Big plays spark a big lead for Tigers at halftime

The No.1 ranked Clemson Tigers wasted little time showing the college football world that last season was not a fluke

CLEMSON— The No.1 ranked Clemson Tigers wasted little time showing the college football world that last season was not a fluke, as they dominated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first half of the opening game of the 2019 season by a score of 28-0

The defense that was questioned all offseason long, after losing four starter on the line, showed they were up the challenge—as they allowed 107 yards and no points to the Yellow Jackets.

On their first series of the season, the Yellow Jackets forced a three-and-out. However, the Yellow Jackets immediately gave the ball back to the Tigers when Jalen Camp muffed the 42-yard punt of Will Spiers and gave the ball to the Tigers on the Yellow Jacket 16-yard line.

The Tigers made the Yellow Jackets pay, as quarterback Trevor Lawrence scored from 6 yards outs and capped a five-play, 16-yard drive that gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

The Tiger defense forced a punt on the Yellow Jackets' opening possession, however gave the ball back to the Yellow Jackets after Travis Etienne fumbled the ball on the Tigers' 41-yard line.

However, the Tiger defense once again held the Yellow Jackets, and, after a second punt of the game, took over at their own 20.

A false start penalty on first down negated a 22-yard run by Lawrence. But Etienne made up for his mistake on the previous drive, as he scored on a career-long, 90-yard run that capped a one-play drive that extended the lead to 14-0.

After both teams exchange punts, Clemson once again benefited from a Yellow Jacket turnover. 

After a 43-yard punt by Spiers pinned the Yellow Jackets on their own 9-yard line, a fumble on third-and-1 gave the Tigers the ball at the Yellow Jacket 14-yard line. 

The Tigers need only one-play and three seconds to extend their lead to 21-0 after Etienne's second touchdown run of the half.

The Tigers continued their, somewhat, sloppy play on their next drive. 

After holding the Yellow Jackets on fourth-and-1, Lawrence threw his first interception of the season to Trey Swilling—who returned the interception 41 yards to the Tigers' 2-yard line.

After the Yellow Jackets were unable to punch the ball in the end zone on three straight plays, they chose to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal. But Tiger safety Denzel Johnson had other ideas, as he recorded his first career interception and ended the threat.

The Tigers corrected their issues on the ensuing drive. Back-to-back 7-yard runs by Etienne moved the ball to the Tiger 17-yard line, and Lyn-J Dixon added 21 yards on the ground and moved the ball to the Tiger 38-yard line. The drive ended one play later when Lawrence found Tee Higgins for a 62-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 28-0.

Lawrence ended the first half throwing his second interception of the night as time expired.