By Alex Maminakis
Courtesy The Journal

alex@upstatetoday.com

CLEMSON — Travis Etienne set a career high in rushing yards, quarterback Trevor Lawrence made up for a less-than-stellar start, and Clemson’s new-look defense made a statement debut Thursday night as the top-ranked Tigers dominated in their season opener.

Clemson beat Georgia Tech 52-14 on Thursday night in Memorial Stadium to begin its title defense on a high note with its 11th straight 20-point victory.

“It’s great to get the win,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “I told the players in the locker room how blessed we are to have a fan base that shows up and gives us a great environment. Our guys were ready and excited to show

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