And this one against Clemson was a tough call. It's hard to decide which win is greater. One that is a statement or one that is exciting. Certainly the 1986 win at home on CBS with Brent Musberger was a great one. 27-3 win in Dick Sheridan's first year. This in-game interview with Jim Valvano is an an absolute must watch 5 minutes for any combined Wolfpack football and basketball fan. That was certainly a great time in Wolfpack Sports.
And of course, the 2002 game in Death Valley may have been the all-time peak in the program. We were 8-0, #9 in the country going on the road for a Thursday Night ESPN against Clemson. There were doubters going on that night, but with an early Manny Lawson punt block for TD and then this TA McLendon 4th and 1 run that went for 31 yards and another score put the Pack put the doubters to bed early. Going up 15-0, and absolutely dismantling the Tigers, only giving up a late score on a kickoff return TD, but ultimately winning 38-6
But despite those two great ones, there is another that stands out as my favorite Clemson win of all time, and although pictures from the internet of this game is scarce, it was "one for the books".
The year was 1998. The Pack had already beaten #2 Florida State and #11 Syracuse earlier in the year, but the Pack still needed a big win to end their three year bowl drought. And so NC State went down to Death Valley. It was Torry Holt's day right from the start. He grabbed three catches in the first drive alone, but on a 4th and 1, Clemson got a stop and grabbed the early momentum. Clemson used that momentum, and later in the 1st quarter drove from midfield and took the first lead of the day on a Brandon Streeter 5 yard QB keeper. 7-0 Tigers.
Then on one of the stranger kickoffs you will see, future NFL star Brian Williams fumbled the ball off of future All-Pro true freshman Adrian Wilson right at the goal line. While still in the end zone, Williams grabbed the ball that was just over the line and took a knee in the end zone. Oops, can't really do that, and Clemson took the free two points on the safety to go up 9-0.
Clemson maintained that lead right on through the rest of the first quarter, and well into the second. But with 5:35 to go in the 2nd quarter with NC State on their own 15, Jamie Barnette and Torry Holt decided to take over. Barnette dropped back and heaved a long one over the middle that Torry caught in stride crossing midfield and raced to the corner of the end zone for an 85 yard TD and the lead was cut to 9-7.
That was just the wake up call that the Pack needed for this noon kick off. A couple of plays later, one of the "Rough Riders" (NC State's secondary, who was 2nd in the nation in interceptions) came up with another pick. This time Tony Scott with the interception and State was in scoring position again.
After a couple of runs, NC State had first and goal at the 4 yard line, and true freshman Ray Robinson ran it over the left side for a score and NC State now had the lead at 14-9.
With just 3:11 left in the half, Clemson hoped to drive and retake the lead, but instead a Clemson fumble on 2nd down gave NC State the ball in the red zone again. The Wolfpack, with a 2nd down and 1:15 to go....who you going to? Of course, Torry Holt with the bubble screen and he easily runs into the end zone on a 17 yard TD Pass from Jamie Barnette. The Pack now led 21-9 and took that lead to the locker room at half. Already in the first half, Jamie Barnette had set the all time passing career yardage mark for NC State and added to his all time TD mark. And it was a good thing because he was going to need every one of them in this contest.
As the 2nd half began, the Pack kept the heat on. On 2nd down for Clemson, another turnover. This time a fumble that was scooped up by Jason Perry and raced 36 yards for a TD. The rout was on, right? Not so fast my friends.
Clemson regrouped on the very next possession. 83 yards they marched down the field, eating almost 7 minutes off the clock in 14 plays, and on the last play, a 1 yard TD run plus a 2 point conversion on a shuffle pass cut the lead to 28-17.
A couple of traded punts worked out much better for Clemson as NC State now had the ball pinned at the 1, and Clemson's defensive coordinator Reggie Herring (who would be our defensive coordinator in 2004 when we got the Virginia Tech win mentioned two days ago...how about that little nugget) kept the pressure on the NC State offense, and NC State punted from their end zone, giving Clemson the ball on NC State's 39.
As the 4th quarter started, Clemson marched down the field and Brandon Streeter threw a 14 yard TD pass to cut the lead to 28-24, and the Tigers were on the prowl. No concern for the NC State offense this time. Barnette hit Holt three times in a five play drive that covered 78 yards. The last one, a 41 yarder for a TD that gave Holt his 3rd TD of the day.
Surely this 35-24 lead with 11:44 to play would be enough. Not even close. It looked like the defense had left the building on this warm October day. Clemson with a five play drive of their own gained 84 yards, with the highlight a 52 yard TD pass from Streeter (who would set a school record of his own this day). This time though, the 2 point conversion failed, and the score now sat at 35-30. After the kickoff, Clemson got NC State into 3rd down and a key dropped pass by Ray Robinson, forced a punt. Clemson now had the ball on NC State's 44 with 7:29 to play. Streeter is on fire now, and in 3 plays, Streeter with a 25 yard TD pass to take the lead. But another failed 2 point conversion left the game at 36-35.
6:19 to play now, and Jamie Barnette was going to have to lead his troops back on top.
He was ready, and on first down, a 51 yard pass to Ryan Hamrick who made one of the best one handed catches you'll even see on the dead run. It wasn't enough for a TD, but it was enough to pick up a field goal, and NC State now led 38-36 with 3:40 to play. One more stop needed for a Wolfpack victory. But the special teams gave up a 45 yard return, and Clemson had the ball on their own 47.....3rd and 3...3:09 to play....gotta get a stop. Bubble screen for 18 yards, and Clemson is on the edge of field goal range. Clemson gets conservative and forces NC State to use up all of our timeouts. 2:19 to play. 40 yard field goal attempt. The snap...it's up....Good. Clemson leads 39-38.
One last chance. A touchback on the kickoff, and 80 yards between us and the end zone. The crowd was roaring. Can Barnette do it again? First down, bubble screen to Holt for 9. The clock is ticking....1:43 to go....Barnette back to pass again. Slant to Hamrick...complete, up the seam for 23, and we are at the Clemson 48 (with a walk-on kicker waiting on the sidelines with a "long" range of 39 yards)...Barnette drops back...scrambles right, hits Chris Coleman between two defenders and he gets pushed out at the 22....1:17 to go...Handoff to Ray Robinson, he breaks a tackle and gains 4 yards...clock ticking, down to 52 seconds...Barnette to Holt, bubble screen to the left, 9 yards and a first down to the Clemson 9. Time out Clemson with 42 seconds to go, First and Goal!
Barnette drops back....
....to Holt....
TOUCHDOWN WOLFPACK!!!!!......throw in a 2 point conversion and it's 46-39. One final interception by Lloyd Harrison, and it's a ball game. NC STATE WINS!
Torry Holt with 11 receptions for 225 yards and 4 TDs. Truly one of the greatest!
Today's honorable mention:
1986 NC State over Clemson 27-3
2002 NC State over Clemson 38-6
Up Next:
Thursday: UNC
Friday: Florida State
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