GSU offense stagnant in Clemson road loss
· Yahoo Sports
CLEMSON, S.C. (WSAV) — Georgia Southern's comeback attempt against Clemson fell short early Sunday morning at Memorial Stadium in a 22-7 loss.
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Max Johnson's fourth-down pass from Clemson's 3-yard line fell incomplete with 1:14 remaining, ending the last hope Georgia Southern had of upsetting the Power 4 opponent.
The incompletion was the second consecutive turnover on downs for an offense that was shut out in the second half and 4-for-17 on third-down conversions.
"They expected to walk in here and win this game," head coach Clay Helton said after the loss. "There's a bunch of disappointed kids in there because they know they are capable of walking in here and doing that."
Passing carried the offense, which gained 244 of its 266 yards through the air.
The game seemed to change after Tripp Bryant's missed 52-yard field goal fell short of the crossbar.
"I have total faith in Tripp," Helton said. "He's hit that yardage before in practice and in games. We can a half-yard away from it. It's a call we made to try to cut it to one score."
The Eagle's defense was their bright spot. They allowed Clemson one touchdown, which came after a Clemson-recovered muffed punt on the opening possession, and five field goals.
Southern's defense, under first-year defensive coordinator Mike Mutz, won the turnover battle producing an interception and a fumble recovery in the red zone in the first half.
Georgia Southern continues non-conference play next Saturday on the road against Jacksonville State at 7 p.m.
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