Uiagalelei’s ‘grit’ critical for Clemson

After getting much of the blame for a disappointing season by Clemson standards, DJ Uiagalelei needed good things to happen in the season opener. With one whirling dervish of a play, the quarterback showed why the Tigers still have plenty of faith in him. Uiagalelei threw for one touchdown and ran for another, overcoming a sluggish start in the season opener as then-No. 4 Clemson pulled away for a 41-10 victory over Georgia Tech on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Perhaps the biggest play of the game came in the third quarter, when Uiagalelei was cornered by two Georgia Tech defenders and appeared headed for a sack on third-and-4. But he twisted around and managed to stay upright just long enough to flip a lateral to Shipley, who rumbled 10 yards to keep the Clemson offense on the field. “That was a play we didn’t make last year,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “That’s just his strength, his grit, where he’s at physically. Just find a way, man. He’s got some creativity to him.” Uiagalelei completed 19 of 32 passes for 209 yards in the victory.