Clemson Has Ended Undefeated NC State Seasons
Four times since 1989 Clemson has ended an undefeated NC State season. Granted, one of the years we are counting is 1997 when NC State was just 2-0, but in three other recent seasons Clemson has stopped Wolfpack perfect starts that have been 4-0 or better.
The last time NC State came to Clemson the Pack were 4-0 under first-year head coach Chuck Amato. Clemson came away with a 34-27 victory, giving Clemson a 7-0 mark at the time. In 1991 and 1989 NC State came to Clemson with a 6-0 record and left with a loss each time. The Pack is 8-0 heading into Thursday night's game, its best start since 1967.
Both Teams Coming off Close Home Victories
Clemson and NC State both enter this game coming off home victories by eight points or less. The Tigers defeated Wake Forest last Saturday, 31-23, while NC State downed Duke in Raleigh, 24-22.
Clemson trailed 23-14 in the third period and still faced a 23-21 deficit heading into the fourth period. But the Tigers scored 10 points in the final period and held the Demon Deacons scoreless. Wake Forest trailed by eight and drove to the Clemson 18 with under two minutes left, but on a third-and-two play, Brian Mance stripped a Wake Forest running back inside the 10-yard-line. The ball rolled into the endzone and was eventually batted through the end line by Altroy Bodrick. Clemson ran out the final 1:15 to preserve the victory.
Clemson gave up 523 yards to Wake Forest, the most yards ever by a Tiger opponent in a Clemson victory. But, the Tigers forced five second-half turnovers, three interceptions and two fumbles. Justin Miller, Mance and Bodrick had interceptions, while Travis Pugh had the fumble recovery. Mance does not get credit for a takeaway because he did not recover the fumble, but it was certainly a huge play.
The victory was in direct contrast to Clemson's previous two games, which both ended in defeat. Clemson out-gained Florida State and Virginia by nearly 200 yards combined, but lost both of those games. Wake Forest had 243 more yards than Clemson, but the Tigers came away with the triumph.
NC State struggled with a Duke team that lost its 21st straight conference game. Duke scored a touchdown with 16 seconds left, and then recovered an on-side kick. Duke ran off three more plays, but they were all incomplete passes. A 65-yard field goal fell short and NC State had its eighth straight victory this season, its ninth in a row over Duke.
Philip Rivers, the nation's leader in passing efficiency this week, threw for a season high 364 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way for NC State. He had a pair of 100-yard receivers in Jerricho Cotchery and Sterling Hicks. Cotchery had 174 yards on six catches and had a touchdown score.
Clemson vs. NC State Series Notes
The 22nd Annual Textile Bowl
Clemson and N.C. State will do battle in the 22nd annual Textile Bowl when the two teams meet in in Clemson on October 24. Clemson has a 15-6 advantage in the series since the game took on the Textile Bowl title in 1981, the year Clemson won the National Championship. The Textile Industry has a very important effect on the economy of North Carolina and South Carolina and the two schools competing in Thursday's game.
Overall, Clemson has a 44-25-1 lead in the series, including an 18-10 record in games played at Clemson. The Tigers are 15-10 against NC State in games played in Death Valley and the Tigers have scored 499 points in those 25 games. Clemson is 11-1-1 against NC State in neutral site games and 15-14 in games at Raleigh over the years, including last year's 45-37 victory.
Many of the Textile Bowl contests have been close, including each of the last five, which have all been decided eight points or less. Five years ago in Raleigh, Matt Padgett booted a 20-yard field goal with just 19 seconds left to give Clemson a 19-17 victory. The Tigers drove 78 yards in 14 plays to set up the winning score. Nealon Greene hit 20-32 passes for 250 yards and Tony Horne caught eight passes for 112 to key the Clemson offense.
In 1998 at Clemson, Torry Holt completed an incredible day with a nine-yard scoring pass from Jamie Barnette with just 37 seconds left. It was his fourth touchdown reception of the day. He had 225 yards receiving in that game.
In 1999, NC State, behind Head Coach Mike O'Cain, defeated Clemson 35-31 in an exciting contest in Raleigh that featured 35 first-quarter points between the two teams combined, most combined points ever in the first period of a Clemson game. Clemson had five possessions in the fourth period with a chance to take the lead, but could not drive for a winning touchdown.
The 2000 game was a thriller that came down to the last possession before the Tigers came away with a 34-27 victory. Woody Dantzler completed 18-30 passes for 220 yards and also rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Rod Gardner had 10 catches for 137 yards, while Travis Zachery added 31-147 and two scores.
Last year was the Woody Dantzler show as he gained 517 yards of total offense, an all-time Clemson record. He had a career best 23-27 passes for 333 yards and four scores, and also rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Still, it was a 45-37 outcome, as Rivers had another outstanding passing game for NC State.
Another close game took place in 1993. Clemson held a 20-0 lead after three quarters thanks to an offense that gained 250 yards rushing, but had to hang on in the last minute to gain the victory. Tim Jones broke up each of the Wolfpack's last two pass plays of the game at the Clemson goal line over the last 12 seconds of the contest to preserve the Tiger victory.
Last Four Meetings Have Featured Offense
The last four meetings between Clemson and NC State have featured high powered offensive shows. In fact, the average score between the two teams in the last four meetings is Clemson 37 and NC State 36. Clemson has outscored the Pack 149-145 in the last four meetings combined.
Over the last four meetings, Clemson has averaged 25 first downs, 175.5 yards rushing, 291.2 yards a game passing, 467 yards of total offense and 37.3 points per game. The Pack has averaged 17.5 first downs, 52.2 yards a game rushing, 322.5 passing and 374.8 yards of total offense per game against the Tigers in the last four meetings.
Last year's game featured 333 yards passing by Clemson and 331 by NC State, the only game in Clemson history in which both teams threw for at least 330 yards in the same game. Last year the Tigers gained 567 yards of total offense in Raleigh, Clemson's highest total-offense figure in history on an opponent's home field.
In 1998, Clemson scored 39 points and lost, at the time the most points Clemson had ever scored in a loss. Brandon Streeter completed 27-38 passes for 329 yards in that game. Clemson has scored at least 31 points in four straight games against NC State.
The two teams are 2-2 in these four games. NC State won in 1998 and 1999 and Clemson won in 2000 and 2001.
