ATLANTA — Overcoming a sloppy, slow start that was all too familiar, No. 4 Clemson rolled past Georgia Tech 41-10 on Monday night as the Tigers look to return to the top of the ACC after falling short of expectations in 2021 .Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who came under scrutiny in the offseason after a lackluster sophomore campaign, was 19 of 32 passing for 209 yards and a touchdown. The junior also added a big 9-yard touchdown run with 1:43 to play in the third quarter to take a 24-10 lead, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Yellow Jackets.
A scoreless game after one quarter with both sets of offenses battling out of the gate, the first spark of the night came from Clemson’s Carson Donnelly, who blocked a Georgia Tech punt and returned it to the 5 yard line. That set up a four-play touchdown drive that ended with Will Shipley’s 1-yard touchdown run to finally put the Tigers on the scoreboard.
Uiagalelei stepped up on the next drive when he led the Tigers on an eight-play drive and threw his only touchdown pass of the night — a 6-yard pass to Beaux Collins in the back of the end zone to make it 14. 0.
Georgia Tech had its chances, though. Quarterback Jeff Sims found EJ Jenkins for a 13-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter to cut the score to 14-10. However, the Tigers’ defensive front kept the Yellow Jackets from holding for most of the night. Sims completed 23 of 36 passes for 164 yards, a touchdown, an interception and 41 yards rushing.
CBS Sports will update this story shortly with takeaways from tonight’s game…