Clemson painful loss at N.C. State

GoldenNewsNg gathered that Clemson was coming off its sixth consecutive conference championship, and N.C. State finished 2020 with an 8-4 record and returning a nice blend of skill position players on offense and nine starters on defense.

After Clemson, ranked No. 2 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, produced no excitement on offense in a season-opening loss to Georgia, and N.C. State the next week were humbled at Mississippi State, today’s 3:30 p.m.

7:34 p.m.|A particularly costly loss for Clemson football

Clemson’s dreams of a seventh consecutive trip to the College Football Playoffs got a bucket of cold water in the face Saturday evening in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Tigers, ranked No. 7 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, lost 27-21 to the Wolfpack in two overtimes. Clemson, which earlier lost to then-No. 3 Georgia in its opener, fell to 2-2. No two-loss team has made the CFP field in its first seven seasons.

It was Clemson’s first loss to an unranked team in 36 games, and it lost to a program that hadn’t beaten a Top 10 team since 2012.

The Tigers also were dealt big blows to their roster. Linebacker James Skalski did not play in the second half after injuring his right shoulder, and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee went out with a left knee injury early in the second half.

Then, in overtime, running back Will Shipley, the team’s best offensive player this season, took a blow to a knee and had to be helped off the field.

7:25 p.m.| N.C. State upsets Clemson

Clemson failed to score in the second overtime, missing on a fourth-and-five pass to the end zone from D.J. Uiagalelei to Justyn Ross.

The Tigers lost to an unranked team for the first time in 36 games and falls to 2-2, including 1-1 in the ACC.

7:16 p.m. | N.C. State takes lead in second OT

Devin Carter made a twisting, falling catch of a pass from Devin Leary in the end zone on the first play of the second overtime for a 25-yard touchdown that gave N.C. State a 27-21 lead.

The mandatory two-point conversion play,  a Leary pass under pressure, was incomplete.

N.C. State 27, Clemson 21 

7:13 p.m. | A second OT coming

Devin Leary threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Thayer Thomas on third down to tie the score at 21 and send the game to a second overtime.

7:06 p.m. |Clemson takes lead in OT

Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei passed for a 9-yard touchdown to Justyn Ross in overtime to give Clemson a 21-14 lead.

7:04 p.m. | Will Shipley goes down in OT

Clemson running back Will Shipley was injured blocking for quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei in overtime. He leg was inadvertently whiplashed by an N.C. State defender. He had to be helped off the field.

6:55 p.m.| Clemson, N.C. State go to overtime

Christopher Dunn  missed his third consecutive field goal attempt as time expired, giving Clemson a chance to pull out a win in overtime.

Dunn missed from 39 yards after missing two from beyond 50 yards.

6:38 p.m. | N.C. State misses chance to take the lead back

N.C. State responded to Clemson’s touchdown with a 41-yard drive to the Tigers’ 34, but Wolfpack kicker Christopher Dunn missed a 51-yard field goal. It was his second miss of the game from beyond 50.

The score remains Clemson 14, N.C. State 14.

6:37 p.m.| Clemson’s defense takes another hit

Here’s the bad news about Bryan Bresee:

6:26 p.m. |Clemson ties the score

Clemson tied the score on a 5-yard touchdown run with 10:52 remaining in the game. The play before, D.J. Uiagalelei had a 37-yard run before being knocked out of bounds. His helmet came off, so had to sit out the next play. Taisun Phommachanh entered and handed off to Shipley, who cut off left tackle and went untouched for the score.

The drive covered 80 yards, 57 more than the Tigers had gained in the second and third quarters behind.

6:16 p.m.|Upset alert: Clemson trails after three quarters

After managing only 23 yards offense combined in the second and third quarters, Clemson trails N.C. State 14-7 entering the third quarter.

The Tigers have won eight consecutive games against the Wolfpack, and Coach Dabo Swinney is 10-1 against N.C. State.

6:00 p.m. | Wolfpack take the lead

With James Skalski on Bryan Bresee on the sideline, Clemson’s defense was unable to keep the clamps on N.C. State’s offense.

Devin Leary passed 12  yards to Devin Carter for a touchdown that gave the Wolfpack a 14-7 lead with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter. The score completed a nine-play, 77-7ard drive, and the 53,000 in Carter-Finley Stadium suddenly grew raucous.

N.C. State 14, Clemson 7

5:22 p.m. | Clemson has injury concern at linebacker

Clemson went into the half with linebacker James Skalski with ice on his right shoulder. Here’s the story:

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5:14 p.m. | Second quarter goes to the Wolfpack

Clemson had the best drive of its season against an FCS opponent to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but did not take advantage of the momentum.

The Tigers punted on four consecutive possessions without getting a first down and then lost the ball on an interception of a tipped pass. Clemson finished with 8 yards total offense in the second quarter.

N.C. State was comparatively much better, with 65 yards, though Clemson’s defense prevented the Wolfpack from scoring. Christopher Dunn missed a 53-yard field goal attempt with 3 seconds remaining.

Halftime: Clemson 7, N.C. State 7.

4:38 p.m. | Clemson offense going backwards

Since its impressive five-play, 80-yard drive for the touchdown that gave it a 7-0 lead, Clemson’s offense has regressed.

The Tigers have gone three-and-out on three consecutive possessions, netting 3, 0 and -10 yards.

4:25 p.m. |Flagging the biggest problem of the first quarter

If there’s any area in which both teams are being lectured about in the brief break between the first and second quarter, it’s likely about penalties.

The teams combined for 10 penalties. N.C. State had six, most of which were by its offense and kept it from getting into a flow. Clemson had only four, but two came on the final drive by the Wolfpack when quarterback Devin Cleary drew Tigers offside with hard counts.

4:15 p.m. | Clemson’ defense gives up first touchdown

Clemson’s defense fell 5 seconds short of extending its touchdown-free play to 13 quarters.

N.C. State scored with 5 seconds remaining in the first quarter on a 9-yard pass from Devin Leary to Emeka Emezie, and the PAT tied the score at 7. The Wolfpack drove 54 yards on 10 plays, aided by two Clemson offside penalties.

End of 1st quarter: Clemson 7, N.C. State 7.

3:55 p.m. | D.J. Uiagalelei shows some touch

The biggest concern about D.J. Uiagalelei’s performance in Clemson’s first three games was an ability to make connections on deeper routes. He zipped passes that missed their targets.

On the Tigers’ second drive, he showed a better touch on the deeper routes.

He started the possession with a 29-yard completion to Joseph Ngata, laying the ball to the sideline shoulder, away from two defenders and right into Ngata’s hands.

He capped the series with a scramble roll-out to the right, planted and threw perfectly to Justyn Ross at the back of the end zone near the right goal post.  Clemson 7, N.C. State 0

3:14 p.m. | Keep that remote handy

As is becoming the norm, the start of Clemson’s game may not be broadcast on the scheduled channel.

The LSU-Mississippi State game that began at noon on ESPN has about 6 minutes remaining with 16 minutes remaining before the Clemson-N.C. State broadcast is scheduled to begin. The Tigers lead, 28-17.

The bet here is that if the SEC game drags much past 3:30 p.m., Clemson’s game will open on ESPNews, where there is no live programming scheduled. That’s channel 300 on Spectrum, 207 on DirecTV and 142 on Dish.

3 p.m. | Tigers who won’t play today

There are no surprises on the list of Clemson players who won’t be available today