Staff photo by Ethan Hyman
• First Look: N.C. State at Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. — N.C. State just didn't have enough big-play ability to match Clemson on Saturday in a 27-9 loss at Death Valley.
The Wolfpack managed just one play of more than 20 yards on offense. Clemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford had three by himself.
Nate Irving's 33-yard interception return on the first play from scrimmage got N.C. State out to a quick 6-0 lead, but the Wolfpack's speed couldn't match Clemson's.
Couple the Tigers' big gainers by Ford, Aaron Kelly and C.J. Spiller with N.C. State's special teams miscues, and Clemson managed a double-digit victory.
N.C. State suffered a blocked extra point after Irving's touchdown and a missed 25-yard field goal attempt by Josh Czajkowski. Bradley Pierson shanked punts of 17 and 22 yards.
The Wolfpack still trailed just 17-9 early in the final quarter, but
couldn't add to its point total. Quarterback Russell Wilson drove N.C. State across midfield in the fourth quarter, but was intercepted by cornerback Crezdon Butler on a desperate, deep throw on a third-and-7.
Clemson took possession at its 4-yard line after that interception with 9:28 remaining and ran 8:07 off the clock before Spiller scored the clinching touchdown on a 12-yard run.
Harrison Beck came into the game for the final drive and had a certain touchdown pass dropped by Steven Howard. Beck was intercepted on a desperation pass on the final play.
Tiger quarterback Cullen Harper was 20-for-28 passing for 262 yards.
N.C. State was led by Andre Brown, who rushed 14 times for 64 yards and caught four passes for 51 yards. Brown had the Wolfpack's lone play of more than 20 yards, a 30-yard reception in the third quarter.
THIRD QUARTER: N.C. State finally got a big play in the passing game from Russell Wilson and running back Andre Brown on the opening drive of the second half.
Wilson hit Brown for a 30-yard gain to convert a third-and-5, then drove N.C. State into position for a 25-yard field goal attempt with the help of a questionable late hit call on Clemson.
But Josh Czajkowski's kick was wide left.
Czajkowski got another chance later in the third quarter after Wilson drove the Wolfpack to the 5-yard line. Cjazkowski's 22-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining in the quarter broke an 11-quarter scoreless streak for N.C. State's offense against Football Bowl Subdivision competition.
The Wolfpack's defense did score a touchdown in the first quarter against Clemson and also held the Tigers scoreless in the third quarter as N.C. State crept back within 17-9.
SECOND QUARTER: You had to figure that at some point, Clemson's high-powered skill players on offense were going to take over against N.C. State.
They did that in the second quarter Saturday at Clemson.
Cullen Harper hit Jacoby Ford for 28 yards to set up a Tiger field goal for a 10-6 Clemson lead. On its next possession, Clemson went 59 yards in two quick plays.
N.C. State cornerback DeAndre Morgan couldn't stop Aaron Kelly on a post route he caught for a 31-yard gain. Then Harper made a pretty fake of an out pattern to T.J. Grisham before lofting a 28-yard pass to C.J. Spiller for a touchdown and a 17-6 lead.
At halftime, N.C. State trailed 17-6 and had yet to score on offense. In fact, it's been 11 quarters since the Wolfpack has scored on offense against a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
Quarterback Russell Wilson is moving the team for a few first downs on runs and short passes, but N.C. State's biggest problem is its lack of a downfield passing game. As of halftime, N.C. State's longest completed pass was for 7 yards.
Some of that is Wilson's problem. Some of that can be traced to the wide receivers not getting open, and the lack of protection for pass plays to develop downfield.
Backup Harrison Beck, who passed for 246 yards in a little over two quarters last week with Wilson hurt, made a brief second-quarter appearance for a series, leading N.C. State to two first downs.
But when N.C. State tried one of the same takeoff routes that worked last week against William & Mary's less athletic secondary, Beck didn't have much luck. Clemson's more talented defensive backs were in good position. Beck threw into double coverage and was fortunate not to get intercepted.
At any rate, for the second half and the foreseeable future, N.C. State needs to find a way to get the kind of big plays college teams need to be successful.
North Carolina got a ton of those against Rutgers on Thursday night, particularly from wide receiver Brandon Tate. Trailing by 11 at halftime, N.C. State desperately needed a player like Tate to step forward at Clemson.
As a side note, the Wolfpack's special teams could use some work, too. Josh Czajkowski's extra-point attempt was blocked in the first quarter, and Bradley Pierson shanked punts of 17 and 22 yards.
FIRST QUARTER: N.C. State linebacker Nate Irving has done a lot of impressive things this season.
Add silencing nearly 80,000 fans at Clemson to the list.
Irving entered Saturday's game tied for the ACC lead with 11.5 tackles per game. He'd also made two interceptions and a fumble recovery in N.C. State's first two games.
On the first play from scrimmage Saturday, Irving jumped a Clemson slant route to intercept Cullen Harper. Irving hustled toward the sideline and sprinted 33 yards into the end zone.
It was the last thing Clemson fans still restless from the Aug. 30, season-opening debacle wanted to see. But the Tigers recovered quickly. They lead 7-6 after the first quarter.
Jarvis Jenkins blocked Josh Czajkowski's extra point attempt to keep the score at 6-0. On Clemson's next possession a 30-yard gain on a reverse by Jacoby Ford set up a touchdown. Harper atoned for his mistake by hittin Ford in the middle of the field for 16 yards and a 7-6 lead with the extra point.
N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson had a successful return after the concussion he suffered Aug. 28 at South Carolina. Wilson scrambled for two first downs on N.C. State's first drive and led the Wolfpack off the goal line on the Wolfpack's second drive, though he didn't produce any points in
the first quarter.
Wilson also showed no ill effects from the Aug. 28 concussion Saturday after a jarring hit by Clemson cornerback Crezdon Butler knocked his helmet off.
Wilson came off the field briefly, replaced by Harrison Beck, but N.C. State spokesman Pat Norris reported that Wilson just had an equipment problem.
He got his minor helmet problem fixed and sprinted back on the field in seconds.
Comments
Go Tigers!
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 20:18 — Matt (not verified)I just wanted to sneak in amongst all of this bickering and interject that comment.
Enjoy!
sneak in...
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 08:01 — izzykareemwhy don't you slither back over to the bickering on the Clempson forums and say that. Maybe you were one of those clempson walmart fans who acted stupid towards our coach
Random thoughts
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 13:15 — JPDOhio1. Russell Wilson gives the Pack the best chance to win. There is an upside with him, but it is going to take time. Some think he is too quick to run, but I recall Troy Smith being the same way early in his career. Russell will learn and get better, setting up an exciting competition with Glennon next year.
2. The Pack is very young and very thin in depth. It will take time for the injuries to heal and experience to be gained. Depth was a problem even before the injury bug hit. The team is competing, it just doesn't have the horses to stay with good BCS teams. And they lost to two good BCS teams (see USC-Ga yesterday).
3. Tom O'Brien will not panic. He will stick with the process that has served him well over the years and it will work at State. Those who complain that he is not coaching to the talent he has are wrong. He has an offense that uses Wilson's strengths, but it is taking time to develop. After all , the kid has only played a game and a half.
4. You can't change things up every game. If you do, you will never achieve continuity. The Pack's problem is not offensive strategy or tactics, it is lack of quality personnel available to play.
5. UNC is definitely further along than State is at this point. And the Tar Heels deserve credit for the pasting they put on Rutgers the other day. But there is a lot of football yet to be played and UNC has not been tested like the Pack has. If the Pack can avoid any more injuries to critical players, I expect them to improve by the time they play the Tar Heels and I expect that game to be a pretty good one.
6. I think each of the Triangle teams has the right coach in place to improve the respective programs. The future looks good for college football in the Triangle.
russell wilson is terrible
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 12:49 — Anonymous (not verified)Russell wilson couldnt throw throw himself out of a paper sack!! He ran on every pass play, and completed more passes to the equipment manager on the sideline than any wolfpack player!! No one will fear or respect our offense with him running it, and its not all his fault, dana bilble is an idiot who is trying to convert us into an option spread attack just in time to learn it then try switch it back when glennon is ready to take over, because glennon is their boy!! He must be awsome hes 4th on the depth chart and redshirted on one of the worst offenses in div 1 history..... Why isnt beck playing and running this offense like tebow. If you havent noticed hes 6'2'' 230 pounds, sneaky fast and can throw the shit out of the ball. Im not sure he could run for four or five yards a play like wilson, but at least he can throw the ball to someone whos not five feet away and actually complete it!! Our O is horrible, and how many big recruits are going to tranfer in in the future knowing how TOB mishandled Beck. 250 yards and 2 tds in 2 quarters of work last week and this week he gets 3 plays in the first half, and 6 garbage plays at the end of a lost game, where he threw a bomb that was dropped on his first pass of the second half. Is everyone else blind this kid just needs a chance, just like they gave Evans and Wilson.
NCSU's offensive coaches need
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 08:51 — Rataplanto fit the O scheme to available talent .... why has the OC not seen this? The current QB (Wilson) is a runner first, passer second; we have a great TB (Brown) .... Football 101 means use that talent in an option attack directed at the defensive ends. The quick-footed QB reads the DE/OLB, then either turns up the field or pitches to the trail back (Brown), who has power and speed. Look at Barry Switzer's OU teams of the 1970s and 1980s -- quick-footed QBs and fast RBs. Ran everybody ragged. When the Sooners passed, they hit for big plays, too. A quick QB can fake the option run to suck in 2ndary, take 2 quick steps back and fire the ball to WRs, either running crossing patterns or who have gotten behind DBs who have come up for run support. ... FIT THE O SCHEME TO THE TALENT, not vice versa ... this ain't rocket science...why didn't O'Brien, his OC figure this out? Inflexibility? Lack of imagination? Give the D team all the credit; that is a good bunch with a good scheme; D team is doing all the work with little help from the O side coaching staff... We have a backfield right now fitted to the OPTION -- Wilson, Brown, Curtis Underwood (nice surprise), soon-to-return (I hope) Jamelle Eugene and Toney Baker ... has anyone on the NCSU O staff noticed almost NO TEAMS NATIONALLY runs with much success between the tackles, and certainly not teams with average size and strength up front? ..... When you can't beat 'em up, finesse 'em to death ... we have a finesse-oriented offense...CHANGE
What could have been a great year....
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 22:58 — eddie (not verified)Looking at the schedule before the kick off of the USC and NCSU game, I noticed that BC, FSU and Wake were coming to Raliegh. While playing at Clemson and Maryland, I felt like with a win over those teams at home and maybe stealing one on the road, the results would have NCSU at the top of the divison. That would have shocked all the nay sayers. But.... after watching today's slop, like they say "wishful thinking" right?? Now as I say State won't win another game as mentioned in the "State looked" entry, so I would start Beck the rest of the year, if Russell wants to so run much, put him at TB and Brown at fullback. Someone has get the ball to the WR's they have. I would also pull Glennon's redshirt and get him some PT before the end of the season..... What'cha think Pack fans
what do i think...
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 02:56 — izzykareem#1 - you're not a pack fan
#2 - you don't know a whole lot about football
#3 - you know how to logon to the internet
what I think...
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 10:44 — eddie (not verified)Hey Izzy, I am a die hard wolfpack fan, whose father is a alumni from NCSU, who weathered the times of the dreadful years of Monte Kiffin, Tom Reed, Mike O'Cain, Chuck the Chest. We were there to enjoy the excitement that Dick Sheridan brought to NCSU. Dad was in the Wolfpack club and we spent two hours of anger traveling back home after watching NCSU struggle under the coaches before Sheridan. How many times have you not heard of other teams change players to another position on a team and that player actually enjoy the change, i.e Marcus Stone.... who actually stated that all he wanted to was help the team win..... But I guess you are happy with mediocrity and spend your time wasting money watching losers as fore mentioned, I'm not and the problem with that is the teams before Sheidan could not even finish .500. Oh. another thing buddy. Since you seem happy with mediocrity, who was the OC for Tom Reed's pityful teams......duh Dana Bible, check it out.
Butch>TOB
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 22:43 — Howler (not verified)Looks like we have a large gap to close between our team's fundamentals compared to our nemesis in Chapel Hill. I must say I'm a little nervous about it.
Howler huh...
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 03:02 — izzykareemI didn't know sheep howled?
We have played 3 teams - 2 Div1A teams and 1 Div1AA team. UNC-CH has played 2 teams - 1 div1A team and 1 div1AA team. State beat their 1AA opponent more handily than did UNC-CH (Tarholes like yourself will say that's because McNiece is better than William Or Mary). And the two 1A teams we played are far superior to Rutgers. I give UNC-CH their due, they beat Rutgers good and on the road, but Rutgers sucks. We'll know a little more about UNC-CH next weekend as VT will be a much better test. UNC-CH still can't run the ball and once teams start taking away the long pass plays, then we'll see.
Surprised?
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 22:30 — packalum08 (not verified)Did we learn anything about this year's squad that we didn't know from the USC game? We had some success running. Our offensive line made mistakes. Our special teams are far from special. Nate Irving is a great defender. We lack a big-time playmaker (Wilson has potential). All these things we knew after playing USC. The only thing different this time was that Wilson didn't get a concussion and was able to play longer. This is going to be a painful season unless three things happen. The quarterback and receivers need to become more comfortable with each other, the receivers need to step it up, and the kicking must improve.
Like I said, nothing new from two weeks ago.
A player like Tate!!?? Are
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 22:17 — Anonymous (not verified)A player like Tate!!?? Are you kidding me? How dare you mention a hole when doing an evaluation of State! What we need is for some guys to some how get up out of their hospital beds and rehab tables to rejoin the team. We just need some players to get healthy and all will be fine. This was never going to be "our" year , but we are building.
Deal With It
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 23:57 — Anonymous (not verified)Tate is simply amazing, ive failed to see a nc state player with as much play making ability as him, and if you knew anything at all about football you'd love to have a player on your team like him...."Which You Dont" Players are hurt yes, but you have to play with the cards ur delt..so NC State has to deal and not sit back on the hurt thing. I dont hear Tom O'Brian saying "We would have went undefeated if every1 was healthy" because thats the thing i seem to muster up listening to NC State fans...
way to speak for state
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 06:00 — mad_maxway to speak for state fan...maybe you should stick to your own team, instead of trying to stir up trouble. state fans know its more than just injuries keeping us down right now. we can win with the guys we have right now, and i think we will win a couple more. state's offense finally started driving the ball in the second half against clemson...unfortunately only 3 points came from it, but that's better than nothing and at least we were getting to the redzone. i do question the playcalling though; i think i would have gone for it in both of those FG situations, but of course i was just sitting on the couch.
"we can win with the guys
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 17:44 — gvillegatr"we can win with the guys we have right now"
loyal as a dadgum dog! I love it!! you will not win another game this season and you know it. and yes, I know DUIke is on the schedule.
It's obvious, NCSU had a bad day.
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 19:22 — UNCAlumnusI just hope it's not part of a bad season. For the sake of NC and ACC football. I also can't wait until Nov 22. Keep your chin up NCSU fans. There's no where but up to go.
Stay on topic KT
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 17:42 — Anonymous (not verified)KT, keep the tarholes out of your NCSU columns. Have you ever been tested for ADD? A blatant attempt like this would suggest you're starving for attention - the writer's bane.
no, its not ADD. He was just
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 19:40 — Jumping Johnny (not verified)no, its not ADD. He was just thinking to himself.."Why am i writing about NC State?, the fans dont like the team, why should i like to write about it" He probably rather cover a better team =]
State actually did not look
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 15:22 — mtber1975State actually did not look that bad...they just need to get something going in the passing game. The defense played well and the running game showed some life...they just need to get some injured players back and give Wilson a little more time to throw.
State Actually did not look that bad????/
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 22:09 — NCBKXVIIIApparently you did not see the same game I did! They were pittyful. I guess you consider your offense not scoring the not looking bad? You State fans kill me. Be Afraid, Be very Afraid we are going to Raleigh this coming weekend and it is gonna be ugly!!
State looked
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 16:03 — PhilcobrownPathetic. They are just a bad team. Duke is better NC State. Now that's pathetic!
State looked
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 18:04 — eddie (not verified)You are damn right. They will not win another game this year.... Somebody better get rid of Dana Bible. No damn TD's in 13 quarters, and we shouldn't "BOO". Give me a break.... Russel Wilson is not the the quarterback. He had George Bryan wide open twice, and he throws the ball out of bounds. You can forget any pending recurits {???} coming to Raliegh next year.
NCSU looked
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 18:44 — melvinfurdI gotta tell you; I just love your objectivity!
be real
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 15:21 — bubba (not verified)Why the suprise that the Pack is not looking like a top 25 team. We knew this was going to be a rough year, look at our schedule, Clemson might have been one of our better shots at victory in the first half of the season, they are as always a paper tiger, the best 8-4 team in America. This year will be tough but Coach O'Brien and his staff will turn those kids into winners. It is going to take time to reverse the damage done by Chuck, but they will win and win with class and honor for the school and fans. Something that we never had under Ole Chucky. Smile, relax and be patient it will come.
New Kicker
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 14:09 — chiefjahaI know we have several problems...but for the Love of God...the kicker has an extra point blocked and then he just missed a 25 yard field goal. Come on!!
New Kicker
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 14:55 — Coach Harold (not verified)Whine, whine, whine. Surely you didn't expect to actually beat Clempson? And you're trying to blame the kicker?Good grief.
Read the Whole Post "Coach"
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 16:56 — chiefjahaAs I said coach...it did not say anything about beating anyone...and it did say that we have some problems. With all that whine, you much be a carolina fan, but of course not an alumnus
You're right. no one
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 15:18 — charelston wolf (not verified)You're right. no one expected us to win. but the kicking game should be solid. missing that extra point and field goal just means more time that the coaching staff will have to spend on extra teams instead of the offensive line or cornerbacks or tackling or...the list can go on.
I think our team is getting better each game. We should have a good foundation by the end of the season going into next year.