Brandon Thompson and the Tigers defense carried the day
The 2010 Textile Bowl belongs to Clemson. The Tigers defense led the way in a 14-13 win over 23rd ranked N.C. State Saturday afternoon at Death Valley.
Who says it takes all three phases to win a game? It didn’t matter that Clemson’s offense never found its rhythm because the defense and special teams were ready. Whether it was the 30 yard blocked field goal in the second quarter, the interception in the end zone to prevent a score or a 76 yard kickoff return to flip the field position, those two units made the plays when they had to.
When the punter gets a game ball for making a one handed catch on a high snap, you know your special teams had a good day.
When the defensive coordinator literally passes out after his unit makes an interception in the end zone, you know your defense has had a good day. Yes, Kevin Steele passed out after he hyperventilated following a DeAndre McDaniel interception in the second quarter. No worries, he was treated and continued to coach the rest of the game and is doing well, just like his defense.
Bottom line, it wasn’t pretty, but the Tigers will take it. A win is a win and this team needed one.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Clemson won the toss and elected to receive. The Tigers went three and out on its first possession. Bruce McNeal made a third down catch that would have extended the drive, but he fumbled trying to get an extra yard. Clemson recovered the fumble but it was a yard short of the chains.
N.C. State took its first possession and marched straight into the end zone on a seven play, 58 yard drive capped by a three yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Irmo native and Wolfpack freshman running back Mustafa Green.
Wolfpack scoring drive summary: 7-58-2:32
Marcus Gilchrist fumbled the ensuing kickoff but managed to recover on the 15 yard line. From there Tigers managed to move the ball down the field with a couple of nice passes to McNeal and Marquan Jones. Tajh Boyd took one snap at quarterback and gained three yards before Kyle Parker came back in. The drive looked great until things started unraveling when they moved inside the Wolfpack 20. Parker fumbled on a scramble (fortunately recovered by Tigers), then had a delay of game, followed by an incomplete pass in the end zone. The 15 play drive ended with no points when Richard Jackson missed a 37 yard field goal.
END OF FIRST QUARTER SCORE: N.C. STATE 7-0
SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Jamie Harper rushed for 60 yards filling in for the injured Andre Ellington
Clemson started the quarter with possession of the ball on the N.C. State 48 yard line. The Tigers started the drive late in the first quarter on its own 13 yard line following a Wolfpack punt. Clemson was about to move into the Pack red zone when Parker threw across his body into the middle of the field and was intercepted on the State 17 yard line.
N.C. State took possession and moved all the way to Clemson’s 13 yard line before the drive stalled. They settled for a 30 field goal attempt which was blocked by Clemson Jarvis Jenkins.
Clemson took possession at its own 11 and Tajh Boyd beigns the drive at quarterback. On the first place Jamie Harper and Boyd have issues on the handoff and fumble. N.C. State recovered at the eight yard line. Harper was charged with the fumble.
The Clemson defense managed to keep the Pack from scoring though. DeAndre McDaniel picked off Wilson in the end zone on a third and goal play.
The Tigers took over on its own 20 and Boyd returned at quarterback. Clemson went three and out.
After the defense forced a punt Clemson took over on its own 18 with 2:52 left in the half. Parker returned at quarterback. Parker led the offense all the way down to the Pack 13 yard line and from there he tossed a touchdown pass to McNeal…but the score was called back because of holding. Parker was sacked on the next two plays and the Tigers ended up with no points.
Halftime score: N.C. State 7-0
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:
After forcing N.C. Sate to punt on its first possession, Clemson took over on its own 20 yard line. On first down Kyle Parker was sacked and fumbled. It was recovered by the Wolfpack on the Tigers 13 yard line. It was the third straight sack for the Pack. Clemson had only given up six sacks all season entering the game.
The Tiger defense kept Wilson and the Wolfpack out of the end zone. State settled for a 28 yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 9:10 left in the third quarter.
Wolfpack scoring drive summary: 4-2-2:08
After the offense went three and out, the Clemson defense forced a fumble on State’s next possession. Tigers recovered Mustafa Green’s fumble on the Wolfpack 22 yard line.
Clemson took advantage of the turnover, scoring on a 12 yard touchdown pass from Parker to DeAndre Hopkins to cut the Wolfpack lead to three with 2:44 left in the quarter.
Clemson scoring drive summary: 5-22-2:09
End of third quarter score N.C. State 10-7
FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
After a couple of big pass plays to end the third quarter, N.C. State started the fourth quarter on the Clemson 27 yard line. The Wolfpack moved to the Clemson 10 yard line before the drive stalled forcing a 27 yard field goal. The kick was good to push the State lead to six with 13:22 left in the game.
N.C. State scoring drive summary: 10-70-4:16
Marcus Gilchrist returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to the N.C. State 21 to give the Tigers the short field on its next possession. They were unable to capitalize though, after a three and out Richard Jackson missed a 32 yard field goal, his second miss of the game.
Once again, the Tigers defense answered the bell on State’s next possession, forcing a three and out.
After the punt Clemson started its next drive on the Wolfpack 39 yard line. The Tigers took advantage of the short field this time, scoring a touchdown on an eight play drive. Jamie Harper capped the drive with a four yard touchdown run. Chandler Cantanzaro replaced Jackson and kicked the extra point to give Clemson a 14-13 lead with 6:18 to play.
Clemson scoring drive summary: 8-39-3:10
N.C. State moved across midfield and had a fourth and one with just under than four minutes left in the game. Wolfpack coach Tom O’Brien decided to punt, which didn’t turn out well. The punt was short and bounced backwards, giving the Tigers the ball back on their own 39.
The N.C. State defense held Clemson to a three and out, but it had to use all three of its timeouts. Clemson punted setting up NC State first and 10 on its own 15 with just under three minutes to play.
Clemson’s defense answered the bell again, forcing the Wolfpack to turn it over on downs at the Clemson 25 with 1:50 to play sealing the win for the Tigers.
FINAL SCORE: Clemson 14, N.C. State 13
