NC State loses to #3 Clemson 56-41
It wasn’t exactly the way Clemson coach Dabo Swinney anticipated, but a win is a win.
Clemson (8-0, 5-0) out-lasted a tenacious NC State Wolfpack (5-3, 1-3) squad 56-41 on a perfect day for football to remain unbeaten. On Halloween Saturday, No. 3 ranked Clemson entered Carter-Finley Stadium aiming for the ACC Championship and College Football playoffs.
If nothing else, Swinney left Raleigh Saturday evening knowing his team could take a good shot and handle some road adversity. He already knew that his Tigers could score offensively.
For those who did not know….they do now.
As for NC State, Dave Doeren had reason to be optimistic. The Wolfpack entered the game as underdog, but managed to fight tooth and nail showing toughness and grit. On a festive Homecoming day, the raucous Halloween crowd witnessed an offensive showdown as each team traded big plays and touchdowns, as if trying to outdo the other.
In the end, NC State ran out of steam and Clemson proved that its lofty national ranking is legit, as they answered the bell each time the Wolfpack got close.
Defensively, Clemson and NC State were unimpressive as they gave up a combined 1012 yards. NC State was the worst, giving up 623 yards. However, Swinney had to be concerned as his Tigers gave up 389 yards and 41 points after shutting out Miami 58-0 the week before. Collectively, the Tigers gave up 120 more yards and 27 more points than their season’s average.
More from North Carolina State Wolfpack
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- N.C. State basketball announces staff changes
- N.C. State Football: Wolfpack lands Top 10 quarterback in 2021
- Should N.C. State fans be mad at Doeren over Will Shipley?
Fortunately, when you have a quarterback like Deshaun Watson, you know the offense is always capable of bailing the defense out. Watson was 23 of 30 for 383 yards (5 TD’s) and had 14 carries for 54 yards (1 TD). Tiger running back Wayne Gallman added 172 yards on 31 carries (1 TD).
The good news is that NC State played hard and kept fighting even as the game began to slip away in the fourth quarter. The road doesn’t get much easier as the stakes get larger with must win games against Boston College, Syracuse and UNC looming.
FINAL: NC State 41 – Clemson 56
Quick Stats:
Jacoby Brissett — 24 of 41 for 254 yards (3 TDs), (1 rush TD)
Matt Dayes—7 rushes for 72 yards Jaylen Samuels— 6 rushes for 65 yards (1 TD), 8 catches for 74 yards (1 TD)
David Grinnage—7 catches for 82 yards (1 TD)
More from Old North Banter
- Carolina Panthers: Secondary battles to watch in training camp 2020
- Carolina Panthers: 2020 training camp kicks off on Tuesday
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- Court alleges Zion’s Stepfather received $400k
- UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
Note: (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/nc-state-coach-apologizes-for-sideline-incident-with-clemson-qb-deshaun-watson-011939972.html)
NC State assistant coach Des Kitchings is in a little hot water after television cameras caught the coach give Clemson’s Deshaun Watson a jab to the shoulder pad as Watson went out of bounds. There was a reported apology from Kitchings via Coach Doeren for “getting emotional,” but I have not heard of anything official.
Stay Tuned.
UP NEXT: Boston College at Chesnutt Hill, Massachusetts