Live from Carter-Finley
2:46
Another Clemson drive, another TD. 37-14.
But wait State fans, it gets worse. On the drive, defensive tackle Jamaine Clemmons joined the growing list of Wolfpack interior linemen to get hurt.
Meanwhile, Duke has returned to kicking extra points, albeit with a different kicker. Greg Meyers has hit his first two and the Blue Devils are up 36-25 in the first half. Yes, you read that correctly.
2:24
Clemson picks right back up where it left off. Another FG. 30-14 Clemson.
Interesting side note. Spoke to a photographer who was near the goal posts on the Tigers' first field goal. Looked pretty close to me. He swore it was wide right.
The official under that goal post? Virgil Valdez.
2:19
This isn't State related, but Duke is up 22-17 against Navy. How did they get 22 you ask? The usual way. Joe Surgan shanked yet another extra point on the Blue Devils' first score.
Apparently that was the last straw for Ted Roof. On Duke's next two scores, Duke went for two, and made it both times. The Blue Devils could be on to something.
1:57
Another flashback moment. Clemson seemingly missed a 51-yard FG badly at the end of the half ... but wait! State's DeAndre Morgan was whistled for offsides. Given a second shot, at 46 yards, Mark Buchholz drilled it through the uprights.
27-14 Clemson. State's momentum has officially stalled.
1:33
Now my head's really hurting. After that wild int - fumble- penalty - challenge play, Evans settled down and promptly woke up the Wolfpack offense. 10 plays, 81 yards in 3:46, the final 17 yards on an Andre Brown run. State actually went to the hurry-up offense for the last half of it and really got into a rhythm.
So, Clemson should probably be up about 38-7. Instead, it's 24-14. Go figure.
And for the fourth year running, State may have a QB controversy on its hands.
1:25
My head hurts. Follow me through this. Daniel Evans throws another pick (Justin Burke anyone?) but the Clemson defender fumbles the ball back to Andre Brown on the play. But State was holding on the play. So the Tigers accepted the holding penalty, but just as the play's about to start, someone put the replay up on the board, which made it seem like the defender might have been down. So Tommy Bowden challenges the play.
The fumble call was upheld. Second and 19 from the 11 for State.
Got all that?
1:17
Clemson's fooled us all before, but the Tigers sure look like the best team in the ACC. I know, I know, that's probably tepid praise, but in all seriousness, Clemson looks like a juggernaut right now against the Wolfies? Does that say something about State? Yeah, probably it does.
Three yard TD pass from Harper to Davis. 24-7 Clemson. And it's actually more one-sided than that.
1:10
Well, Daniel Evans was moving State down the field nicely and we were just starting to argue the 'Hey if he plays well and Beck's available next week, who do you choose?' game, when Evans reminded us why he's the backup. State calls a flea-flicker, John Dunlap is open downfield, and Evans throws a duck down the field. Clemson safety Michael Hamlin presumably called a fair catch on it before he picked it off.
12:55
The bright side for State? It could actually be worse. It's now17-7 after a really, really sweet 44-yard TD run by C.J. Spiller. That gives Clemson 220 total yards. State? It is 1. (Not a typo)
Humorous note - Virgil Valdez, he of the missed field goal call against UVA while he was ducking the falling football, is back in action. He's already had to call two FG attempts and two extra points. He's been very, very deliberate on each call.
Not so humorous note - Harrison Beck went out with what appears to be a right knee injury. Daniel Evans is now in.
12:37
A moral victory for the Pack. It gave up 66 yards on Clemson's second drive, but held the Tigers to a field goal, thanks in large part to a really iffy replay review of what appeared to be a TD catch by Jacoby Ford (originally ruled to be out of bounds). 10-7 Tigers. It's Blackman Time!
12:27
The one advantage of letting Clemson score? Darrell Blackman gets to return another kick. He scooted 92 yards, stiff-arming Jacoby Ford the last 12, for the tying TD. 7-7. Gotta catch my breath.
12:22
Feels like 2005 all over again. After a State int on the first drive, Clemson marched it methodically down the field, using that same mix of power and misdirection that killed the Wolfies two years ago. 7-0, 8 plays, 58 yards and, if you're a Wolfpack fan, really depressingly easy.