Scouting Report: Tigers vs N.C. State |
The Tigers board the busses on Friday and head up the highway for a Noon showdown on Saturday against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Raleigh. Since 1981, the annual game between the two teams has been called The Textile Bowl, due to the economic impact that the textile industry has had on both states. The Tigers own a 19-9 advantage over the Wolfpack since the inception of the Textile Bowl. The Wolfpack broke a four-game losing streak with a 38-31 win over Maryland last week, and need two more wins to become bowl eligible. The Tigers need conference wins as they surge toward an ACC Atlantic Division title and their first-ever appearance in the ACC Championship game.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH Russell Wilson, QB – The sophomore quarterback completed 25-of-28 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-31 win over Maryland Saturday afternoon, but also finished the day with a season-high three interceptions. On the season, he has completed 177-of-293 passes for 2,351 yards and 24 touchdowns [which leads the ACC], but has also thrown nine interceptions. His 24 touchdowns this season is already the third-best single-season mark in school history [and one away from tying for second place]. He has also run for four scores, making him responsible for 28 touchdowns with three games left to play. Alan-Michael Cash, DT – The senior has been one of the more unheralded players on an injury-riddled Wolfpack defensive squad, but last Saturday against Maryland he tallied eight quarterback pressures in NC State’s win. Cash has led the team in tackles twice this season - versus Wake Forest and Boston College. He was a key to the Wolfpack’s win over Pitt [the team now ranked eighth nationally] earlier this season. When the Panthers were trying to tie the game on 4th-and-goal in the waning moments, he had a key quarterback pressure. Owen Spencer, WR – The junior receiver is averaging 25.6 yards per catch heading into the 10th game, a mark that is leading the nation. For his career, Spencer is averaging 22.8 yards per reception (1,275 yards on 56 grabs), a mark that would beat the current school record of 22.3 (held by Elijah Marshall) if his career ended today. Spencer had the best game of his career against Florida State, pulling down 165 yards on five catches (one of the top yardage totals in the ACC this season). He scored on an 80-yard catch, the 11th-longest pass play in school history. Spencer leads the team with nine plays of 20+ yards this season.. FAMILIAR FACES Quintin Payton, WR – The freshman receiver played his high school football at T.L. Hanna. Denzelle Good, OL – The freshman played at Gaffney High School. Asa Watson, TE - The freshman played at Rock Hill. INJURY REPORT NC State – LB Ray Michel, questionable; OL Ray Mattes, out; WR T.J. Graham, out. CLEMSON – De Da’Quan Bowers (knee), out; CB Coty Sensabaug (toe), Probable SERIES HISTORY Overall, Clemson has a 49-27-1 lead in the series against NC State, including a 17-15 lead in Raleigh and a 12-8 lead in games played at Carter Finley Stadium. Clemson has a 21-11 lead in games at Clemson and a 18-11 lead in games in Death Valley. The series dates to 1899 when Clemson was victorious 24-0 in a game played in Rock Hill, SC. That was just the fourth year of Clemson football and the 16th game in the school’s history. DID YOU KNOW? Clemson has won five straight games in the series, tied for the longest streak by the Tigers in history. In addition to Clemson’s active five-game streak, Clemson also won five in a row from 1981-85. NC State’s longest winning streak in the series is six (1971-76). Clemson’s current five-game winning streak over NC State is its longest active winning streak over any league foe and the longest by the Tigers against an ACC opponent since it won eight in a row over Maryland from 1993-2000. DID YOU HEAR? “They're high on the mountain right now. They're a little cocky, beating Miami and Florida State last week. I guess seeing our defense, they think they're just going to come in and do their thing and run all over us. Just to go out there and prove to our critics that we can play football and we can stop people, that's from our point of view." – N.C. State DL Leroy Burgess. “Absolutely, from what I've seen, I don't see anybody that has controlled a game as much as he has, especially, the last couple of weeks. During this four-game winning streak of theirs, they are averaging 40 points a game, and he has certainly taken it to a higher level in those games.” - Wolfpack head coach Tom O’Brien on C.J. Spiller.
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