A week after a strong second-half performance, the NC State defense reverted back to its porous October form.
The Clemson offense dominated and the Pack's offense couldn't keep pace as the Tigers ran away with a 43-23 win on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium. CJ Spiller became the first play in Clemson history to throw, catch and run for a touchdown in a single game as the shifty running back helped the Tiger offense annihilate the Pack's struggling defensive unit.
The senior back threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Dye on a trick play, ran for a 16-yard touchdown when he skirted down the left sideline and then caught a 34-yard touchdown when the Pack defense left him wide open on the right side of the field. Spiller was the highlight, but the entire Clemson offense moved the ball at will, gaining 454 yards of total offense.
The Pack offense moved the ball but couldn't convert drives into touchdowns, while Clemson kept finding the endzone. Russell Wilson threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, while Toney Baker lead the running game with 76 yards. The sophomore quarterback threw touchdown passes to Jarvis Williams and Koyal George, who was recently moved from defensive back to wideout.
Clemson got on the board first during a quiet first quarter, kicking a 29-yard field goal on their second possession to take an early lead. The Pack punted on its first possession and Wilson threw an interception on its second, giving Clemson the opportunity to score again. The Tigers took advantage, taking over at its own 25-yard line but converting two big first downs before Jacoby Ford scored the game's first touchdown on an end around to put the Tigers up 10-0 early.
The Tigers opened the game up thanks to a special teams gaff by the Pack. Pinned deep in their own territory the Pack attempt to punt the ball out of bounds to avoid Spiller, but the ball went just six yards giving Clemson the ball on the Pack's 17-yard line. The Tigers ran just one play, pitching the ball to Spiller who then threw to a wide-open Xavier Dye for a touchdown to make it 17-0 in favor of Clemson
The Pack responded though, as Wilson finally found a groove. Wilson, who hadn't completed a pass coming into the drive, hit newly converted receiver Koyal George in the right corner of the endzone for an 18-yard touchdown to pull the Pack back within 10 points. But State was unable to slow down the Tiger's offense, especially on third down. Clemson converted a 48-yard pass play on third-and-11 to keep its drive alive, then Parker found tight end Michael Palmer in the back of the endzone on third down for a touchdown to put the Tigers up 24-7 at the half.
Wilson and the Pack offense opened the second half with its second touchdown drive of the game, marching 75 yards for the score. Wilson hit Owen Spencer for a 21-yard play on the drive before finding a leaping Jarvis Williams in the corner of the endzone to pull back within 10 points. The score was quickly nullified when Clemson answered with its own touchdown with a 16-yard run from Spiller, who has scored in every game so far this season for the Tigers. Clemson missed the extra point to make the score 30-14.
The Pack added a field goal but Spiller and the Tigers answered right back. The Pack somehow left Spiller wide open down the right sideline and Parker found him for a 34-yard touchdown, becoming the first player in Clemson history to throw, run and pass for a touchdown in a single game. After a Pack punt, Jamie Harper took the first play of the drive 69 yards for a touchdown to make it 43-17.
Mike Glennon came in during the final minute of the game, finding Jarvis Williams in the endzone to make the final score 43-23.