Wolfpack shutout 41-0 by Clemson

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren thinks his Wolfpack's loss to Florida State a week ago may have cost them against Clemson, too.

Doeren wondered if the disheartening 56-41 defeat where the Wolfpack led 24-7 early on and outplayed the country's top-ranked team for much of the contest had been too much to overcome at practice this week.

"Our players didn't play as well as they need to and obviously it's my job to get them ready, so it's on me to prepare them better," he said. "I thought we had them prepared. We didn't."

Whatever the reason, the result was Clemson's 41-0 victory Saturday, the first time North Carolina State (4-2, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) was shutout since 2011's 34-0 loss to Florida State.

"They're all mad," Doeren said of his players. "They all know we're better than that. Didn't show it. They took it from us today. They're all disappointed today as they should be."

The loss was the 10th straight ACC defeat since Doeren replaced Tom O'Brien before the 2013 season.

Doeren expected a stronger showing, especially on offense, based on his team's performance so far this year. They entered this week as the ACC's leader in total offense and managed 41 points on the Seminoles, one of the league's stoutest defenses.

But Clemson's defense put together its best game of the year, holding the Wolfpack to 156 total yards — 364 fewer than they'd gained on Florida State.

"We just have to go back to practice and refocus," said Wolfpack linebacker Rodman Noel. "We've got to make sure that our leaders lead."

There was plenty to work after a loss like this where Clemson freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others.

Clemson (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 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 also rushed for scores of 5 and 3 yards. Watson finished 17 of 29 for 267 yards, spending most of the second half on the bench with the game well in hand.

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.