Field Level Media
Nov 9, 2019
Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes for a fifth consecutive game and No. 5 Clemson rolled past North Carolina State 55-10 in Raleigh, N.C., to clinch its fifth straight Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division title.
The Tigers (10-0, 7-0 ACC) will play the Coastal Division champion in the ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 7. Clemson has won each of the last four ACC title games.
The victory improved Clemson to 10-0 for the fifth time in school history and the third time since 2015. It gave the Tigers a ninth consecutive season with 10 or more wins, which is a school record and tied with Texas for the third-longest streak of 10-win seasons in FBS history.
The victory was also the 25th in a row for Clemson, extending the school record. The Tigers haven't lost a game since falling to Alabama 24-6 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2018.
Clemson wasted little time in taking the lead, marching 84 yards in nine plays on its opening possession. Lawrence scored on a 7-yard run and the rout was on.
Lawrence tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins on the Tigers' ensuing possession and Travis Etienne scored on a 4-yards catch and 19-yard run for a 28-0 first-quarter lead.
That lead swelled to 42-0 by halftime as 330-pound senior guard John Simpson scored on a 1-yard run out of the jumbo package and Justyn Ross snagged a 33-yard scoring pass from Lawrence.
The Tigers had 403 yards and 21 first downs in the first half while limiting the Wolfpack to 88 yards and four first downs.
N.C. State (4-5, 1-4) finally scored on its opening possession of the second half when freshman running back Zonovan Knight broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run.
Clemson added another touchdown midway through the third quarter on an 8-yard run by Etienne, who finished with 112 yards on 14 carries. Etienne's three touchdowns give him 54 for his career and broke C.J. Spiller's school record of 51.
Etienne's two rushing touchdowns pushed his career total to 50, matching former Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson for second place on the ACC's all-time list.
Lawrence completed 20-of-27 passes for 276 yards and rushed for a career-high 59 yards on eight carries. N.C. State freshman quarterback Devin Leary, making his third career start, was 14 of 29 for 166 yards.
Knight led the Wolfpack with 139 yards rushing on 12 carries.
--Field Level Media