Trying to find a positive after Thursday’s 26-7 loss to Clemson, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said the defense played well in the second half.
” … if you can say that when you give up 442 yards,” Johnson said.
Yes, the Jackets (3-1, 1-1 ACC) gave up season highs in points and yards, but they gave up just three points and 95 yards in the second half.
Oddly, Johnson gave some of the credit for how the defense played to the offense because he said it was able to stay on the field.
The Jackets amassed just 22 yards in the first half, and 14 of that came on the final play, which forced the defense to face 56 plays and be on the field for 18 minutes, 54 seconds in the first and second quarters.
“Offense was totally inept so the defense was out there,” Johnson said.
The offense was slightly better in the third, which helped the defense. The Jackets held Clemson to 26 yards on seven plays in the third quarter and gave the offense a chance in what was still a two-score game early in the fourth quarter.
Overall, Clemson averaged 5.4 yards per play against Tech. They were averaging 5.7 yards per play in wins agaisnt Auburn, Troy and South Carolina State.
“We played better in the second half,” Johnson said.
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