Georgia Tech - Clemson Notebook

With 6:25 left until halftime, a ruckus caught the attention of the fans in the stadium. But instead of two drunks or Clemson and Georgia Tech fans going at it, it was the two mascots throwing dukes.

Buzz, the mascot for the Yellow Jackets, and Tiger, the mascot for Clemson, got into it on the field just to the right of the west end zone.

With both mascots flailing wildly, Georgia Tech cheerleaders and police got the two fighting participants separated.

As Tiger left the scene, he raised his arms in the air indicating a victory, which sent the sellout crowd into loud cheers.

FIELD GOAL ISSUES
For the second straight week, Clemson placekicker Stephen Furr missed his first field goal attempt of the game.

Furr, a junior, misfired on a 35-yard attempt on Tigers’ second possession of the game.

Against Wake Forest last week, he missed his first kick, a 33-yarder in the first quarter. Later in that game, Furr barely made a his first field goal after bounced off the left upright and dropped straight down, just barely going over the crossbar for three points.

WHITEHURST PINS YELLOW JACKETS
On Clemson’s first series of the game, its drive stalled at the Yellow Jackets 37. However, the Tigers lined up with quarterback Charlie Whitehurst in the shotgun formation on fourth-and-six, which appeared to mean that they were going to attempt a first down.

The ball was snapped Whitehurst, who then kicked it to the Georgia Tech 12 for a 25-yard punt.

It was the first punt of junior’s career, and it turned out to be a very good one.

A LOT OF FIRSTS
Clemson junior defensive end Bobby Williamson recorded his first-career tackle and sack on the same play. Williamson tackled Ball at the Georgia Tech 6. … Tight end Ben Hall hauled in his first reception of the season in the first quarter. Last year, the senior only had three catches. …

Tigers sophomore WHIP Tramaine Billie got his first-career interception in the second quarter after free safety Travis Pugh batted a deep Ball pass into the air and Billie dove and caught it at the Tigers 8. … Tailbacks Reggie Merriweather and Kyle Browning each got their first carries of the season in the first half, with Merriweather’s going for 12 yards, which at that point tied the longest run of the season for a Clemson back.

INJURIES
Clemson junior defensive tackle Cory Groover sustained a sprained ankle in the half and didn’t return. Defensive end Bobby Williamson suffered a hurt left shoulder in the second half and didn’t return.

SACK MACHINE
The Clemson defense registered six sacks against the Yellow Jackets, with senior linebacker Leroy Hill leading the way with two. Hill finished the game with 15 tackles and three tackles for loss.

The six sacks give the Tigers 10 on the season.

ROLE REVERSAL
Clemson wide receiver Kelvin Grant, a sophomore, had the best game of his short career by hauling in six catches for 80 yards. Meanwhile, Chansi Stuckey, who had such a stellar game last week, was held to one catch for 23 yards.

EXTRA POINTS
With Whitehurst’s interception to end the first half, it marked the sixth straight game in which he’s thrown a pass to the opposition.