North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Football Notes vs. Clemson
10/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
DATE: Saturday, October 9, 1999
TIME: Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. (EDT) @ Carter-Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 7:30 p.m. (click for list of stations carrying game)
TELEVISION: ESPN2 (National)
A WIN--Would break a two-game ACC and overall losing streak and give the Pack a 4-2 start for the second straight season. A victory would mark the Wolfpack's 5th straight at home and 11th win in the last 12 games at Carter-Finley Stadium dating back to the 1997 season. NC State would register its second straight win over Clemson and first at home over the Tigers since a 20-6 win in 1992.
A LOSS--Would be the third in-a-row for the Pack (its first three- game losing streak since 1997) and would drop the Wolfpack to 3-3 overall. NC State's ACC record would drop to 0-3 for the first time since 1995. The loss would be the 7th in the last 10 meetings with Clemson and would break a 4 game Wolfpack home winning streak.
WHERE'S THE OFFENSE? --After leading the ACC in total offense last season (442.8 ypg.), throwing for 309 yards per game, and averaging 31.2 points a contest, the Pack has struggled this season. NC State is last in the ACC in total offense averaging 222.4 yards a game and is scoring only 17.8 points per game. Clemson is 4th in total offense (365 ypg.) and 7th in scoring offense (21.3 ppg.). In passing offense Clemson is 3rd (250 ypg.) while NC State is last in the ACC (118.4 ypg.).
TURNOVER MARGIN -- The Wolfpack is 8th in the ACC in turnover margin (-0.80 ) gaining 11 turnovers and losing 15 ( 10 fumbles and 5 interceptions). CU is 2nd at +1.50. The Tigers have gained 13 turnovers while losing 3 fumbles and throwing 4 interceptions.
PASS DEFENSE -- NC State was among the nation's leaders in passing efficiency defense last season and is 2nd in the ACC this week. NC State has picked off 5 passes this season. CU is 1st in the ACC in passing efficiency defense and has intercepted 9 passes..
BARNETTE WATCH -- Jamie Barnette has thrown for more than 200 yards just once in 5 games this season. He is 55 of 109 passing for 578 yards and 2 TD's. He has thrown 4 interceptions and fumbled 3 times in his last two games. The senior is averaging only 112 yards in total offense this season after leading the ACC in that department a year ago. He's thrown 14 interceptions in his last 474 attempts (including post-season).
RUSHING AND WINNING --With 200 yards rushing vs. William & Mary, NC State is 45-2-1 over the last 13 seasons when rushing for 200 yards or more in a game. The defeats were @UVA (211 yds on 10/24/98) and vs. Miami (297 yds. on 12/29/98).
THIRD DOWN TROUBLE -- Pack is last in the ACC in 3rd down success at 21% (14-65)
DEFENSE --The Pack's defense was porous vs. WFU allowing 266 yards rushing and 31 points. Prior to that, the NC State defense was outstanding, keeping opponents out of the end zone for 11 straight quarters until FSU's second quarter TD. The Pack is 5th in the ACC in scoring defense this week (20.4 ppg.). CU is 4th (19.5 ppg.). Three of five NC State opponents have rushed for more than 100 yards ( South Carolina 153 and FSU 149). This week, the Wolfpack is 4th in the ACC in total defense (333 ypg.) and 3rd in rushing defense (131.2 ypg.) compared to CU's No. 5 total defense ranking (347 ypg.) and in 6th position in rush defense (143 ypg.).
SACK CITY--The Wolfpack has sacked opposing QB's 14 times this season. Clemson has 19 sacks.
BLOCK PARTY-- NC State's punt "attack" team has scored 23 points this year on blocks. The Pack blocked 3 punts against Texas, scoring 16 points and notched another TD off a blocked punt vs. South Carolina. When Brian Jamison partially blocked a punt vs. William & Mary, it tied the school single season record for punt blocks (5) set by last year's team and the 1963 squad.
IMPROVED PUNTING-- Scott Earwood is 3rd in the ACC with a 40.1 yard average for 36 punts. However, NC State is 8th in the ACC in net punting (32.9 ypp.). Clemson's Ryan Romano is 5th in the ACC with a 38.0 yard average. In net punting the Tigers are 3rd (36.4 ypp.).
COMEBACK KIDS --The Pack came from behind in the fourth quarter to upset Texas.. That marked the third fourth-quarter rally for a win in the last two seasons for NC State. Last year, five of the Pack's seven victories were sealed in the fourth quarter. Since Mike O'Cain became head coach in 1993, NC State has rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to win four times. The Wolfpack rallied from 17 points down in its '98 opener to defeat Ohio University marking the largest comeback since 1987.
JAMIE BARNETTE-- The redshirt senior is coming off a two-game stretch in which he threw 4 interceptions and lost three fumbles while under too much pressure from opposing defenses. He has thrown for more than 200 yards only once this year, a 237 yard effort (17-22-0) versus William & Mary. Barnette owns all major NC State's career passing records and posted the top passing and total offense numbers by a junior in ACC history. Barnette has 7,719 career passing yards to rank 6th in ACC history. His 7,857 yards in total offense puts him 7th in the all-time ACC records. Last season, Barnette was 10th nationally and No.1 in the ACC in total offense (289 ypg.) and 32nd nationally in pass offense. The Roxboro native has thrown for 4,689 yards and 31 TD's in his last 20 regular season games. The CU game will be his 35th regular season college start. His record is 18-16 as a Wolfpack starter. He's thrown 11 interceptions in his last 433 regular season attempts. Barnette needs 1,896 passing yards to become the all-time ACC leader and move past Duke's Ben Bennett. He is 1,440 yards shy of the ACC career record for total offense, set in 1993 by Georgia Tech's Shawn Jones.
CHRIS COLEMAN-- The senior leads the Pack with 23 receptions, 19 of which have come in the last 3 games. Caught 6 passes for only 24 yards vs. WFU. He is on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award given annually to the nation's best college receiver. He is 7th in school history with 1,666 receiving yards. His 6 catches at WFU moved him into 7th place in pass receptions at NC State. He needs 4 receptions to pass 6th place Jimmy Grissett. A top-special teams player, Coleman has returned two blocked punts for touchdowns in his career.
RAHSHON SPIKES-- The senior runningback leads NC State in rushing with 226 yards in 47 carries (4.8 ypc.) good enough for 11th in the ACC. Enjoyed his best game of the season at FSU, rushing for 89 yards on 21 carries with no fumbles. Spikes has lost three fumbles this year. The highlight of an injury-plagued 1998 season came when he ran for a career-high 176 yards and a TD vs. Miami in the Micron PC Bowl. Missed almost 6 full games with a shoulder injury in '98. Returned to lineup and ran for 287 yards in the Pack's last 3 games.
RAY ROBINSON--The ACC Rookie of the Year in 1998 missed the Pack's game at FSU with a right ankle injury and ran for just 2 yards in 3 carries at WFU. He is NC State's No. 2 rusher with 180 yards on 38 carries and two TD's. Last season, he started 5 of the last 7 games at tailback due to an injury to Rahshon Spikes and ran for a team high 822 yards and 10 TD's. Rushed a career-best 202 yds on 27 carries at UVA. His 88 yard TD run in that game was the 2nd longest in school history. Suffered a broken arm vs. Miami in the Micron PC Bowl. Missed most of pre-season practice with a high sprain of his left ankle.
CLAYTON WHITE-- The redshirt junior is NC State's No. 3 tackler with 46 stops, leads the team in TFL's (7 for 24 yds.) and has 2.5 sacks. White was the Pack's leading tackler at Texas with 20 stops, including 1 1/2 QB sacks and a fumble recovery. Finished 1998 as the Pack's No.2 tackler with 101 stops-- good for 9th in the ACC at 9.2 per game. He also blocked a field goal vs. Duke.
LLOYD HARRISON-- Leads the Pack with 3 interceptions and is tied for No.4 in school history with 10 career picks. He is 6 interceptions shy of tying the school record of 16 held by Eric Williams and Art Rooney. Sealed the upset win at Texas with an interception on the game's final play. A 1999 preseason Football News All-America selection and on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, the redshirt senior is coming off an outstanding 1998 season that saw him voted first-team All-ACC and second-team All-America by Football News. He finished tied for No. 2 in the nation in interceptions with 7 (0.64 per game) and led the Pack and ACC in pass breakups with 23. Returned a blocked field goal for a TD @ MD.
TONY SCOTT -- Returned a blocked punt 48 yards for a touchdown at Texas and had 10 tackles. A senior leader on defense, Scott has 30 tackles and has broken up a team-leading 7 passes this season. Led the ACC in pass break-ups in 1997 and was solid in '98. The team's No.2 returning tackler in the secondary with 67 stops. Blocked a punt vs. UNC and had a hand in a block vs. WFU. Picked off 2 passes vs. Syracuse.
BRIAN WILLIAMS --The sophomore free safety is the Pack's leading tackler with 58 stops, including 13 against No. 1 FSU. He was outstanding vs. South Carolina with 16 tackles, a fumble recovery, and blocked a punt that was returned for the game's only TD. That performance earned him ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors.
LEVAR FISHER --Injured his shoulder vs. WFU but should play against CU. Performed well against FSU with 12 tackles, equaling the number of stops he had vs.Texas. Three of his tackles at Texas were for losses, including one QB sack. Added 10 stops vs. South Carolina and is No. 2 on the squad with 54 tackles including 6 TFL's. As one of nine true or redshirt freshmen to play on the Wolfpack defense last season, he started the last nine games, finished with 74 tackles and led the Pack in fumbles caused (3). The sophomore linebacker leads the team with 8 special teams tackles.
BRIAN JAMISON -- The 6-2, 215-pound sophomore defensive end, leads the Pack in sacks with 3 and No.2 in QB pressures (6). In just his second career start, he caused a school-record four fumbles vs. South Carolina and was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week. He also had five solo tackles and one assist against the Gamecocks, including two quarterback sacks for 11 yards in losses and three QB pressures.
SCOTT EARWOOD--The senior transfer from Catawba has been very solid this season after an injury-plagued 1998 campaign. Earwood has punted 36 times for a 40.1 yard average, good for 3rd best in the ACC. He had his best performance in a Wolfpack uniform at Texas, punting 10 times for a 43.9-yard average.
KENT PASSINGHAM--The junior has been perfect on three field goal attempts, including a 22-yarder at Top-ranked FSU, and has made all 7 of his PAT's this season. He won the starting job as place kicker in pre-season following a disappointing '98 campaign in which he missed all three of his FG attempts.
PASSINGHAM (in 1999) 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-plus TOT LONG
0-0 2-2 1-1 0-0 0-0 3-3 30
INJURIES--NC State: Center, Keegan Weir, out 1-2 weeks with broken leg
suffered Aug. 28. Middle linebacker, Edrick Smith, out for season with knee
injury. Tailback, Eric Leak, questionable with sprain of big toe. Guard,
John Fletcher, probable with toe injury. Linebacker, Levar Fisher, probable
with muscle strain near shoulder. Tailback, Ray Robinson, questionable with
ankle sprain. CU: Quarterback, Brandon Streeter, out for season with broken
collarbone. Starting offensive guard, Will Merritt, out until November with
broken collarbone. Starting defensive end, Gary Childress, probable with
pulled calf muscle. Back up linebacker, Altroy Bodrick, probable with ankle
injury.
THE OPPOSITION-- Clemson became the leading candidate for "surprise team" in
the ACC after rushing past North Carolina last Saturday 31-20 at Memorial
Stadium. Forced to switch to more of a ground attack when quarterback,
Brandon Streeter, suffered a season ending broken collarbone, Clemson ran
for 256 yards on 51 carries.
Tailback Travis Zachery ran for 129 yards and a first quarter touchdown
behind a small but quick offensive line while Clemson's defense made it very
tough for Ronald Curry, intercepting the Tar Heels quarterback four times.
Clemson took over the game by scoring two touchdowns in a 2:16 span of the
third quarter.
Josh McGee's 21-yard field goal 3 1/2 minutes into the fourth quarter
brought North Carolina within 24-20, but Clemson backup quarterback Woodrow
Dantzler broke loose for a 56-yard run almost three minutes later that
completed the scoring.
The loss of Streeter has Clemson concerned, but the performance of Dantzler
was not only good enough for a win, it keeps hopes alive that the best could
still be ahead for the Tigers. There is no doubt that Dantzler gained
valuable confidence in the victory over UNC. He was 7-15-0 through the air
for 131 yards, including a 49-yard strike to Rod Gardner. After a rough
start, Dantzler settled down to lead the Clemson offense to 24 points in
about three-quarters of play. He will get the majority of snaps in practice
this week in preparing for NC State. Dantzler is ranked third in the ACC in
passing efficiency this week.
"There shouldn't be any doubt or indecision going into the NC State game
that he has the ability to get it done if everyone else does their job,"
said first-year head coach, Tommy Bowden, who has the Tigers 2-0 in the ACC
for the first time since 1988.
Clemson lost 209 yards of total offense a game when Streeter went down, but
if Dantzler can get a better handle on the passing game, he may become more
dangerous to opposing defenses than Streeter because of his ability to run
the football. Against UNC Dantzler rushed 11 times for 82 yards. This new
dimension could open up the Clemson offense in a different way, allowing
several forms of the option and giving defenses something else to be
concerned about.
The Tigers have excellent receivers in Rod Gardner who leads the ACC with
8.25 catches per game and is third in receiving yards with 99.5 per game.
Veterans Brian Wofford and Mal Lawyer are also solid pass catchers and very
dangerous return specialists.
As usual, Clemson can more than hold its own defensively. The Tigers lead
the ACC in passing efficiency defense and have 9 interceptions. Free safety,
Robert Carswell (3 interceptions and 53 tackles), strong safety DeMarco Fox,
and cornerbacks Dextra Polite (2 interceptions) and Alex Ardley, are all
solid veterans. Linebackers, Keith Adams (60), Chad Carson (56), and Braxton
Williams (31) are three of Clemson's top four tacklers and have almost half
the teams sacks. Putting heat on opposing quarterbacks is a Clemson
strength. The Tigers have 19 sacks with Adams' total of 5 for 37 yards
leading the way.
The kicking game for Clemson appears to be average. Redshirt junior punter,
Ryan Romano, has a
38 yard average, but the Tigers are 3rd in the ACC in net punting (36.4
ypp.). Redshirt junior, Chris Campbell (2-5 FG) and redshirt freshman, Tony
Lazzara (3-5 FG), have split place kicking duties.
Lazzara has the Tigers longest made field goal this season, a 42-yarder.
