No. 4 Clemson had a 31-28 lead on No. 20 NC State early in the fourth quarter on Saturday in Raleigh, and were able to hold on for the victory by a final score of 38-31. Clemson’s win likely decides the ACC Atlantic divisional race.
Clemson overcomes first half deficit to survive NC State
The Tigers couldn’t afford a loss, and came out with a strong third quarter after being down 21-17.
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
NC State made a push on their final drive. It started on their own 20, but were able to make their way up to Clemson’s 28. They completed a pass that would have put them in the red zone, but were called for an illegal shift.
The penalty moved them back five yards, and the Wolfpack threw an interception on the next play, ending the game.
On the last play of the third, Tavien Feaster ran 89 yards for a Clemson touchdown, after the Wolfpack had Clemson hemmed in.
Clemson trailed at halftime, 21-17. In the third, it outscored NC State 14-0 and out-gained it 202 yards to 48. But the Wolfpack scored on their first drive of the fourth.
The Wolfpack are a good team this year, but they entered as 10-point home underdogs. A Clemson loss would have been its second of the season and made it really hard for the Tigers to make a third straight College Football Playoff. They were able to avoid that.
No team has ever qualified with more than one loss on its resume, and only one has done it without winning a Power 5 conference. Winning here would leave NC State in firm command of the Atlantic, so it’s a huge deal for the Tigers.
NC State led at halftime, 21-17.
In the first half, the Tigers got an extraordinary punt return TD from Ray-Ray McCloud. But their Kelly Bryant-led offense was inefficient, while Ryan Finley marched NC State downfield with ease. The Wolfpack had five first-half possessions, and four resulted in at least 40 yards of ball movement with three went 63 or longer.
Finley started his day 15-of-15 before throwing three incompletions to end his half. Clemson’s had kicking problems this year with starter Greg Huegel injured, and Alex Spence missed a 39-yarder as the half expired, keeping the Wolfpack’s halftime lead at four.
At the start of the second half, NC State’s Jakobi Meyers appeared to catch a gorgeous first-down throw from Finley, on a third-and-14. But officials overturned it on review.
Deon Cain’s third-quarter TD catch from Bryant gave Clemson its first lead, 24-21.
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