23, 2010

Team Notes * Clemson’s four-play, 76-yard, 1:53 drive that resulted in an Andre Ellington touchdown in the first quarter was Clemson’s 15th scoring drive of less than two minutes this season. In fact, Clemson has had at least one scoring drive of less than two minutes in every game this season.

* Clemson’s fourth quarter drive of 7:36 is the longest drive this season. In fact, it was the longest drive since Dabo Swinney became head coach. Today was his 28th game as head coach. The last time Clemson had a drive that long was the 2008 NC State game when the Tigers had a drive that took 8:07 off the block in a 27-9 Clemson win.

* The Tigers ran 14 straight running plays that amassed 64 yards to set up a Chandler Catanzaro field goal on that drive and gave the Tigers the 27-13 lead.

* Clemson had its third straight game without a turnover today. It is the first time in history Clemson has had three consecutive games without a turnover. The Tigers now have 196 straight offensive plays without a turnover. The streak started after the Miami game, a contest in which the Tigers had six turnovers.

* Clemson won today’s game despite having 10 players stuck in an elevator at the team hotel in Anderson this morning. The players were stuck on the way to pregame meal at 11:30 AM. They remained in elevator until 12:15 PM. Fire fighters had to come to the hotel and break the door of the elevator to get the players out. “I told the guys to calm down,” said Swinney. “If we can get 33 miners out of a shaft in Chile we can get 10 football players out of an elevator in Anderson, SC.”

* The Tigers’ defense defended former Tiger quarterback Woodrow Dantzler’s ACC record for rushing yards in a career by a quarterback. Joshua Nesbitt needed just 44 rushing yards to break Dantzler’s record of 2,761 career rushing yards but was held to just two yards rushing by Clemson’s defense.

* Today’s win by a margin of victory of 14 points is the largest margin of victory in the Clemson-Georgia Tech series since 2006 when Clemson won 31-7. That was also the last time the Tigers defeated the Yellow Jackets.

* The Tiger defense held Georgia Tech to 325 yards and 13 points in today’s game. That is the fewest yards and points for Georgia Tech in a game this season. Oppositely, the Tigers racked up 403 yards of offense, the second-highest total Georgia Tech has allowed this season.

* Georgia Tech came into today’s game averaging 328 rushing yards per game. The Tigers held the Yellow Jackets well under that mark with 242 yards.

Individual Notes * Andre Ellington scored a touchdown on a 55-yard run in the first quarter, his third touchdown of more than 50 yards from scrimmage this season. He also has an 87-yard kickoff return for a score.

With that carry, Ellington went over the 1000 yard mark in his career on just his 151st carry. It is the second fewest carries to reach 1000 rushing yards in history. C.J. Spiller did it in just 142 carries..

* In the second quarter, Ellington rushed for a 42-yard touchdown. With that score, Ellington has now had four rushing touchdowns of at least 42 yards this season, which equals C.J. Spiller’s total in that category from the entire 2009 season.

* Ellington’s 166 rushing yards were a career high today. His previous high was 140 against Auburn earlier this year. It was his fourth 100-yardrushing game the year.

* Ellington also recorded the first touchdown reception of his career in the third quarter on a 10-yard pass from Kyle Parker. He now has 12 touchdowns this season, three more than Spiller had after seven games last year.

* Ellington finished today’s game with career-high in rushing yards (166) and all-purpose yards (257). His rushing total and all-purpose total were the high by a Clemson player since C.J. Spiller had 233 yards rushing and 301 all-purpose yards against Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game last year in Tampa.

* Andre Branch started at linebacker for the first time in his career. Malliciah Goodman and Jonathan Meeks also started for the first time in their respective careers. Goodman had a career high nine tackles to lead the Tigers.

* Kyle Parker threw the 28th touchdown pass of his career on a 10-yard pass to Ellington in the third quarter of today’s game. He is now tied for fifth all-time in Clemson history with Mile Eppley. Parker completed 17 of 27 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown pass in today’s game. That is a 63 percent completion mark, ahead of his 51 percent accuracy for the season entering today’s game.

* Da’Quan Bowers recorded his 10th sack of the season, which moves him into fourth place in Clemson history in sacks for a single season. He is tied with Jim Stuckey, Michael Dean Perry, and William Perry, who also recorded 10 sacks in a season during their respective careers. Bowers also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss in today’s game, which gives him 18 tackles for loss this season. He finished the game with a total of seven tackles and a quarterback hurry in today’s game.

* DeAndre McDaniel intercepted the 14th pass of his career in the fourth quarter of today’s game. McDaniel is now tied for third place all-time in Clemson history in career interceptions.

* Jonathan Meeks recorded a career-high seven tackles and added a pass breakup in his first career start in today’s game. His previous career-high was three tackles against North Texas earlier this season.