NC State knocks off No. 9 Clemson in overtime
Posted September 25, 2021 7:27 p.m. EDT
Updated September 26, 2021 7:32 a.m. EDT
NC State’s losing streak to Clemson is history, so is the Tigers’ College Football Playoff streak.
Devin Carter’s 22-yard touchdown catch gave the Wolfpack a 27-21 overtime win over the ninth-ranked Tigers on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.
It was the first win for NC State (3-1) over the Tigers since 2011 and only second since 2003.
Clemson (2-2) has made the CFP for six straight years. That streak almost certainly will come to an end, even if the Tigers win the ACC title for seventh straight year.
Clemson’s offense, which piled 55 points and 549 yards in its last trip to Raleigh in 2019, was stymied by the Wolfpack.
It’s the first win over top-10 team for NC State since a 17-16 home win over No. 3 Florida State in 2012.
Chris Dunn had a chance to win the game in regulation for NC State but missed a 39-yard field goal. Unlike the 2016 heartbreaker for the Wolfpack, this missed kick didn't matter.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime and then Carter made his second touchdown catch.
Then NC State's defense came up with one last stop and the field was flooded by NC State fans.
Clemson scored on its first possession in overtime, a 9-yard touchdown catch by Justyn Ross but NC State matched it with a 2-yard touchdown catch by Thayer Thomas.
Carter hauled in a beautiful pass from quarterback Devin Leary for the win in the second overtime.
Clemson’s leaky offensive line didn’t give quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei much time to throw and when it did he didn’t know what to do with the ball.
Leary’s 12-yard scoring strike to Carter at 5:10 in the third quarter put the Wolfpack up 14-7. Leary finished 32 of 44 for 238 yards with four touchdowns.
Clemson’s vaunted defense lost linebacker James Skalski in the first half to an injury and then star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee in the third quarter.
NC State couldn’t find much room against the Tigers but it was enough.
Leary hit Emeka Emezie for a 9-yard touchdown with 9 seconds left in the first quarter to get the Wolfpack on the board.
Emezie finished with a career-high 14 catches for 116 yards.
Uiagalelei has struggled to replace Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, and get Clemson’s offense in gear.
He completed 12 of 26 passes for 111 yards. Uiagalelei’s 32-yard strike to Justyn Ross gave Clemson a 7-0 lead at 9:11 in the first quarter.
A 5-yard touchdown run by Will Shipley tied the game at 14 with 10:52 left in the fourth quarter.
Dunn missed all three of his kicks but NC State's defense, which held Clemson to 214 total yards, wouldn't let the game be determined by a missed kick.
