North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Clemson
10/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 14, 2003
CLEMSON (4-2, 2-1) at NC STATE ( 4-3, 1-2)
DATE: Thursday, October 16, 2003
TIME: Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. (EDT) Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (53,800)
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network. AIRTIME: 6:45 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ESPN (National)
OPPONENT---- Clemson recorded its first victory over a ranked team in nine games, but had to go to overtime at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon to earn it. Charlie Whitehurst's 4-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Youngblood was the game-winner as the Tigers upset No. 25 Virginia 30-27.
Clemson gave up a 10-point lead to trail 17-10. Then fought back again after Virginia forced overtime with 57 seconds remaining. Virginia (4-2, 3-1) had the ball first in the extra period and settled for Connor Hughes' 33-yard field goal after running back Alvin Pearman was stopped on a third-and-1 play by linebacker Leroy Hill.
The Tigers took over and Whitehurst's 12-yard pass to Duane Coleman gave the Tigers a first down at the Virginia 7. Two plays later, Whitehurst floated a pass into the left corner that Youngblood leaped to catch.
Virginia's league-leading rushing attack was out to lunch against the Tigers. Wali Lundy, who entered the game as the ACC's leading rusher with 102.4 yards per game, managed only 26 yards on 12 first-half carries. He left the game in the third quarter with an injury.
With UVA held to only 53 total yards on the ground, the Cavaliers looked to quarterback, Matt Schaub, who did not let them down. Schaub threw for 271 yards and two second-half touchdowns as Virginia rallied from a 10-0 halftime deficit and eventually forced overtime.
After Yusef Kelly's 13-yard touchdown run gave Clemson a 24-17 with 3:20 left, Virginia tied it at 24-all on Pearman's 1-yard TD run slightly more than a minute later. The Cavs got the ball a last time in regulation, but Clemson's Tye Hill intercepted a pass with 5 seconds left.
Whitehurst, who ran for one TD and passed for another, was 27-of-44 for 265 yards. Youngblood had nine catches for 87 yards, and Kelly ran for 88 yards in his first start of the season for the Tigers.
An 11-yard touchdown pass to Heath Miller and a 5-yard TD pass to Patrick Estes in the third quarter gave the Cavaliers a 14-10 lead. Then, after Clemson had taken the lead in the fourth quarter, Schaub hit 4 of 5 passes for 40 yards on the tying drive.
Clemson opened the season with a 30-0 loss at home against No. 11 Georgia. Since then, the Tigers have been improving almost every week on both sides of the ball. The only setback since the opener was a 21-7 loss at Maryland on October 4th.
Two of the top three passing teams in the ACC will be on display when Clemson faces NC State. The Wolfpack leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the nation in passing offense, accumulating 344 yards per game. Clemson ranks 23rd in the nation in passing offense and third in the ACC with 279 yards per game. State's Philip Rivers is eighth in the nation in passing efficiency and second in total offense heading into this week's game. Clemson's Whitehurst (6-4, 220, So.) is No. 31 in passing efficiency and 20th in total offense. He is a pro-style passer, but is mobile enough to cause some problems.
The Tigers feature three of the ACC's top receivers. Youngblood (6-5, 215, Gr.), Derrick Hamilton (6-4, 205, Jr.) and Airese Curry (5-11, 185, Jr.) are all among the league's top-seven in receptions. Youngblood leads the Tigers with 38 catches, while Hamilton is tops in receiving yards (475) and TD catches (4).
Clemson's offensive line averages 306 pounds. It's bigger and more physical than in recent seasons and there seems to be more of an emphasis on rushing. After getting only 10 rushing yards at Maryland, the Tigers ran for 194 in the victory over Virginia. Sophomore Duane Coleman (5-10, 190), leads the Tigers in rushing (285 yards) and averages 4.3 yards per carry.
Defensively, Clemson took a hit with the loss of starting end, J. J. Howard, for the season. He suffered a knee injury vs. UVA. Khaleed Vaughn, who starts at the other end, and linebacker Eric Sampson missed the Virginia game with an injury and are questionable for NC State. As it stands now, Clemson will start only two seniors in its 4-2-5 defensive scheme on Thursday night.
The Tigers are No. 3 in the ACC in total defense (317), fifth against the rush (120) and fourth in stopping the pass (198) and have allowed only 7 passing touchdowns in six games, nine fewer than the Wolfpack. Both Clemson and NC State are tied for fourth in the ACC with 16 sacks. The Tigers top defender is junior linebacker Leroy Hill (6-1, 220). He has 72 tackles and leads the team with 5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Senior linebacker John Leake (6-1, 240) is next with 64 stops and 6 TFL. Tackle, Donnell Washington (6-6, 320, Jr.) is an outstanding pass rusher and has forced quarterbacks to hurry throws 13 times this season.
The secondary is solid and experienced. Safties Jamaal Fudge (5-10, 190, So.-R) and Travis Pugh (6-1, 195, Jr.) are big hitters and have combined for 100 tackles. Fudge had 20 stops vs. Virginia. Pugh leads the team with two interceptions. Sophomore Justin Miller, who led the ACC with 8 interceptions last year, is a solid cover cornerback. Hill, a redshirt sophomore, and redshirt senior Toure Francis have been battling for the other corner position.
While Clemson's return game is dangerous, punting and kicking have been adventures this season. The Tigers lead the ACC in kickoff returns (28.4) with Miller third in the league overall (26.1). The punt return game has not been as good, but Derrick Hamilton is a threat to go the distance anytime.
Cole Chason (6-0, 161, Fr.-R) has punted 31 times for a 39 yard average, but has been very shaky at times. Placekicker, Aaron Hunt (5-11, 216, Sr.) has made only 3 of 8 field goal attempts with a long of 42 yards and is 1of 4 beyond 40 yards. Junior holder, Gene Pate, broke his leg before the game against UVA when he slipped while running down the hill when the team made its entrance into Memorial Stadium. Chason is now the holder.
The Tigers have won three of the last four meetings with NC State in Carter-Finley Stadium and have moved the ball. Clemson has averaged 23 first downs, 447 yards total offense, 255 yards passing and 34.5 points per game against NC State in Raleigh over the last four games in that facility.
INJURIES--NC State: OT Chris Colmer-Out, Parsonage Turner Syndrome; WR Sterling Hicks-Out, torn ACL; OG Ricky Fowler-Out, ACL sprain; DE Renaldo Moses-Out, torn ACL & MCL; CB Lamont Reid-Out, shoulder; TB Josh Brown-Questionable, Hip flexor/abdominal strain; TE Avery Gibson-Probable, concussion. Clemson:DE J.J. Howard-Out, knee; HO Gene Pate-Out, broken leg; DE Khaleed Vaughn-Questionable, knee; LB Eric Sampson-Questionable, ankle; WR Airese Curry-Questionable, ankle.
