Clemson rolls NC State, 42-20

Posted Sunday, September 23, 2007

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Raleigh, NC - The 15th-ranked Clemson Tigers pounded the NC State Wolfpack 42-20 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Clemson piled up 608 yards in offense in the process.

The Tigers (4-0, 2-0 ACC) rolled up 340 yards rushing, 268 yards passing and 37 minutes in possession time. Tailbacks James Davis and C.J. Spiller combined for 280 of the rushing yards. Davis rushed for a season-high 166 yards with a 3-yard touchdown catch and a 1-yard scoring run, while Spiller finished with 114 yards with an 11-yard TD catch and a 44-yard scoring run. Junior quarterback Cullen Harper completed 25-of-39 passes for 268 yards.

NC State (1-3, 0-2) had only 202 yards in total offense.
NC State's Darrell Blackman's 99-yard kickoff return broke the NCSU record set Oct. 5, 1946 -- Howard Turner's 98-yarder against Clemson. Blackman bolted down the right sideline, stiff-arming Clemson's Jacoby Ford the last 10 yards.

But Spiller broke off a 44-yard scoring run, Davis had a 3-yard TD and Mark Buchholz kicked field goals of 28 and 46 yards for the 27-14 halftime cushion.

Brown had a 17-yard scoring run in the second quarter as State worked out of a no-huddle offense, and Evans found Blackman on a 9-yard TD pass in the fourth period.

But State's two-point conversion try after Blackman's catch was another Pack misfire as Clemson's Michael Hamlin intercepted Daniel Evans' short pass and went the distance for two more Clemson points and a 39-20 lead.