Watson leads Clemson to 41-0 victory

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson let people in on a secret: the Tigers have a great defense, too.

Watson threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others, while Clemson's defense held North Carolina State to 156 yards of offense in posting its first shutout in six years in a 41-0 victory over the Wolfpack on Saturday.

The buzz the past few weeks has been squarely on Watson, the five-star freshman who's seamlessly fit into the Tigers' high-pace offense and taken flight. The defense deserved attention as well, Watson said, for the way it shut down the Atlantic Coast Conference's No. 1 offense.

"We're all just out there having fun," Watson said with a smile.

It's easy to grin after a victory like this. The Tigers (3-2, 2-1 ACC) had lost two of their first three games, but have rallied to two straight wins behind Watson behind center. He threw for a school mark six TDs in a 50-35 win over North Carolina a week ago. He added two long scoring throws of 56 and 31 yards to Mike Williams for a lead Clemson's defense made stand up.

Defensive end Vic Beasley notched his 28th career sack, tying former NFL standouts Michael Dean Perry and the late Gaines Adams atop Clemson's career list. Beasley's sack also jarred the ball loose from North Carolina State quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the senior end took it 16 yards for a touchdown and Clemson's final points.

Beasley's been a big part of Clemson's defensive revival — the Tigers gave up 70 points to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl three seasons back — and thinks his group can share the headlines with Watson and the offense.

"I always knew that we had the talent," he said. "We just had to put it together and we just had to play a full game offensively, defensively. That's what we did."

North Carolina State entered as the ACC's top offense, averaging 505 yards a game. But the Wolfpack managed just 156 yards in losing their 10th straight league game.

Clemson's last shutout was a 54-0 win over South Carolina State. The last time the Tigers blanked an ACC opponent was 1998 in a 23-0 win over Maryland.

"Coach (Dabo) Swinney actually said it was his first shutout since he was a head coach," Williams said. "So just to see the defense go out there and play their best game, that was good."

Brissett and the Wolfpack had come off a near-miss loss to top-ranked Florida State where they put up 520 yards. Clemson defense had none of that at Death Valley, holding them 364 fewer yards and Brissett to 4 of 18 passing for 35 yards.

Brissett also had two of the Wolfpack's three fumbles, both leading to Clemson touchdowns.

"We could never get any momentum," said Dave Doeren, who's winless in ACC games in two seasons. "I think all offenses are the game. If you get a first down, then you could get some rhythm and we just could never get a first down."

North Carolina State was 3 of 14 on third downs and finished with 12 first downs, less than half Clemson's 25.

Watson finished 17 of 29 for 267 yards. He spent most of the second half on the bench with the game well in hand.

He threw for a Clemson record six TDs a week ago in his first-ever start, a 50-35 win over North Carolina and proved that wasn't a one-time fluke.

Watson arched a pretty pass to Williams for a 56-yard touchdown on Clemson's opening drive and found Williams again a series later for a second score. This time, Watson led Williams perfectly between two Wolfpack defenders for a 31-yard scoring pass and a 14-0 lead.

Watson showed his versatility on Clemson's third series. He had a shifty, cutting 17-yard run to break into North Carolina State territory. Eight plays later, he ended the drive with a 5-yard run around the right side, leaping over Wolfpack cornerback Jack Tocho on his way to the end zone.

"The playmakers have got to make plays and that was the best way I could get in the end zone," Watson said.

Watson added some flash, mimicking the Superman chest swipe after his score, which he said was a shout-out to one of his favorite NFL stars, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

"I just had to do a little something for him," Watson said.

Brissett, the Florida transfer, was expected to match Watson pass for pass and score for score. Instead, the Tigers defense kept him and the Wolfpack off stride throughout the opening half.