Tyler Butler
By Tyler Butler | Sports & Culture | Fox Sports Upstate
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson needed a response, and while it wasn’t always pretty offensively, the Tigers leaned on their defense and the leg of Nolan Hauser to secure a 22-7 win over Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium.
For the second straight week, Clemson dealt with a lengthy lightning delay. Saturday’s nearly two-hour delay pushed kickoff past 9:30 p.m., the latest home kickoff in program history, with the game finally ending at 1:07 a.m. Sunday.
Clemson struck first when Christopher Vizzina connected with T.J. Moore for a 10-yard touchdown following a Georgia Southern muffed punt. Freshman Tait Reynolds later took over at quarterback and completed 16 of 27 passes for 178 yards.
Moore was Clemson’s biggest threat through the air, finishing with seven receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
But the story of the night was Clemson’s defense and Hauser.
The Tigers forced eight three-and-outs, including six in the first half. Will Heldt recorded three tackles for loss and two sacks, helping Clemson hold Georgia Southern to just seven points.
When Clemson’s offense struggled to finish drives, Hauser delivered. He connected on five field goals, including kicks from 50 and 49 yards in the fourth quarter, accounting for 15 of Clemson’s 22 points.
Georgia Southern’s only touchdown came on a 42-yard connection from Max Johnson to Ashton Hollins in the second quarter.
Clemson improved to 1-1, getting the victory it needed while still leaving room for improvement offensively. The Tigers found the end zone only once, but their defense controlled the game and Hauser made sure stalled drives still resulted in points.
For Clemson, the win provides something to build on. The next step is turning more of those scoring opportunities into touchdowns.
