Clemson football thoroughly dominated North Carolina State on Saturday in primetime after much talk from the talking heads and even more from Wolfpack players.
I mentioned it on the Sluggo podcast earlier in the week, but this is a State team that doesn’t have the receivers that Wake Forest has and Devin Leary, as good as he is, isn’t as good as Sam Hartman.
The defense came to play and North Carolina State uses a more traditional offense that the Tigers athleticism was able to feast against.
N.C. State finished with 279 yards, a good chunk of which came on the final, meaningless, drive which was extended on a roughing the passer penalty.
After N.C. State went up 10-6 with 1:51 left in the first half, Clemson dominated to the tune of 24-3 until that final drive.
Uiagalelei threw for 209 yards and a touchdown and ran for 73 more as the Tigers control the game and tempo from the outset.
Uiagalelei’s two rushing touchdowns and one through the air, led the Tigers to their 37th consecutive home victory and equaled Florida State’s ACC mark of 37 straight at home set from 1992-2001.
The Tigers face two consecutive road games, first at Boston College next Saturday and then a trip to Tallahassee in two weeks, before hosting Syracuse on October 22.
Clemson played without defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and lost Andrew Mukuba in the second quarter due to a targeting penalty.
Despite those losses the defense stepped up and and played their best game of the season, stifling the Wolfpack time after time.
Clemson football made a statement in Death Valley Saturday night as all the talk from the North Carolina State players and their offense came to a halt
Uiagalelei led the Tigers with 73 yards on the ground, followed by Will Shipley with 60 yards on 14 carries.
Jake Briningstool had 4 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown, while Antonio Williams had 5 receptions for 45 yards.
Next up Clemson travels to Boston College for the Red Bandana game Saturday night in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.