CLEMSON, S.C. _ The last two Clemson and N.C. State matchups were filled with fourth-quarter drama in down-to-the-wire games. The only fourth-quarter drama on Saturday centered around how many walk-ons Clemson would play.
After the Tigers escaped with a pair of close wins against N.C. State each of the past two years, Clemson dominated from start to finish on Saturday, earning a 41-7 victory in a battle between the only two undefeated teams remaining in the ACC.
Clemson freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence (26-for-39, 308 yards, touchdown) outshined Wolfpack senior Ryan Finley (21-for-34, 156 yards), and the Clemson secondary looked nothing like the one that was torched by Texas A&M in Week 2, as No. 3 Clemson (7-0, 4-0) easily passed perhaps its biggest test until the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers scored a touchdown on their first drive for the first time this season when Travis Etienne (15 carries, 39 yards, three touchdowns) finished off a nine-play, 57-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and Clemson was off to the races.
Lawrence passed for 244 yards in the first half, including a 46-yard touchdown strike to Tee Higgins (eight receptions, 119 yards), Etienne added a 2-yard touchdown run and Greg Huegel connected on a 28-yard field goal as Clemson led 24-0 at halftime.
No. 16 N.C. State (5-1, 2-1) failed to score on its first nine possessions and Clemson emptied the bench in the impressive win, playing 85 players.
