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Clemson edges NC State on late TD

Nov 7, 2010 - 1:12 AM Clemson, SC (Sports Network) - Jamie Harper rushed for 60 yards on 25 carries, including the game-deciding touchdown with 6:18 left in the fourth quarter as Clemson downed 23rd-ranked North Carolina State, 14-13, at Memorial Stadium.

Kyle Parker finished 20-of-29 for 214 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Tigers (5-4, 3-3 ACC), who have won three of four. DeAndre Hopkins added 80 yards on five catches with a TD reception.

"This was a great win for the team. All the credit goes to the players for their hard work and effort," said Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. "They didn't quit and kept playing throughout the game. We had a lot of perseverance." Today was a rough game, we had a lot of missed opportunities and turnovers, but we pulled through a great win."

Russell Wilson was 22-of-36 for 212 yards, one score and a pick for the Wolfpack (6-3, 3-2), who have dropped two of three. Josh Czajkowski booted a pair of field goals in defeat.

Clemson's eventual game-winning drive began with 9:27 to play in the contest at the Wolfpack's 39-yard line. Parker hit Brandon Ford for seven yards on a 3rd-and-6 from the 35, then Parker connected with Marquan Jones for 13 on a 2nd-and-10. After an incompletion, Harper caught an 11-yard pass, then rolled into the end zone from four yards out for a 14-13 edge.

Both teams traded punts before NC State got the ball back with 2:56 to play on its own 15. However, Clemson held on a 4th-and-10 from the 26-yard line with 1:06 remaining when Wilson was flushed from the pocket and his desperation throw fell to the turf.

Parker took a knee on three plays to run out the remaining time.

"Certainly it was a tough day for us," said NC State head coach Tom O'Brien. "We had our opportunities to make plays and we couldn't make them on offense. We kept them in the game. I think our defense played really well. We lost our destiny, but we're still in it."

The lone score of the first quarter, and of the half, came when Wilson hit Mustafa Greene for a three-yard touchdown with just over four minutes played.

Clemson closed out the second quarter by having a touchdown erased by a holding penalty and a potential field goal wiped out when Parker took two sacks for big losses.

Early in the third, Parker was sacked and coughed up the ball at the Clemson 13. The Wolfpack couldn't find the end zone and settled for a 28-yard field goal from Czajkowski and a 10-0 lead.

A fumble recovery at the Wolfpack 22 set up the Tigers' first score of the game, a 12-yard Parker connection to Hopkins with 2:44 to play in the third.

"I haven't been in the end zone since the Presbyterian game, but it was a great feeling to get in the end zone in front of the home fans," Hopkins admitted. It wasn't the prettiest thing, but we got the job done."

On the ensuing drive, which bled into the fourth quarter, Czajkowski drilled a 27-yarder and the visitors led 13-7, but Marcus Gilchrist returned the kick 76 yards to the NC State 21. The ensuing drive came up empty when Richard Jackson missed a 32-yard field goal.

Game Notes

Clemson kept its winning streak over NC State intact, extending it to seven games...NC State posted 275 total yards of offense to 260 for Clemson...Greene ended with two catches for 20 yards...Jones finished with six receptions for 47 yards.