On This Date: 1997 (19)Clemson- 19 NC State- 17

Sep 13, 2024, 9:23 AM

09/13/1997
Raleigh, NC

No.19 Clemson- 19 NC State- 17
CEDRIC HARMON

At Raleigh, N.C., Matt Padgett's fourth field goal - a 20-yarder with 19 seconds left - lifted the Tigers, 19-17, and to their first 2-0 start since 1991.

With N.C. State (2-1) ahead 17-13, Padgett hit a 30-yard field goal with 6:09 left after Nealon Greene completed passes of 30, 13 and 24 yards. Greene drove the Tigers 78 yards on 14 plays before Padgett hit his winning kick.

WHO WAS THAT MAN? A Clemson player No. 33 made a key play against N.C. State's Torry Holt by pushing him out of bounds as the Wolfpack tried pulling out a victory for itself after Matt Padgett's go-ahead field goal. The player was reserve cornerback David Evans, cousin of former safety Leomont Evans. His name was not even listed on the game-day roster.

IN THE RIGHT PLACE: Rahim Abdullah's fumble recovery for a touchdown during the third quarter was the second of his career. Ironically, his other recovery for a touchdown also came against N.C. State in last year's contest, a 9-yard jaunt into the end zone. Abdullah's recovery for a touchdown was also the first by a Clemson defensive player since he did it last year.

UP THE LIST: N.C. State's Tremayne Stephens, formerly of Riverside High School, finished with 105 yards rushing and that moved him into third place all-time for the Wolfpack with 2,664 yards.

STILL COUNTING: While Clemson tight end Lamont Hall may have caught three passes for 30 yards, he still is really without distinction. That's because it's been 88 games since a Clemson tight end has caught a touchdown pass. Senior wide receiver Tony Horne caught eight passes for 112 yards, marking the second consecutive game he's gone over the 100-yard mark. It's also the first time a Clemson receiver has done that since Charlie Waters, the former Dallas Cowboy, did it in 1969.

CONFIDENCE BUILDER: Padgett, whose 20-yard field goal gave Clemson a 19-17 win with 19 seconds left, was four of five in field goals, marking a significant reversal of fortune in recent games that he'd been involved in. In the two contests before Saturday, he saw two field goals blocked (by LSU and Appalachian State) and he missed one wide left in the waning seconds of the USC game. "I knew he'd make the last one. The biggest one was the one he made before," Clemson head coach Tommy West said. "That was real big at the time. I hope it gives him confidence." The one that West referred to was Padgett converting on a 47-yard attempt that put the Tigers ahead 13-10 early in the third quarter. That came after Padgett had missed on a 49-yard attempt during the first half.