Defanging the Wolfpack
Deshaun Watson has ignited Clemson. Even its defense
While the freshman quarterback from Gainesville was accounting for four touchdowns, Clemson’s defense harassed his counterpart, N.C. State’s Jacoby Brissett in a 41-0 victory.
The Tigers held the Wolfpack to 35 yards passing and 156 yards of offense in shutting out an ACC opponent for the first time since 1998.
Brissett, who nearly outdueled FSU’s Jameis Winston last week, was just 4-of-18, sacked three times and fumbled twice.
N.C. State entered averaged 506 yards and 40.4 points per game.
Seminoles hit by injuries
No. 1 Florida State (5-0, 3-0 in the ACC) extended its winning streak to 21 games with a 43-3 victory over Wake Forest, but lost star receiver Rashad Greene to a concussion and center Austin Barron to an arm injury.
Neither returned after going down.
Greene, who is FSU’s top receiver with 38 catches and 576 yards, had three receptions for 33 yards before he was injured. Coach Jimbo Fisher said Greene was vomiting after the head injury, but had stopped by the end of the game.
Fisher said after the game that Barron might have fractured his arm, adding he might be able to return by the end of the season.
Numbers game
21 Consecutive made field goals by Florida State's Roberto Aguayo to set a school record. He kicked a career-high five in the Seminoles' win.
28 Career sacks by Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley, who is from Adairsville, tying the school record held by Michael Dean Perry and Gaines Adams.
He said it
“It was just a dominant performance in all three phases. We talked about this being momentum Saturday, and how we needed to get the wheels of the train rolling. We know that if we can get it rolling, we can keep it rolling.” — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney after the Tigers’ 41-0 win over N.C. State.
“The defense played lights-out,” — Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer said of the Hokies, who forced three turnovers and returned one for a touchdown in a 34-17 win over North Carolina.
Standings
Atlantic; ACC; All
Fla. State;3-0;5-0
Louisville;3-1;5-1
Clemson;2-1;3;-2
Boston Coll.;0-1;3-2
Syracuse;0-1;2-3
N.C. State;0-2;4-2
Wake Forest;0-2;2-4
Coastal; ACC;; All
Ga. Tech;1-0;4-0
Pittsburgh;1-0;3-2
Virginia;1-0;3-2
Va Tech;1-1;4-2
Miami;1-1;3-2
Duke;0-1;4-1
N. Carolina;0-2;-3
(Through afternoon games)
Saturday’s schedule
Cincinnati at Miami, noon
Florida State at Syracuse, noon, ESPN
Duke at Georgia Tech, 12:30 p.m., WUPA
Louisville at Clemson, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Boston College at N.C. State, 3:30 p.m.
North Carolina at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC
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