Clemson Tigers @ NC State Wolfpack Football Recap

NC State 37, Clemson 13

Yes, it’s time to push the panic button, Clemson fans.

Using a 27-point second quarter, NC State drilled the No. 7 Tigers 37-13 at Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday, sending Clemson to a second in loss in three games and well out of the top-10.

Name a phase of a game, and the Tigers (9-2, 6-2 ACC) struggled.

Offense? Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris’ top-15 ranked offense nationally averaged 1.2 yards per rush (34 total yards), gave up six sacks, surrendered four turnovers and converted two of 14 third downs.

Defense? Back to the wall most of the game, key penalties and missed tackles extended drives and gave up points – NC State (6-5, 3-4 ACC) holding the ball for 36:29 and scoring on six of six red zone chances.

Special teams? Dabo Swinney’s unit gave up a 34-yard punt return which set up a back-breaking Wolfpack three-touchdown lead in the second quarter. Add to that, only a 15.6 yards per kick return average with eight opportunities and Clemson’s special teams were far from special.

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A running theme, even during Clemson’s 8-0 start, was slow starts, but they typically rallied – doing it last week to clinch the Atlantic Division down two touchdowns in the third quarter to Wake Forest for a 31-28 win.

But for Clemson, facing an already uphill battle with ACC-leading receiver Sammy Watkins sitting with a sore shoulder, the light at the end of the tunnel was an all-red train engineered a by NC State coach Tom O’Brien desperately in need of a win.

After one quarter, the Tigers held a 3-0 advantage – neither team lighting it up, but NC State received the fortune of a late pass interference flag on third down to extend a drive in Clemson territory, and Tigers linebacker Tig Willard whiffed on a pick later which left Wolfpack tight end George Bryan with open field to the endzone for NC State’s first score.

Play one of Clemson’s next drive, quarterback Tajh Boyd was stripped from his blindside for a turnover, and his opposite number Mike Glennon took advantage finding receiver Jay Smith for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

The fumble issues continued with a bobbled handoff from Boyd to freshman running back Mike Bellamy delivered the ball right back into Wolfpack hands, where the Tigers defense was able to hold them to a field goal.

As things snow-balled, no Clemson offensive answer was coming – eight of the Tigers’ first nine drives only gained a first down or less.

A 34-yard punt return by T.J. Graham to the Clemson 10 set up NC State’s fourth-consecutive score, a four-yard run by Tony Creecy.

Two more field goals extended the streak sixth-straight Wolfpack scores, and a 43-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tobais Palmer wrapped things up midway through the third quarter, taking a 37-6 lead.

NC State needed the win plus wrapping up the season at home next week with a victory over Maryland for bowl eligibility, hoping to avoid a third bowl-less season in five years.

The stakes can’t get much higher for a struggling Clemson team, attempting to stave off a third-straight loss to rival South Carolina (9-2) on the road next week, and heading up I-85 to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game in two weeks.

By: Brandon Rink
DFN Sports Staff Writer