Defense fuels Clemson rout of Pack

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CLEMSON – What started out as a monster day for freshman quarterback Deshaun WatsonDeshaun Watson
Fr. Quarterback
#4 6-3, 204
Gainesville, GA
View Full Profile ended up as a historic effort for Clemson’s defense.

Watson was impressive in his second start, but Clemson’s defense held N.C. State’s offense in check all day – giving up just 156 total yards – as the Tigers trounced the Wolfpack 41-0 Saturday afternoon in a sun-splashed afternoon in Death Valley. Clemson improved to 3-2 (1-1 in the ACC) while NC State fell to 4-2 (0-2 ACC).

It was the largest margin of victory for the Tigers in the series – the previous high was a 39-10 in 1985. Clemson last shut out NC State in 1962, a 7-0 Clemson win in Raleigh. It was Clemson's first shutout since 2008 (54-0 SC State), first ACC shutout since 1998 (23-0 Terps), and first FBS shutout since 2006 (51-0 LaTech)

Watson's day ended early in the fourth quarter, but he wound up throwing for two touchdowns and running for two in a stellar effort. Watson finished the day 17-of-29 for 267 yards through the air, and he carried the ball 15 times for 62 yards. Mike Williams had six catches for 155 yards and both of Watson's touchdowns.

Clemson was also effective running the ball, getting big afternoons from freshmen Wayne Gallman and Adam Choice. Gallman carried the ball 13 times for 58 yards, while Choice had eight carries for 56 yards.

The Tigers took the opening kickoff and made an early statement against State’s defense. Watson scampered 11 yards on a third down play early in the drive, and one play later hit Mike WilliamsMike Williams
So. Wide Receiver
#7 6-5, 208
Vance, SC
View Full Profile in stride for a 56-yard touchdown and the early 7-0 lead.

Clemson’s next possession ended the same way, with a Watson run to set up a Williams touchdown. Watson ran 11 yards around the left end for a first down, then hit a diving Williams in the endzone to complete a 31-yard score and a 14-0 Clemson lead just over five minutes into the game.

Watson continued to shine on Clemson’s next drive, picking up a big third down and then leaping over a defender at the three and into the endzone for the five-yard run and a 21-0 Clemson lead with 4:32 left in the first quarter.

Two drives later, Robert SmithRobert Smith
Sr. Safety
#27 5-11, 211
St. George, SC
View Full Profile forced a fumble that was recovered by Corey CrawfordCorey Crawford
Sr. Defensive End
#93 6-5, 276
Columbus, GA
View Full Profile at the State 14 yard line, setting up Clemson’s next score by Watson. Watson ran through the left side of the line and moved easily into the endzone for a three-yard touchdown run and Clemson was up 28-0 early in the second quarter.

Ammon LakipAmmon Lakip
RS Jr. Kicker
#36 5-10, 200
Alpharetta, GA
View Full Profile added a 31-yard field for a 31-0 lead late in the half, but NC State finally got a chance to get on the board as time ran out. Two personal foul penalties and a holding penalty against the Clemson secondary gave the Pack a first down inside the Clemson ten, and with eight seconds remaining State elected to run another play instead of kick the field goal.

Brissett was flushed out of the pocket, and he sprinted towards the sideline trying to make a play. What he accomplished, however, was running out the clock in the half.

The Tigers got a 43-yard field goal from Lakip to begin the half, and Vic BeasleyVic Beasley
RS Sr. Defensive End
#3 6-2, 236
Adairsville, GA
View Full Profile made his mark on State’s ensuing possession. Brissett dropped back to pass, and as his arm went back to throw Beasley stripped him of the ball, caught the ball in midair and returned it 16 yards for the touchdown. He was credited with a sack on the play, the 28th of his career, tying him with Gaines AdamsGaines Adams
Defensive End
# 6-5, 260
Greenwood, SC
View Full Profile and Michael Dean Perry for the all-time Clemson record.

Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score


-----------------    -- -- -- --   -----


NC State............  0  0  0  0  -  0       Record: (4-2,0-2)


Clemson............. 21 10 10  0  - 41       Record: (3-2,2-1)


Scoring Summary:


1st 12:38 CU - Mike Williams 56 yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Ammon Lakip kick), 7-82 2:22, ST 0 - CU 7


    09:42 CU - Mike Williams 31 yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Ammon Lakip kick), 6-65 1:56, ST 0 - CU 14


    04:32 CU - Deshaun Watson 5 yd run (Ammon Lakip kick), 10-64 3:33, ST 0 - CU 21


2nd 10:56 CU - Deshaun Watson 3 yd run (Ammon Lakip kick), 4-16 1:07, ST 0 - CU 28


    05:32 CU - Ammon Lakip 31 yd field goal, 9-46 3:13, ST 0 - CU 31


3rd 09:31 CU - Ammon Lakip 43 yd field goal, 11-67 4:04, ST 0 - CU 34


    09:23 CU - Vic Beasley 16 yd fumble recovery (Ammon Lakip kick), , ST 0 - CU 41


                                     ST       CU


FIRST DOWNS...................       12       25


RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............   38-121   50-226


PASSING YDS (NET).............       35      267


Passes Att-Comp-Int...........   19-4-0  30-17-0


TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   57-156   80-493


Fumble Returns-Yards..........      0-0     3-42


Punt Returns-Yards............      1-7     4-40


Kickoff Returns-Yards.........      0-0     1-18


Interception Returns-Yards....      0-0      0-0


Punts (Number-Avg)............   9-45.6   3-37.7


Fumbles-Lost..................      3-3      1-0


Penalties-Yards...............     5-45    9-103


Possession Time...............    25:20    34:40


Third-Down Conversions........  3 of 14 12 of 19


Fourth-Down Conversions.......   0 of 0   0 of 1


Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      0-1      3-4


Sacks By: Number-Yards........     2-16     3-28





RUSHING: NC State-Tony Creecy 7-43; Shadrach Thornton 6-39; Matt Dayes


7-17; Jacoby Brissett 16-16; Bra'Lon Cherry 1-6; Bryan Underwood 1-0.


Clemson-Deshaun Watson 15-62; Wayne Gallman 13-58; Adam Choice 9-56; D.J. Howard


5-30; C.J. Davidson 4-18; Cole Stoudt 1-6; Adam Humphries 1-minus 1; TEAM


1-minus 1; Nick Schuessler 1-minus 2.


PASSING: NC State-Jacoby Brissett 4-18-0-35; TEAM 0-1-0-0.


Clemson-Deshaun Watson 17-29-0-267; Cole Stoudt 0-1-0-0.


RECEIVING: NC State-Shadrach Thornton 1-18; Jonathon Alston 1-9; Bryan


Underwood 1-8; Matt Dayes 1-0. Clemson-Mike Williams 6-155; Wayne Gallman 3-21;


Adam Choice 2-21; Demarre Kitt 2-8; Germone Hopper 1-28; Jordan Leggett 1-21;


Adam Humphries 1-8; C.J. Davidson 1-5.


INTERCEPTIONS: NC State-None. Clemson-None.


FUMBLES: NC State-Jacoby Brissett 2-2; Shadrach Thornton 1-1.


Clemson-TEAM 1-0.


Stadium: Memorial Stadium      Attendance: 78459


Kickoff time: 3:33 PM   End of Game: 6:42 PM   Total elapsed time: 3:09


Officials: Referee: J. Magallanes; Umpire: Terrence Ramsey; Linesman: Tracy Lynch;


Line judge: Tommy Giles; Back judge: Robert Luklan; Field judge: Bill Dolbow;


Side judge: M. McCarthy;


Temperature: 64 deg    Wind: Calm      Weather: Sunny

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