OT Thriller: No. 3 Clemson survives NC State, 24-17
PETE IACOBELLI (AP Sports Writer)•Oct 15, 2016, 6:18 PM
The Wolfpack (4-2, 1-1) were a 33-yard field goal away at the end of regulation from quashing Clemson's perfect start. Instead, Kyle Bambard pushed the kick right and sent most of the 82,104 at Death Valley into hysterics.
''I kind of looked up and I saw it started to sail, then I closed my eyes because I couldn't believe it was actually happening,'' Clemson defensive end Christian Wilkins said. ''I waited for the crowd to cheer. They messed up because they gave us another chance.''
Given new life, Clemson responded like defending ACC champions. The Tigers converted a fourth-and-1 to keep their overtime the drive going, and then Deshaun Watson connected with Artavis Scott on a go-ahead 10-yard TD pass. Marcus Edmond intercepted Wolfpack quarterback Ryan Finley's deep thrown into the end zone to keep the Tigers undefeated and on track for the league title game and the College Football Playoff.
It wasn't the prettiest effort for Clemson, which gave up 397 yards and turned it over four times - including Watson's first-ever pick six - to the Wolfpack. But it made it two straight heart-stopping home games for the Tigers, who trailed 36-28 to Louisville before rallying with two touchdowns in the final eight minutes to take that showdown victory.
As Thoreau wrote, “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”
