North Carolina State Wolfpack forced QB D.J. Uiagalelei into a fourth-down incompletion in the second overtime period and defeated the ninth-ranked Clemson Tigers 27-21 on Saturday.
This unexpected outcome puts the entire ACC race on its head and most likely ends Clemson’s playoff chances. It was the first victory for NC State (3-1) over the Clemson Tigers (2-2) in a decade and only the second in the last eighteen years.
Clemson’s quarterback Uiagalelei seemed to be doing better on the deeper routes than he did in previous games. In the first quarter, he was able to connect with a 29-yard completion to Joseph Ngata. He ended the series with a perfect throw to Justyn Ross at the back of the end zone making the score Clemson 7, NC State 0.
NC State answered back with a touchdown of their own. With five seconds remaining in the quarter, Devin Leary was able to find Emeka Emezie for a 9-yard pass to tie the game.
In the second quarter, the Tigers punted on four straight drives without getting a first down and then gave away the ball on an interception of a tipped pass. NC State field goal kicker Christopher Dunn missed a 53-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining in the quarter. At the half, the score was still tied 7-7.
Clemson’s defense could not contain NC State’s offense, which was very obvious because they were on the field too long. Devin Leary threw a 12-yard pass to Devin Carter with 5:10 left in the third quarter. At the end of the quarter, NC State took the lead of ninth-ranked Clemson 14-7.
Clemson squared the game at 14 early in the fourth quarter with 10:52 remaining, with a 5-yard touchdown. In the play proceeding the touchdown, Uiagalelei had a 37-yard run before having his helmet knocked off and having to sit out the next play. Back-up quarterback Taisun Phommachanh checked into the game and handed off to RB Will Shipley, who went in untouched for the score.
NC State responded to Clemson’s touchdown with a 41-yard drive to the Tiger’s 34-yard line, but once again Dunn could not come through with the field goal his team needed. Dunn missed his third consecutive field goal attempt as time expired in regulation sending the game into the first overtime.
Clemson’s Uiagalelei passed for a 9-yard touchdown to Justyn Ross in overtime to give the team a 21-14 lead, but they could not hold on to it.
Devin Leary came right back and threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Thayer Thomas on third down and goal to tie the score at 21 and send the game into a second overtime.
NC State’s signal caller Leary threw for four touchdowns on the day, not to mention the winning 22-yard bomb to wide receiver Devin Carter. He made an acrobatic reception to the back-shoulder throw and got both knees down inside the back right corner of the end zone to take the lead, 27-21 to start the second overtime.
Clemson failed to score in the second overtime, missing a fourth-and-five pass to the end zone from Uiagalelei to Justyn Ross on the final play of the game. The team ran onto the field, followed by the Wolfpack fans, celebrating the team’s victory.
The Tigers lost to an unranked program for the first time in 36 games and falls to 2-2 this season.
From an injury standpoint, it was a brutal day for the Tigers on both sides of the football. They lost three key players with significant injuries; linebacker James Skalski (shoulder injury), defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (knee injury) and running back Will Shipley (knee injury).
The Clemson Tigers host another ACC opponent, the Boston College Eagles next Saturday.
