Spiller sparks Clemson past State 43-23

RALEIGH

C.J. Spiller pretty much did it all for Clemson.

He ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and threw one of his own to help the 24th-ranked Tigers beat N.C. State 43-23 yesterday, putting them in position to go to the ACC title game.

"I'm just proud of C.J. -- another ho-hum day for him," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "I don't know how many other ‘first evers' the guy can have."

No one else at Clemson ever had a touchdown pass, catch and run all in the same game.

Spiller, a do-everything back, rushed for 97 yards on 18 carries and made three catches for 48 yards, including a 34-yarder that blew open the game early in the fourth quarter.

Jamie Harper added a 69-yard touchdown run for the Tigers (7-3, 5-2 ACC), who won their fifth straight.

The Tigers would have clinched the ACC Atlantic Division if Boston College had lost at Virginia yesterday. But since Boston College defeated Virginia 14-10, the Tigers will have to beat the Cavaliers next week.

Quarterback Russell Wilson was 12 of 32 for 183 yards and two touchdowns for the Wolfpack (4-6, 1-5 ACC), which allowed at least 30 points for the seventh consecutive game.

N.C. State squibbed its first three kickoffs in an effort to keep the ball away from Spiller and fellow speedster Jacoby Ford, setting up the Tigers with good field position. Punter Jeff Ruiz aimed his kicks toward the sideline for the same reason, but he shanked one for 6 yards that gave the Tigers the ball at the N.C. State 17 early in the second quarter.

On the next play, Spiller threw the second touchdown pass of his career to give the Tigers a 17-0 lead.

He took a toss to the right and lofted the ball to Xavier Dye, who was open in the end zone after running behind cornerback C.J. Wilson.

"I got a lot of grief on the sideline because it was a duck," he said. "But it got us six points."

It was about the only flaw in his game yesterday. He also didn't have a play of over 50 yards for the first time in nine games against Football Bowl Subdivision teams this season.

N.C. State was eliminated from bowl consideration.

Kyle Parker was 12 of 18 for 183 yards and two touchdowns as Clemson scored at least 38 points for a school-record fifth consecutive game.

N.C. State's offense sputtered as dropped passes plagued the Wolfpack, particularly in the early going.

"I don't understand that at all," O'Brien said. "You come out and have a chance to play, and you have to make plays. Too many mistakes to be against somebody as good as Clemson is. We've got chances, got guys open. They've got to catch it."

N.C. State's fans, most of whom weren't around at the end of the game, voiced their displeasure during the second quarter. After watching wide receivers drop three throws, they delivered a loud, sarcastic cheer when Koyal George managed to hang onto one of Wilson's passes.

Clemson 3 21 6 13 -- 43

N.C. State 0 7 7 9 -- 23

First Quarter

Clemson--FG Benton 28, 6:04.

Second Quarter

Clemson--J.Ford 17 run (Benton kick), 14:29.

Clemson--Dye 17 pass from Spiller (Benton kick), 12:48.

NCSU--George 18 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 6:42.

Clemson--Palmer 5 pass from Parker (Benton kick), 4:09.

Third Quarter

NCSU--Ja.Williams 8 pass from R.Wilson (Czajkowski kick), 11:08.

Clemson--Spiller 16 run (kick failed), 7:56.

Fourth Quarter

NCSU--FG Czajkowski 26, 13:55.

Clemson--Spiller 34 pass from Parker (kick failed), 10:05.

Clemson--Harper 69 run (Jackson kick), 8:42.

NCSU--Ja.Williams 2 pass from Glennon (pass failed), :03.

A--57,583.

TEAM STATISTICS

Clemson NCSU

First downs 20 26

Rushes-yards 36-254 41-138

Passing 200 239

Comp-Att-Int 13-19-0 16-39-1

Return Yards 0 5

Punts-Avg. 3-37.3 5-30.0

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 7-79 6-42

Time of Possession 26:47 33:13

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Clemson, Spiller 18-97, Harper 4-86, Ellington 7-31, Parker 3-21, J.Ford 1-17, Korn 3-2. N.C. State, Baker 19-76, Eugene 15-37, R.Wilson 7-25.

PASSING--Clemson, Parker 12-18-0-183, Spiller 1-1-0-17. N.C. State, R.Wilson 12-32-1-183, Glennon 4-6-0-56, Team 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING--Clemson, Palmer 4-50, Spiller 3-48, J.Ford 2-55, Dye 2-34, Ashe 1-9, Harper 1-4. N.C. State, Spencer 3-50, Ja.Williams 3-44, Bryan 3-29, George 2-27, Baker 1-26, Bowens 1-22, Davis 1-18, Howard 1-16, J.Smith 1-7.