Clemson downs NC State 56-41 to stay unbeaten

Watson, in his sophomore season, has played brilliantly so far.

The Wolfpack also couldn’t stop running back Wayne Gallman, who ran for 172 yards and a touchdown.

Watson has moved into first place in the ACC and eighth in the nation in passing efficiency with a 168.3 figure this year, as he has complete a league best 70 percent of his passes for 1936 yards, and 20 touchdowns.

It also marked Clemson’s 36th straight win against teams unranked in the AP Top 25, the last loss coming at the Wolfpack in 2011. Brissett owns 10 TD passes this season and he’s managed their games well, throwing only one pick. It was interceptions, of course, that helped trigger a change from starter Kyle Allen to Murray – although a shoulder issue that’s not being discussed publicly could’ve played a role in that move as well. After a 21-yard run by running back Matt Dayes and an 8-yard pass to receiver Maurice Trowell, the Tigers pushed back.

The video clip below is from Clemson’s 58-0 beatdown of the Miami Hurricanes in Week 8. The clip perfectly illustrates Clemson’s use of the zone-read. In 2011, Clemson had a record setting offense but had little in the way of defense. It all depends on what Miami’s defenders do. Lawson suffocated the Hurricanes, and the Clemson defense held Miami to 146 yards while forcing 3 turnovers. Freshman Nyheim Hines had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a wild opening 5 minutes that saw both teams score twice and even block a PAT. That stat is good for an all-time Clemson record among tight ends, and he has been a force for the Tigers this season.

If you thought Clemson’s offense was good, you may be shocked to find that they’re actually much better on defense.

In doing so, many Clemson starters got a mini-rest going into today’s game, and in turn, next Saturday’s showdown with Florida State.

They played the Textile Bowl on Homecoming Weekend on Halloween. While N.C. State has been successful on defense this year (currently third in yards per game), that numbers have been put up against vastly inferior opponents. ESPN (somehow) calculated that Clemson has an 82.5% chance of finishing the regular season without a loss; none of Clemson’s four remaining opponents seem to be legitimate threats. With the huge win over Wake Forest a few days ago, there is a growing confidence in the team, but not a whole lot of it.

DB Derwin James – The freshman had a breakout game with a team-high 12 tackles, including two for loss, and a forced fumble. Behind Scott, five players have at least 15 catches and 204 yards, and have combined for 13 touchdown grabs. The defensive line, again, is the main reason for Clemson’s success in this department.

In other games involving ACC teams, No. 17 Florida State showed no sign of a letdown despite missing its top two play-makers, putting up one of its best offensive games of the season in a 45-21 victory over Syracuse….

STREAKY TIGERS: Clemson has a couple of notable streaks alive.