BLACKSBURG, Va. (Hokies Sports) – Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant threw for 186 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 94 yards, as the No. 2 Tigers knocked off No. 12 Virginia Tech 31-17 in an ACCgame played Saturday evening at Lane Stadium.
Clemson QB Kelly Bryant carries the ball (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
With the loss, the Hokies fell to 4-1 overall, 0-1 in the ACC. Clemson, the defending national champions, moved to 5-0, 3-0 in league play.
The Tigers grabbed the lead early and never relinquished it, as they scored on their first two possessions.
A 23-yard field goal by Alex Spence gave Clemson a 3-0 lead and then a 60-yard touchdown pass from Bryant to Tavien Feaster midway through the first quarter gave the Tigers a 10-0 edge.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney & Virginia Tech Justin Fuente (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
The Hokies cut into that on a field goal by Joey Slye with 3:10 left in the first half, but the Tigers quickly answered, marching 75 yards in just 1:51 and scoring on a 1-yard run by C.J. Fuller.
Clemson took a 24-3 lead in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Tavien Feaster. The Hokies cut it to 24-10 early in the fourth quarter when a 43-yard punt return by Greg Stroman set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Sean Savoy.
The Tigers, though, put the game away nearly three minutes later when Dorian O’Daniel returned an interception 22 yards for the touchdown. Tech committed three turnovers in the game, which led to 14 Clemson points.
Josh Jackson paced the Hokies, completing just 29 of 42 for 251 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Behind Bryant, Clemson finished with 332 yards of offense.
