Clemson vs. Virginia Tech: Tigers force three turnovers, remain undefeated with road win

E.Jay Zarett

•
Clemson vs. Virginia Tech: Tigers force three turnovers, remain undefeated with road win image

No. 2 Clemson handed No. 12 Virginia Tech its first loss of the season on Saturday night at Lane Stadium.

The Tigers forced three turnovers and surrendered just a field goal through the game's first three quarters to pull away for a 31-17 victory in Blacksburg. With the win, Clemson moved to 5-0 on the year. 

MORE: Week 5 scores, highlights 

Quarterback Kelly Bryant registered 186 passing yards and added 94 yards on the ground to lead Clemson to the victory, while five different Tiger receivers caught multiple passes. Josh Jackson tallied 251 passing yards for Virginia Tech but he also threw two interceptions.

Sporting News provided live updates throughout Saturday night’s game. Here’s how the Tigers came away with their third victory over a top-15 opponent in 2017:

Final score: Clemson 31, Virginia Tech 17

11:34 p.m.: This one’s over. Clemson runs out the clock and secures the 31-17 victory 

11:31 p.m.: Touchdown Virginia Tech. Jackson finds Sean Savoy for a 30-yard score to cut the Hokies deficit to 31-17. But, there’s just 1:32 remaining in Blacksburg.

11:24 p.m.:  Clemson goes three-and-out after the turnover, and Virginia Tech will get another possession with just over five minutes left. 

11:17 p.m.: Turnover Virginia Tech. After the Hokies drive to the Clemson 31, Jackson tallies another pick. Defensive end Austin Bryant gets his hands on a Jackson pass, tips it into the air and comes down with the football for the interception that should seal Clemson’s win. 

11:05 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. Just as Virginia Tech starts gaining momentum, Clemson registers a defensive score. Jackson throws a screen to Henri Murphy, who can’t haul in the pass. The ball hits off of the receiver’s hands, bounces straight into the air and is intercepted by Dorian O'Daniel, who returns it 22 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers now lead 31-10 with 11:08 remaining.

11:01 p.m.: Clemson picks up one first down via penalty but fails to move the chains again. Virginia Tech gets the ball back with a chance to make this a one score game. 

10:54 p.m.: Touchdown Virginia Tech. The Hokies get into the end zone for the first time tonight. Greg Stroman returns Clemson’s punt to the two-yard line and Sean Savoy follows with a score one play later off of a sweep. Virginia Tech trails 24-10 with 14 minutes left. 

End of third quarter: Clemson 24, Virginia Tech 3 

10:46 p.m.: Virginia Tech runs a fake field goal on fourth-and-12 and it goes nowhere. Holder Oscar Bradburn takes the snap and shovel passes the ball to Dalton Keene near the line of scrimmage. Keene is immediately swarmed by the Clemson defense and the Hokies turn it over on downs again.

10:42 p.m.: Virginia Tech goes for it again on fourth down and this time, it converts. Jackson connects with Henri Murphy down the middle and he turns up field for a 20-yard gain, moving the Hokies into the red zone. 

10:39 p.m.: Clemson fails to convert the fourth down stop into points as the Tigers go three-and-out. The Hokies get it back at their own 21 trailing by three touchdowns. 

10:35 p.m.: Virginia Tech goes for it on fourth down and comes up way short. The Hokies throw a screen pass to Sean Savoy, who is brought down behind the line of scrimmage for a five-yard loss. Virginia Tech turns it over on downs at its own 48. 

10:22 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. After Bryant’s run, Virginia Tech keeps the Tigers out of the end zone for three straight plays. But Clemson goes for it on fourth down and Tavien Feaster punches it in for the one-yard score as the Tigers advantage grows to 24-3.

10:19 p.m.: Bryant continues to run all over Virginia Tech. He runs a zone read, keeps the ball and carries it all the way to the Hokies six-yard line. Bryant already has 96 yards on the ground with 8:40 to go in the third quarter. 

10:15 p.m.: Turnover Virginia Tech. Two plays after taking over with great field possession, the Hokies fumble it away. Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence knocks the ball away from Travon McMillian near the line of scrimmage and the Tigers recover.  

10:13 p.m.: Virginia Tech gets a quick stop. The Hokies bring down Amari Rodgers for a seven-yard loss and sack Bryant on third down and Clemson punts it away. Virginia Tech starts its first drive of the second half near midfield. 

10:10 p.m.: We’re back for the second half. Clemson gets the first possession of the period leading by two touchdowns. 

Halftime: Clemson 17, Virginia Tech 3 

9:48 p.m.: Virginia Tech moves into field goal range after four completions by Jackson with time running down in the half. But, Joey Slye misses the 45-yard attempt and the Hokies head into the locker room trailing by 11. Bryant tallied 241 total yards in the half for Clemson, while the Hokies registered just 149 yards as a team. 

9:39 p.m.: Touchdown Clemson. It takes just six plays for the Tigers to answer Virginia Tech’s score with a touchdown. Clemson moves to the Hokies 21 following a 35-yard reception by Deon Cain and a nine-yard run by Bryant. One play later, Bryant finds Cain again, this time for 20-yards, putting Clemson on the 1-yard line, before C.J. Fuller ran it in for the score. Clemson now leads 17-3 with 1:19 left in the half. 

9:34 p.m.: Field goal Virginia Tech. Travon McMillian breaks a 19-yard run moving the Hokies to the Clemson 27. After an incomplete pass and short gains on back-to-back plays, Joey Slye kicks a 43-yard field goal, cutting Virginia Tech’s deficit to 10-3. 

9:28 p.m.: Virginia Tech picks up multiple first downs on the same possession for the first time tonight and the Hokies move into Clemson territory. 

9:24 p.m.: The Tigers drive stalls following two incompletions and a short run by Tavien Foster. Kicker Alex Spence enters for a field goal attempt, but misses from 41-yards. Clemson still leads 10-0 with 7:47 remaining in the half. 

9:20 p.m.: Bryant is making plays with his legs. He’s already rushed for 28 yards and picked up two first downs on this drive. Clemson has a fresh set of downs at the Virginia Tech 27 following a third down conversion by Bryant. 

9:13 p.m.: We’re 19 minutes in. Virginia Tech has picked up just one first down and has already punted five times. 

9:09 p.m.: Hokies defensive tackle Tim Settle breaks through the line of scrimmage and brings down Bryant for a sack on third down. But Virginia Tech will start its drive at its own 7 after an illegal block penalty on the ensuing punt.   

End of first quarter: Clemson 10, Virginia Tech 0 

9:01 p.m.: 13 minutes into the game, the Hokies pick up their first first down but fail to move the chains again and Clemson retakes possession. Virginia Tech was outgained 145-35 in the first quarter. 

8:52 p.m.: Virginia Tech stops Clemson on third-and-1 forcing the Tigers first punt of the game and the Hokies take over at their own 35. They’ve recorded just 19 yards of total offense so far.

8:47 p.m.: The Hokies have yet to pick up a first down 10 minutes into the game. Jackson seemed to have moved the chains after running for a seven yard gain on third down, but the Hokies were called for an illegal formation penalty. Jackson followed with an incomplete pass and Virginia Tech punts it away for the third time. 

8:41 p.m. Touchdown Clemson. The Tigers take a 10-0 lead with 6:48 to go in the first quarter. On the drive’s third play, Tavien Feaster sneaks out of the backfield uncovered and hauls in a pass from Bryant before racing down the sideline for a 60-yard score. 

8:36 p.m.: Virginia Tech with two straight three-and-outs to open the game. On third-and-1, Jackson keeps it himself and comes up just short of the first down marker as Virginia Tech punts it away again. 

8:30 p.m.: Field goal Clemson. The Tigers advance all the way to Virginia Tech’s 1-yard line following McCloud’s catch. But Bryant was brought down at the goal line on a run and, following a false start, threw an incomplete pass in the end zone as Clemson settles for three points. 

8:27 p.m.: Facing a third-and-6, Kelly Bryant completes a deep pass down the sideline to Ray-Ray McCloud for 27 yards and Clemson is in the red zone on its first drive. 

8:23 p.m.: Virginia Tech goes three-and-out on its opening possession. After an incompletion and a short pass, the Hokies throw a screen to Travon McMillian, who is brought down for no gain, forcing a punt. 

8:19 p.m.: Here we go. Clemson wins the toss and defers. Virginia Tech will have the game's opening possession. 

8:12 p.m.: The game ball entered Lane Stadium on a parachute.  

7:31 p.m.: Here’s a shot of Lane Stadium about 30 minutes before kickoff:

7:20 p.m.: Watch Virginia Tech quarterback Josh Jackson make pregame throws at Lane Stadium:

7 p.m.: Here’s a look at Clemson players warming up about an hour before kickoff:

E.Jay Zarett