Backup QB Tait Reynolds leads 5 scoring drives as Clemson defeats Georgia Southern 22-7

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Freshman Tait Reynolds replaced an injured Christopher Vizzina at quarterback and threw for 178 yards and led five scoring drives as Clemson defeated Georgia Southern 22-7 on Saturday night following a two-hour lightning delay.

T.J. Moore had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown and Nolan Hauser was 5 for 5 on field goal attempts for Clemson (1-1), which rebounded from a 51-10 thrashing at the hands of No. 11 LSU last week.

That loss, combined with a seventh place finish in the ACC last year, left fans and former players frustrated with the Tigers’ sharp falloff under longtime head coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson’s win likely did little to inspire much confidence in new coordinator Chad Morris’ offense.

The Tigers (1-1), who were outgained by nearly 500 yards by LSU, finished with 345 yards but were 2 of 13 on third down conversions and managed just one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone against the Sun Belt Conference foe.

Max Johnson, a North Carolina transfer, finished 27-of-47 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown for Georgia Southern (1-1).

Vizzina started the game for Clemson and connected on a 10-yard touchdown strike to Moore on the game's second possession, but was taken out after throwing an interception on the next series.

Swinney told the ACC Network at halftime that he planned to put Vizzina back in the game but that the quarterback “couldn't feel his left arm.”

Reynolds, who completed 16 of 27 passes, fumbled at the Georgia Southern 10 on his first possession, but regrouped to lead three first half field goal drives to give Clemson a 16-7 lead at the break.

The Eagles were able to stay close behind Johnson's 42-yard touchdown strike along the right sideline to Ashton Hollins — one of their few big plays on the day.

Hauser added field goals of 50 and 49 yards in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Georgia Southern: The offensive line was completely outmatched by Clemson's size up front, relegating Johnson to mostly short passes off three-step drops. The Eagles' run game was non-existent; held to 22 yards on 18 carries. The production of the defense was a big positive heading into Sun Belt Conference play.

Clemson: Offensive coordinator Chad Morris will need to find a way to get something going, particularly in the red zone. After Moore's first touchdown, Georgia Southern held Clemson out of the end zone for the remainder of the game

Bad weather continues to follow Swinney and his team.

The game was delayed for two hours after lightning and heavy rains hit the area just before a scheduled 7:30 p.m. EDT kickoff. That came after Clemson's game last week against LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana was delayed nearly two hours.

Georgia Southern: At Jacksonville State on Saturday.

Clemson: Hosts North Carolina next Saturday in an ACC game.

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here , visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here