The Notes: No. 6 Clemson 14, Georgia Tech 8
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Clemson has now held three consecutive offenses without a touchdown for the first time since 1990 (Appalachian State, Duke and Georgia).
Clemson has now not allowed an offensive touchdown in all of the first three games of a season for the first time since 1950, when Clemson shut out Presbyterian, Missouri and NC State in the season's first three contests.
Per data available through Sports Reference, Clemson joined 2007 Iowa, 2008 Iowa and 2012 Florida State as the fourth team since 2000 to open the first three games of a season without allowing an offensive touchdown.
Clemson has now held opponents to 10 or fewer points five times in its last six games, dating to last season.
The game included a lightning delay of one hour and 52 minutes (including an observed halftime in that window), beginning at 5:03 p.m. ET and ending at 6:55 p.m. ET. It was the longest weather delay in Death Valley history.
Per Clemson historian and former SID Tim Bourret, the contest was Clemson’s fourth game at Death Valley ever to include a weather delay:
- Oct. 12, 1963 vs. Georgia: (20-minute halftime delay)
- Sept. 4, 1993 vs. UNLV: (17-minute fourth-quarter delay)
- Sept. 19, 2009 vs. Boston College: (55-minute third-quarter delay and a 48-minute fourth-quarter delay).
Clemson remains undefeated in games delayed by weather at Death Valley, improving to 3-0-1 in those contests.
Clemson’s 14 points were its fewest in a victory since it defeated Auburn by a 14-6 score in 2017.
Clemson opened the scoring on a three-yard touchdown run by Shipley.
With the touchdown, Shipley became the first Clemson true freshman with a rushing touchdown in back-to-back games since Lyn-J Dixon against Wake Forest and NC State in 2018.
Shipley added his second rushing touchdown on a three-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
In doing so, Shipley became the first Clemson player to rush for multiple touchdowns in multiple games as a true freshman since Travis Etienne (three) in 2017. He joined Etienne (three in 2017) and Deshaun Watson (two in 2014) as the only true freshmen to accomplish the feat in the Dabo Swinney era.
Shipley became the first Clemson true freshman with multiple rushing touchdowns in consecutive games since Etienne accomplished the feat against Florida State and The Citadel in 2017.
On a 13-yard fourth-quarter reception, wide receiver Justyn Ross (2,004) became the 16th player in school history to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.
Ross extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 30.
Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei completed 18-of-25 passes for 126 yards.
Uiagalelei also recorded a career-high 46 rushing yards on eight carries.
Clemson allowed zero sacks and has now held consecutive opponents without a sack for the first time since the 2018 season finale against Alabama and 2019 season opener against Georgia Tech.
Defensively, Clemson recorded a season-high four sacks.
Clemson’s four sacks were its most since posting six against Notre Dame in the 2020 ACC Championship Game.
Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee recorded a career-high 1.5 sacks.
Linebacker LaVonta Bentley added his first sack of the season.
Punter Will Spiers started his 59th game to add to his school record for career starts broken last week. Wide receiver/holder Will Swinney's career total as Clemson's primary holder also parallels Spiers' run as starting punter.
Spiers, Swinney and linebacker James Skalski each played in their 59th career games to tie the school record for most career games played shared by tight end Cannon Smith (2015-18), defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (2015-18), safety Tanner Muse (2016-19) and safety K'Von Wallace (2016-19).
Clemson played its first conference game of the season against the Yellow Jackets for the fourth time in a six-year span (2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021). Clemson is now 43-25-1 all-time in ACC season debuts, including a 11-2 mark against Georgia Tech in those games.
Captains for the contest were tight end Braden Galloway, offensive tackle Jordan McFadden, punter Will Spiers and safety Nolan Turner.