Clemson has spent much of this season waiting for its offense to give its defense enough support. Saturday’s loss to Virginia Tech offered another example of how costly that imbalance has become.
The Tigers managed just one touchdown in a 20-16 home defeat, falling to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. Any push toward the conference championship game became considerably more difficult after Clemson let a fourth-quarter lead slip away.
There was enough defensive production to win. Tom Allen’s group registered six sacks and 10 tackles for loss, holding the Hokies to 234 yards. Virginia Tech entered averaging 37.1 points per game but spent much of the evening struggling to establish consistent offense.
Clemson failed to turn that advantage into breathing room.
The Tigers produced only 94 yards before halftime, heading to the locker room trailing 10-3. Protection remained a problem throughout the night, with Virginia Tech collecting four sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
For one quarter, Clemson appeared capable of changing the game’s direction. The Tigers scored 13 unanswered points in the third, getting a 16-yard touchdown run from freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds and two Nolan Hauser field goals.
That surge gave Clemson a 16-10 advantage. It also accounted for all of its second-half scoring.
Reynolds finished with 153 passing yards on 20-of-26 throwing and added a team-leading 63 rushing yards. Despite those contributions, the Tigers totaled just 288 yards and left themselves vulnerable to one late Virginia Tech drive.
The defense then contributed to its own undoing. A late-hit penalty and two pass interference calls helped the Hokies advance before James Franklin elected to attempt a fourth-and-one conversion from Clemson’s 5-yard line.
Ethan Grunkemeyer found Luke Reynolds for the decisive touchdown with 1:44 remaining.
Where Clemson football stands, mid season grade from CBS Sports
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Clemson’s last opportunity disappeared after replay overturned a potential Bryant Wesco reception deep in Virginia Tech territory. A fourth-down sack followed.
Hauser made all three of his field-goal attempts, continuing a season in which he has converted 18 of 19. His reliability remains valuable, but Clemson’s dependence on field goals continues to leave little margin for mistakes.
Saturday, the Tigers made too many late and did too little offensively to overcome them. They visit Florida State next weekend needing a response after another opportunity slipped away.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson flails late in 4th to suffer huge loss against Virginia Tech