![]() Clemson’s ability to run created more opportunities for open passing lanes as NC State had to be prepared for the run and the pass. His success takes some of the defensive focus off Shipley, who ran 14 times for 60 yards. DJU is now a lighter (lost weight in offseason) and more efficient runner-14 carries for 73 yards against NC State. DJU is a natural pocket passer who now in his second season as a starter has grasped the subtleties of the quarterback run in Clemson’s spread offense, which incorporates a number of zone read options. Uiagalelei looked vastly improved over 2021 when the Tigers lost at Carter-Finley Stadium. State did finally score a second half touchdown with 53 seconds left, but by then Clemson held a 30-13 lead. And note, the Wolfpack drive that ended in the fumble was previously compromised by a holding penalty on Timothy McKay, which took the Wolfpack out of field goal range. Clemson scored 10 points off those two NC State turnovers. Then midway through the final period, as State tried to convert a fourth and thirteen at the Clemson 39, center Grant Gibson snapped the ball early and Leary fumbled. Leary’s pass to Chris Toudle hit the receiver’s hands and bounced away, becoming a Clemson interception. That cut Clemson’s lead to 20-13.īut State’s other five possessions in the third quarter and early fourth quarter all ended in punts or turnovers. The Wolfpack did mount one drive for a field goal that featured an amazing catch by reliable receiver Thayer Thomas after a defender tried to knock the ball away. When Shipley’s quarterback charged ahead for the final yard into the end zone, Clemson had completed a remarkable 8 play 75 yard drive in just one minute and twenty seconds against the ACC’s #1 scoring defense.Ĭlemson began the game without four of its best defensive players and the Tigers lost two more during the game due to yet another injury and targeting. Then he ran undetected out of the backfield under Uiagalelei’s pass and nearly scored. He got to the edge and raced for another 11. Shipley escaped a tackler and carved out 12 yards. Will Shipley, of Weddington, NC, who signed with Clemson despite both parents and some 26 family members having graduated from NC State, broke Wolfpack hearts all over again. But the 10-6 lead late in the second quarter was short-lived. This might have been OC Tim Beck’s best play call in the red zone all season. Still, State countered with a 9 play 75 yard drive, taking the lead on Leary’s two yard touchdown pass to Cedd Seabrough as Clemson’s defense played run. Clemson capitalized, also picking up a pass interference call on State’s Derek Pitts. State’s defense stopped the Tigers at their own 33, but on fourth and four, the Pack’s Colby Johnson was flagged for running into the kicker. State matched Clemson’s six minute march to a field goal with a long drive of its own-eight minutes for three points.Ĭlemson scored a second field goal and shouldn’t have. The Wolfpack attack Saturday night started well enough. Giglio: The pain and the wait continues for the Wolfpack In between Clemson travels to Notre Dame-maybe the Tigers can snap the Irish 25 game winning streak against ACC teams in the regular season? They close out ACC play with Louisville and Miami, both at Death Valley. The Tigers visit Boston College and Florida State in the next two weeks, but they get Syracuse at home, not in the Dome. With Clemson’s double overtime win at Wake Forest-and the Deacons then scored an impressive 10 point triumph over undefeated Florida State-coupled with the Tigers’ 30-20 win over NC State, Dabo Swinney’s bunch is well on its way to a spot in the ACC Championship Game. Meanwhile, in the unpredictable Coastal Division, Pitt’s stunning home loss to winless Georgia Tech, coupled with UNC’s and Duke’s easy wins over their rivals from Virginia, put the Tar Heels and Blue Devils in the early lead in the division standings. NC State held the lead late in the second quarter but couldn’t hold on. The Tigers’ rebuilt offensive line ultimately created space for Will Shipley and DJ Uiagalelei to run. But Clemson’s dominance wasn’t limited to the defensive side. I think we all had an inkling NC State’s receivers would have a hard time getting open before Clemson’s defensive front got in Devin Leary’s face.
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