[ad_1]
CLEMSON – This is not the first time that Dabo's Swinney is at the top of The Hill.
But things have changed for Clemson coach since the last time he got up, looking closely at the Valley of Death.
He is the architect of two of the last three national champions.
It's a national celebrity.
He is at the top of the world of college football.
Thursday night, Swinney rubbed the Howard's Rock and went away, sprinting at top speed on the slope and on the pitch. The Tigers followed his lead and took care of the rest by beating Georgia Tech for a 52-14 win.
Traitsman Travis Etienne had 205 yards and three touchdowns in 12 races. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence counted for two scores (one fast, one throw). And Clemson's defense has imposed four turnovers, putting an end to Georgia Tech's offensive attack.
The Tigers celebrated their 2018 National Championship before the game. A banner was lifted. The hype music hit the sound system. The stadium shook.
The crowd fell asleep as the eruption continued. The roars that previously accompanied the passes caught and the tackles were melted into scattered applause.
And yet, Clemson fans dressed in orange stayed in their shoes. It was a weekday night, of course. But responsibilities could wait. The view from the top is beautiful.
What went well?
Etienne was not the only Tigers to come back for a big party. The sophomore Lyn-J Dixon had 64 yards and one touchdown in eight races, and Lawrence had the ball three times for 24 yards and a first-quarter score. Darius Rencher, Michael Dukes and Chez Mellusi have been rushing for 21, 29 and 36 yards, respectively.
Clemson may have new faces on the defensive line, but four seniors are offensive. The group worked in sync Thursday, opening holes left, right and center, and Clemson finished with 411 yards rushing. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, recorded 157 rushing yards.
That's what did not go well
Lawrence sometimes looked brilliant, but he made some questionable decisions. He was intercepted twice in the first half, including one just before half-time.
The second year has done a lot of good things and it is probably too early to sound the alarm bell. But after a sensational first year season, we're counting on Lawrence to lead the Tigers to another run in the playoffs. He will need to clean up the mistakes as the level of competition improves.
Lawrence finished 13-for-23 for a total of 168 yards. His touchdown was a 62-yard pass to Tee Higgins in the second quarter. He then left the spotlight to save Chase Brice, who had 53 yards and one touchdown for five assists in 7. Rookie Taisun Phommachanh came in late and ran five times for 21 yards.
turning
Before things escalated, Georgia Tech had Clemson on his heels. Towards the middle of the first quarter, the Tigers were called to a 10-yard penalty on arrival, a first and a score.
Then, Lawrence gave way to Etienne, who bounced on the left side, following the lead of offensive tackle Jackson Carman. Carman tied Georgia Tech's solitary defender with a shot on Etienne, allowing the attacking halfback to score 90 yards for a goal, giving Clemson a 14-0 lead.
It was only the first quarter, but the Etienne race inflamed Clemson's followers. Georgia Tech could not find its way from there.
Look to the front
Clemson will host next week's Texas No. 12 A & M in what should be one of the toughest Tigers challenges of the regular season. The Aggies junior quarterback, Kellen Mond, will try to beat Lawrence and make him one of the best signalmen in the country.
Follow Joshua Needelman on Twitter @joshneedelman.
[ad_2]
Source link