CLEMSON, S.C. — Placekicker Nolan Hauser converted a career-high-tying five field goals and Clemson’s defense forced eight three-and-outs as the Tigers (1-1) outlasted Georgia Southern (1-1), 22-7, in a weather-delayed game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday that concluded at 1:07 a.m. ET Sunday.
The game was subject to a nearly two-hour pregame lightning delay, resulting in the latest home kickoff time in program history just after 9:30 p.m. ET. It was Clemson’s second straight game with a pregame lightning delay after its season opener at LSU was delayed roughly two hours.
Junior T.J. Moore led the offense with 103 receiving yards on seven receptions with a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds entered in the first quarter and threw for 178 yards on 16-of-27 passing. Defensive end Will Heldt recorded three tackles for loss with 2.0 sacks, and Ashton Hampton recorded three breakups and two tackles on the night.
After the long delay, Clemson struck first, scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Christopher Vizzina to Moore. The touchdown was set up by Clemson long snapper Jackson Reach, who recorded his first career fumble recovery on a muffed punt following the Tigers’ first drive. Clemson’s ensuing touchdown drive lasted seven plays to put the Tigers up 7-0.
Clemson held the Eagles to 111 yards and six three-and-outs in the first half. Heldt recorded his first sack of the season to force a three-and-out on Georgia Southern’s first possession, and he added his second sack of the game in the second quarter to record his first multi-sack game as a Tiger.
At the start of the second quarter, Hauser successfully completed a field goal attempt from 20 yards, putting the Tigers up 10-0. With 4:54 left in the second quarter, Georgia Southern scored its lone touchdown of the game when Max Johnson completed a 42-yard pass to Ashton Hollins. A 38-yard field goal by Hauser as time expired in the second quarter made the score 16-7 in Clemson’s favor entering halftime.
The second half saw both teams trading possessions in a scoreless third quarter. Clemson’s defense forced Georgia Southern to attempt a 53-yard fourth-quarter field goal, but the kick was short and gave the Clemson offense the ball on the Clemson 36.
The Tigers resumed the scoring with a 50-yard field goal by Hauser with 6:26 left in the game. Hauser followed that up with another successful field goal, this one his career-high-tying fifth of the game, a 49-yarder that put the Tigers ahead 22-7 with 3:10 to play.
Georgia Southern drove 72 yards on 11 plays on its final drive, but Clemson stopped the Eagles on downs from its own three-yard line, giving the Tigers possession and the ability to kneel out the clock.
Clemson returns to Memorial Stadium next week for its conference opener against North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff for that ACC contest is slated for noon ET on ESPN.