North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Wins Shootout
10/10/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Box Score
By Tony Haynes
For four quarters-and almost four hours-NC State and Clemson kept more than 48,000 fans on the edge of their seats Saturday night at Carter Finley Stadium. It was an ACC shootout in every sense of the word. In the end, after all the bullets had been fired on both sides, the Wolfpack emerged with a 35-31 victory.
A three-yard pass from Jamie Barnette to tight end Andy Vanderveer with 14:11 gave the Pack the final points it would need to prevail. Getting to that stage, however, was indeed an adventure.
Less than five minutes into the game, NC State trailed 14-0. The early deficit looked even larger when Wolfpack wide receiver Chris Coleman went out with a dislocated left elbow on his team's second possession of the game.
"That was as gutty a performance as we've ever had," said NC State coach Mike O'Cain. "Early in the ball game I started thinking that we were snake bit. Our first series, we complete a pass, the ball pops up in the air and they catch it. It's 14-0 and then on the next series we lose Chris. I was thinking 'what in the world else can happen to us.'"
A lot of NC State fans must have been thinking the same thing. Clemson took the opening kick-off and drove 65 yards in seven plays for the opening score. Woody Dantzler's 30-yard pass to a wide open Mal Lawyer was followed moments later by a ten yard run by Tiger tailback Travis Zachery. Just like that, it was 14-0 before many of the spectators had settled into their seats.
But it was at that point that the Pack put together its most impressive drive of the year. Mixing in passes from Barnette and key runs by Ray Robinson, NC State's offense started to click. The ten play, 80 yard march ended with an 18-yard scoring pass from Barnette to receiver Ryan Hamrick.
"My mind was on making sure the team stayed focused on what we had to do," Barnette said about the early adversity. "We just wanted to start picking up first down after first down."
But Clemson was also picking up first downs. The Tigers made it 21-7 in the opening period when Zachery scored again, this time from three yards out.
Less than two minutes later, the Wolfpack was back on the board. Rahshon Spikes' nifty 39-yard run brought NC State back to within seven as a wild opening quarter came to a close.
Following a Clemson field goal of 43-yards, the Pack closed out the first half scoring by driving 94-yards in nine plays. Freshman wide receiver Brian Peterson's first career touchdown-a 22-yard grab-made it 24-21. NC State's late half drive was aided by two personal penalties whistled against Clemson.
"We gave them 30 of those yards," said Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.
There was a lot of give and take in the penalty department. While the Tigers piled up 11 penalties for 108 yards, the Wolfpack set a school record with a whopping 15 penalties for 136 yards.
Meanwhile, NC State's suddenly rejuvenated offense came out firing with a 12-play, 65 yard drive to start the second half. When Barnette hit Vanderveer with a touchdown pass on fourth and goal at the Clemson one, the Pack had its first lead of the night at 28-24.
"Our offensive line was the key," O'Cain said. "They gave Jamie the protection he needed. When he's got protection, he's going to hit open receivers. I think some of those questions were answered tonight. We were able established control of the line of scrimmage all night long. It was just a good performance offensively."
But the Pack would need even more offense if it was going to win this one. With 3:01 remaining in the third, Clemson went back out in front 31-28 when Dantzler connected with Brian Wofford on a 26 yard scoring pass. But as it turned out, that would be Clemson's only score of the second half.
NC State took the lead for good on the Barnette to Vanderveer hook-up at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
On the night, Barnette was 15 of 29 four 215 yards. The performance included four touchdown passes. He said improved pass protection by the offensive line made it all possible. "That was the biggest key to the ballgame. They did a good job of blocking for the run as well as giving me time to throw the ball."
The run blocking helped NC State get its first 100-yard rushing performance of the season. Rahshon Spikes had 109 yards on 23 carries. Spikes was forced into extra duty after sophomore Ray Robinson went out with a twisted knee in the first half.
Clemson rolled up 368 yards of total offense, but NC State nearly matched that with 350 yards.
"Hopefully, we now have that monkey off our back offensively," O'Cain said. "We made some critical plays at critical times and that's the key to moving the football."
NC State's season was in critical condition at one point on Saturday night. But thanks to a nice recovery, the Pack may be back on track.
