Third-ranked Clemson downs NC State to remain unbeaten

The ingredients were there for N.C. State to pull off another upset of a top 10 ACC team.

The Wolfpack started fast, fed off an amped-up home crowd, got some big plays, and had No. 3 Clemson staggered in the first half.

But the Tigers had every answer and almost all of them involved Deshaun Watson. The sophomore quarterback threw for 383 yards and accounted for six touchdowns in Clemson’s 56-41 win over the Wolfpack on Saturday.

N.C. State (5-3, 1-3 ACC) coach Dave Doeren was worried about the Tigers (8-0, 5-0) getting off to another fast start. Clemson jumped out 21-0 in the first quarter last year en route to a 41-0 win.

Turned out it was the end of the first half that the Wolfpack needed to worry about the most. The Tigers used a 10-point swing before halftime to take control of the game.

The Wolfpack led 6-0, 13-7 and 20-19 in the first half. It was actually looking good for N.C. State when the game’s momentum flipped at the end of the second quarter.

The Wolfpack got a sack from defensive tackle Justin Jones at 3:39 in the second quarter to force a punt. After a 21-yard run by running back Matt Dayes and an 8-yard pass to receiver Maurice Trowell, the Tigers pushed back.

N.C. State’s next two snaps lost 10 yards, including a 9-yard loss on a swing pass to Dayes on third down. Dayes injured his left ankle on the play, he was swarmed by several Clemson defenders, and did not play in the second half.

Freshman kicker Kyle Bambard pushed a 44-yard field goal wide left, leaving Watson with 55 seconds to score. He only needed 15. Watson hit receiver Artavis Scott on first down for 31 yards down the right sideline. On the next play, on a similar route, Watson hit receiver Charone Peake for a 42-yard touchdown.

Instead of a 23-19 lead at the break, the Wolfpack trailed 26-20. Without Dayes, who ran for 72 yards in the first half, N.C. State’s offense couldn’t keep up with Clemson in the second half.

The Wolfpack also couldn’t stop running back Wayne Gallman, who ran for 172 yards and a touchdown.

Jaylen Samuels, who replaced Dayes at tailback, gave N.C. State a brief glimmer of hope. Samuels followed up a 66-yard run with a 1-yard touchdown run at 7:13 in the third quarter to cut Clemson’s lead to 33-27.

But as was the pattern all game, Clemson had the answer. Watson threaded a perfect 40-yard touchdown pass to Deon Cain for a 40-27 Clemson lead.

Watson found Zac Brooks for a 35-yard touchdown with 1:00 left in the third quarter to put the Tigers up 47-27 and put the game out of reach.

N.C. State quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and had a season-best 254 passing yards for the game, but it was too late.

The game couldn’t have started much better for N.C. State, which notched wins in two of its last four homes games against top 10 teams, including 37-13 over No. 7 Clemson in 2011.

The Wolfpack took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in six plays. Brissett scored on a 13-yard option keep. Clemson blocked the PAT to keep the score at 6-0.

Clemson quickly responded with a four-play, 57-yard drive, capped by a 24-yard quarterback keep by Watson.

Freshman receiver Nyheim Hines took ensuing kickoff back 100 yards to give the Wolfpack a 13-7 advantage.

The Tigers came right back with a 57-yard touchdown connection between Watson and receiver Hunter Renfrow, but B.J. Hill blocked the PAT for N.C. State to keep the score tied at 13.

Greg Huegel made a pair of field goals (29 and 41 yards) to give Clemson a 19-13 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Wolfpack went back in front after a 40-yard touchdown pass by Brissett to Samuels, who danced around a Ben Boulware tackle at the 18-yard line and then sprinted down the N.C. State sideline for the score and a 20-19 lead.

That would be N.C. State’s last advantage. Clemson is on its way to a showdown with Florida State next week while the Wolfpack looks for answers after a fast start fizzled.

This story was originally published October 31, 2015 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Third-ranked Clemson downs NC State to remain unbeaten."