NC State Wolfpack loses its first game of college football season to Clemson Tigers

Chip Alexander, Chapel Fowler, Luke DeCock

Coverage from Clemson’s win over NC State

Live updates from game

History will be Saturday for N.C. State when the No. 10-ranked Wolfpack faces No. 5 Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Death Valley.

In its football history, the Pack has not been in a game matching two top 10 teams. While the top 10 is has become customary for Clemson, it is not for the Wolfpack, which has not been ranked in the top 10 since 2002.

Check back here for live updates during the game from News & Observer reporter Chip Alexander, columnist Luke DeCock, photographer Ethan Hyman and Chapel Fowler, who covers the Tigers for The State. All four are at Memorial Stadium for today’s ACC showdown.

Clemson 30, NC State 20: Leary TD

Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary cuts the lead to 10 with a 4-yard rushing touchdown, with 53 seconds left in the game.

Clemson 30, NC State 13: Uiagalelei TD

Clemson opens up a 17-point lead with 3:04 left in the game with QB DJ Uiagalelei’s 9-yard rushing score. Uiagalelei carried the ball four times on the drive in scoring his second TD on the ground in the game.

Pitts Jr. ejected for targeting

N.C. State graduate senior cornerback Derrick Pitts was ejected from the game with 5:37 after a hit on Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. By rule, Pitts will have to miss the first half of the Wolfpack’s game against Florida State next Saturday.

Clemson 23, NC State 13: Potter FG

Clemson kicker BT Potter bounced back from an earlier miss to connect for a 44-yard field goal with 14:16 left in the game. The drive was highlighted by a 22-yard catch by freshman receiver Antonio Williams.

Clemson 20, NC State 13: Dunn FG

Needing something to try and stall the Tigers’ momentum, the Pack punished out enough yards to get Christopher Dunn in range for a 49-yard field goal with 9:06 left in the third quarter.

Clemson 20, NC State 10: Briningstool TD catch

After a three-and-out series by the Clemson defense, which sacked Devin Leary twice, the Tigers pushed the ead to 10. DJ Uiagalelei’s 38-yard run pushed the ball inside the NCSU 10 and Uiagalelei hit tight end Jake Briningstool for a 7-yard score with 11:36 left in the third quarter.

Clemson 13, NC State 10: DJ Uiagalelei TD

And Clemson’s back on top. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei kept it on a zone read and extended it over the goal line to put Clemson up with 31 seconds left before half. One play earlier, he found running back Will Shipley streaking down the sideline for a 26-yard gain down to the one-yard line.

NC State 10, Clemson 6: Devin Leary TD

N.C. State quarterback Devin Leary hit tight end Cedd Seabrough for a two-yard score to give the Wolfpack their first lead at the 1:51 mark of the second quarter. It was the game’s first offensive touchdown and came after a Clemson pass interference call on third and 8 extended the drive.

N.C. State linebacker Isaiah Moore (1), safety Cyrus Fagan (4) and defensive tackle Joshua Harris (0) stop Clemson running back Phil Mafah (26) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.
N.C. State linebacker Isaiah Moore (1), safety Cyrus Fagan (4) and defensive tackle Joshua Harris (0) stop Clemson running back Phil Mafah (26) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.

Clemson 6, NC State 3: Potter FG

The Tigers took advantage of two Wolfpack penalties --for running into the kicker, then pass interference -- to get into field-goal range and pick up a 46-yarder from B.T. Potter, his second field goal of the game, with 5:47 left in the first half.

N.C. State linebacker Drake Thomas (32) closes in on Clemson running back Will Shipley (1) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.
N.C. State linebacker Drake Thomas (32) closes in on Clemson running back Will Shipley (1) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Clemson at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.

NC State 3, Clemson 3: Dunn FG

The Pack’s first possession was similar to Clemson’s, NC State picking up first downs and then bogging down inside the 10 before Chris Dunn’s 20-yard field goal. Devin Leary’s 20-yard completion to Thayer Thomas converted one first down, and Leary had passes of 12 and 32 yards to Devin Carter, who had the winning TD in double OT last year.

Photos: NC State football falls to Clemson in Top 10 matchup

Clemson 3, NC State 0: Potter FG

Kicker B.T. Potter opened Saturday night’s scoring with a 20-yard field goal. That ended a hefty 13-play, 72-yard drive for Clemson featuring two third down conversions. N.C. State stuffed three straight plays from its four-yard line to end the drive.

Injury update

Wolfpack running back Jordan Houston, who was held out of the Connecticut game with an injury, took pregame warmups. Nickel Tyler Baker-WIlliams and wideout Anthony Smith are not in uniform.

Pregame updates

Three-star running back Kyron Jones, from Charlotte Christian High, announced his commitment to the Wolfpack on Saturday morning. Jones, the 13th player to commit to N.C. State’s 2023 class, is at Memorial Stadium for today’s game.

Kyron Jones walks onto the field before N.C. State’s game against Texas Tech at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.
Kyron Jones walks onto the field before N.C. State’s game against Texas Tech at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee won’t play against N.C. State, according to multiple reports, including Tiger Illustrated and ESPN. Bresee had a kidney-related “non-football medical issue that required bloodwork and observation this week,” according to a team spokesperson. It is not expected to be a long-term issue.

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Pregame reading

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