By JJ MARSHALL

jjm023@latech.edu

 

Tech ended a tough pre-conference schedule last Saturday with a 51-0 loss to the 18th-ranked Clemson Tigers in front of 81,000 people at Memorial Stadium.

In a game where the Bulldogs could only manage 33 yards on the ground, Clemson had three players rush for over 100 yards.

“Clemson is a great team,” Tech head coach Jack Bicknell said. “I hate comparing teams, but they are the best we’ve played this year by far. They are unbelievably quick and very physical.”

The Tigers were able to average 9.6 yards per carry on 41 attempts throughout the game.

Clemson threw the ball only 17 times, but two of those passes went for touchdowns.

Running back James Davis led the Tigers with 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Tech only trailed by ten after one quarter, but the Tigers added another 21 points in the second quarter, highlighted by a Chansi Stuckey touchdown catch.

The Bulldog’s best chance to score came late in the second quarter inside the Clemson five-yard line. But, Tech turned the ball over on downs and ended the first half trailing by 31 points.

Bulldog starting quarterback Zac Champion completed 20 of 35 pass attempts for 194 yards, and also spread the ball to eight different receivers to lead Tech in the contest.

He also threw three interceptions and was sacked three times.

Wide receiver Eric Newman set new career-highs in receptions and yards with nine catches for 101 yards in the outing.

Newman has now caught a pass in 14 consecutive games, dating back to last season.

Linebacker Brannon Jackson had a career-high nine tackles to lead the Bulldog defense, while Daniel Porter came off the bench to run for 58 yards on 10 carries.

Tech drops to 1-3 with the loss,  with each loss coming at the hands of BCS schools, with two of the three losses coming to ranked opponents.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday in their Western Athletic Conference opener at Boise State at 7 p.m.

Clemson will travel to Wake Forest this weekend for a meeting with the Demon Deacons.