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Scoring recap: No. 1 Georgia defeats Clemson in Atlanta

chapel fowler
·6 min read

It’s time for Clemson and Georgia in Atlanta.

The State’s Chapel Fowler is on site at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, providing live updates here and on X (@chapelfowler) as the No. 14 Tigers try to upset the No. 1 Bulldogs in the 2024 Aflac Kickoff game and season opener for both teams.

Q4: Georgia 34, Clemson 3

Cash Jones scores a touchdown on a 15-yard run to give Georgia a 31-point lead with 6:09 to go. The driver started after a Cade Klubnik interception, the first of the day for the Clemson QB. The Georgia drive went 78 yards, the longest of the day.

Q4: Georgia 27, Clemson 3

Georgia opens up a 24-point lead on a 40-yard touchdown pass from QB Carson Beck to London Humphreys. There are about 10 minutes left in the game.

Q3: Georgia 20, Clemson 3

Georgia is cruising. The Bulldogs just rolled down the field for a second straight touchdown. Running back Nate Frazier punches it in from a yard out. 3:15 to go in Q3.

Q3: Georgia 13, Clemson 3

The Tigers are on the board. A solid 12-play, 66-yard drive ends with a 26-yard field goal from true freshman Nolan Hauser. Clemson got as close as UGA’s 6 but the next two plays were a Cade Klubnik loss of 3 on a run and an incomplete pass.

6:34 to go in the third quarter.

Q3: Georgia 13, Clemson 0

Danger zone for the Tiger. UGA just cruised down on its first drive of the second half (six plays, 75 yards) and scored a short TD as Carson Beck found Colbie Young on a fade route. The Bulldogs wanted to go for two but had a false start, so they took the PAT. If Clemson’s offense doesn’t get going, this could be messy.

Halftime: Georgia 6, Clemson 0

To be down six points through two quarters against the preseason No. 1 team: Not bad. But the Tigers’ offense punted on all five drives, and that group isn’t inspiring much confidence at all. The defense can only hold for so long.

A missed opportunity late as Clemson’s defense forced a punt with about 56 seconds left ... but with no timeouts, the Tigers could not stop the clock. UGA punted with eight seconds to go and Clemson kneeled it out to end the half.

Q2: Georgia 6, Clemson 0

UGA kicker Peyton Woodring nails one from 55 yards out and the Bulldogs go up 6-0 on Clemson with 4:16 until halftime. Two good drives in a row leading to at least some points for Georgia. Clemson’s offense has not crossed the 50-yard line in four drives so far.

Q2: Georgia 3, Clemson 0

The Bulldogs are on the board with a short field goal from kicker Peyton Woodring (30 yards) and lead Clemson 3-0 with 8:49 to go before half. That was a 12-play drive that came up short of the end zone ... mostly because of a huge third down sack by Clemson DE Peter Woods in the red zone.

End Q1: Clemson 0, Georgia 0

We’re even through one quarter here so far. Clemson and Georgia both relying on their defenses. Feels like there’s a big play looming to truly get this game underway. The Tigers’ most promising offensive drive (featuring a 35-yard Cade Klubnik to Antonio Williams a pass) got killed by a penalty.

Clemson’s defense has been solid, too. Clean tackling.

Slow start

Just 56 combined yards and three combined first downs through two drives for each team. Clemson and Georgia both have excellent defenses, and it’s showing so far in the first quarter.

Coin toss

The game is underway with a 12:07 p.m. kickoff. Clemson won the coin toss and elected to receive. Tigers want their offense on the field against Georgia immediately to try and set a tone.

Clemson availability report

As is tradition, Clemson released an “availability report” for the Georgia game about 90 minutes before kickoff. The biggest takeaway from the dress list: cornerbacks Shelton Lewis and Jeadyn Lukus are both expected to play after being labeled “day to day” by Dabo Swinney throughout the week.

Notable players not expected to dress: OL Trent Howard, RB Jarvis Green.

Trevor Etienne won’t play, report says

What was anticipated is now official: Georgia starting running back Trevor Etienne has been suspended for the Bulldogs’ opening game and won’t play against Clemson, per multiple national reports. Etienne was arrested for DUI earlier this year, and UGA coach Kirby Smart had declined to address his status during the week.

This means UGA is down its top rusher (Etienne, a Florida transfer, was a preseason first team All-SEC pick) and the Tigers won’t be playing against the younger brother of Travis Etienne.

Clemson depth chart released

As promised, Clemson had an initial depth chart for the 2024 season available in the press box once media arrived in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. Some highlights:

  • True freshman WR Bryant Wesco Jr. is a co-starter at outside WR

  • True freshman WR T.J. Moore is a co-backup at the other outside WR spot

  • Starting RB Phil Mafah is also the team’s starting kick returner

  • Starting WR Antonio Williams is the team’s starting punt returner

  • Christopher Vizzina is QB2 behind Cade Klubnik

  • Jaheim Lawson is a second-string defensive end behind Peter Woods

  • True freshman Sammy Brown is the backup middle linebacker behind Wade Woodaz

  • Avieon Terrell and Jeadyn Lukus are the initial starting cornerbacks, with true freshman Ashton Hampton and Shelton Lewis as the top backups. It’s TBD if Lukus and Lewis play.

Final betting line

The Clemson-UGA betting line saw a slight drop over the past few days. The Bulldogs were initially favored by 13.5 points; that line has now dropped to 11.5 points in a number of sportsbooks.

For the Tigers, it’s still the second-largest point spread of the Dabo Swinney era. Since 2008, Clemson has only been a larger underdog in a game against Florida State in 2012 (14.5 points).

ESPN’s prediction

ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gives Georgia an 82.2% chance to beat Clemson.

Watch the Clemson-Georgia game today