NC State Travels To South Carolina To Take On Clemson

Two teams that are both coming off an open date and are both undefeated overall as well as in the conference will take on each other when sixteenth ranked NC State visits Death Valley where they will take on third ranked Clemson on Saturday.

NC State comes into the game with a record of 5-0 while they’re 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and are in second place in the Atlantic division while Clemson comes into the game with a record of 6-0 while they’re 3-0 in the conference and are in first place Atlantic division. “according to http://www.espn.com/college-football/standings/_/group/1

As for NC State’s previous game, they topped Boston College in Raleigh on October 6th.

NC State jumped out to a 28-3 lead in the third quarter, and held off Boston College's 20 unanswered points, to claim a 28-23 win Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
With the win the Pack improves to 5-0, its best start since 2002, and for only the eighth time in school history. NC State opens ACC action 2-0 for the second straight season, and the fifth time since 2000. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
NC State rushed for a season-best 225 yards, powered by Sr. Reggie Gallaspy, Jr., who had a  career-best 104 yards and two scores. QB Ryan Finley threw for 308 yards and two scores, while WR Kelvin Harmon finished with nine receptions for 128 yards and one TD. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
Boston College was unable to convert a fourth down on the game's opening possession, which then saw NC State score a TD on their first possession with a one-yard Gallaspy, three-yard TD run. The Eagles added a 33-yard field goal towards the end of the opening quarter. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
The Wolfpack added a pair of TD scores in the second quarter to go up 21-3 at the half - Gallaspy a second rushing score, from one-yard out, and WR Jakobi Meyers a four-yard TD catch with 43 seconds left in the half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
In the third quarter, Finley added a second TD pass, this for 34 yards to Harmon and NC State took a 28-3 lead. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
BC answered with its first touchdown to cut the lead to 28-10 at the end of the third. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
The Eagles cut into the lead even more with a 64-yard TD drive to open the fourth quarter. BC kept the momentum going, blocking a punt and returning it for a score to get the game to 28-23 with 3:33 left. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
The Pack recovered the ensuing onside kick, and ran out the clock the rest of the way. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
10 plays, 76 yards in 4:51 – Reggie Gallaspy, Jr. 2-yd TD run “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
After holding off BC on a fourth down play on the game's opening drive, NC State went 70 yards in 10 plays for the game's first TD. Reggie Gallaspy, Jr., punched the ball in from three yards out on third down. On the drive, QB Ryan Finley was 4-of-5 for 43 yards. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
4 plays, 60 yards in 1:48 – Ryan Finley to Kelvin Harmon 34-yd TD pass “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
After a BC three-and-out on their first possession of the second half, NC State went 60 yards in only four plays to increase the lead to 28-3 late in the third quarter. Finley found Kelvin Harmon for a 34-yard strike.”according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
STAT LEADERS
• QB Ryan Finley
25-of-34 for 308 yards, 2 TD
 
• RB Reggie Gallaspy, Jr.
25 rushes for 104 yards, 2 TDs
 
• RB Ricky Person
17 rushes for 92 yards
 
• WR Kelvin Harmon
9 catches for 128 yards, 1 TD
 
• WR Jakobi Meyers
10 catches for 99 yards, 1 TD
 
• LB Germaine Pratt
13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble

“according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
NOTABLES
• The win by NC State was the first by the home team in the series since 2013, and the first for NC State in Carter-Finley against BC since 2012. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football

• With his first quarter three-yard TD run, RB Reggie Gallaspy, Jr., now has at least one rushing score in every game this year. Over the first five games of the season, he now has seven rushing scores, the fifth-most in school history five games into a season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football
 
• NC State had just one penalty for the game (false start). It marked the fewest penalties in a game for the Pack since the 2016 bowl game against Vanderbilt. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2018/10/6/football-23-wolfpack-improves-to-5-0-with-28-23-win-over-boston-college.aspx?path=football

Like NC State, Clemson also last played on October 6th when they traveled to Winston Salem North Carolina where they routed Wake Forest.

Travis Etienne, Lyn-J Dixon and Adam Choice all eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark as the No. 4/4 Clemson Tigers amassed 698 total offensive yards en route to a 63-3 defeat of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB&T Field on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Clemson remained undefeated on the year at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, while Wake Forest fell to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Between Etienne, Dixon, Choice and three other rushers, Clemson ran for 471 yards, the team’s most in a single game under head coach Dabo Swinney. Through the air, a balanced effort quarterbacked by Trevor Lawrence powered the Tigers. Lawrence completed 18 of his 21 pass attempts in the first half alone, connecting with nine different receivers to amass 173 yards and two touchdowns in the first 30 minutes. Chase Brice also added a scoring pass in the fourth quarter and ended his action with four completions on four attempts for 50 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers held Wake Forest to 77 yards to Clemson’s 312 in the first half, with just three of those offensive yards coming on rushes for the Demon Deacons. For the whole game, Tre Lamar led the way with six solo tackles and two of Clemson’s three sacks. “according to http://clemsontigers.com/wakegame/

Clemson’s 60-point margin of victory was the program’s largest in conference play in school history.
The win was Clemson’s 14th win of 60 points or more in school history and the program’s first since a 66-point win against South Carolina State in 2014.
Clemson gained 698 yards of offense, the fifth-most in a game in school history. Four of the program’s five highest single-game yardage totals have come under Head Coach Dabo Swinney.
Clemson averaged 10.0 yards per play, the fourth-best single-game average in program history behind games in 1903 (11.2 at Georgia Tech), 1945 (10.7 vs. Presbyterian) and 1947 (10.4 vs. Presbyterian).
Clemson eclipsed the 400-yard rushing mark for the first time since rushing for 416 against Miami (Fla.) on Oct. 24, 2015.
Clemson’s 471 rushing yards represent the most in a single game under head coach Dabo Swinney, surpassing the previous high of 416 set in that contest against Miami.
Clemson’s 471 rushing yards are the fourth-most yards on the ground in program history and the most since Oct. 31, 1981 when the Tigers amassed 536 rushing yards against Wake Forest.
Clemson averaged 11.8 yards per carry, breaking the previous school record set on Oct. 17, 1903 against Georgia Tech (11.2).
Clemson reached the 300-yard rushing mark for the second time this season (309 vs. Georgia Southern). Clemson reached the 300-yard rushing mark twice last year and has now posted multiple 300-yard rushing games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2006 (four) and 2007 (two). “according to http://clemsontigers.com/wakegame/

Kick-off is set for 3:30pm from Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN. “according to https://gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=football