Clemson 38, NCST 31, Postgame Notes and Quotes:

NC State head coach Dave Doeren 

On the consistency of officiating:
“I wish it was a lot better, Joe. I’d like to know why there was a laptop on Clemson’s sideline that people were looking at, too. I’d like that to be investigated. Maybe they weren’t doing anything, but I was told it’s illegal to have technology on the sideline. So I’d like to know that as well. No idea [who it was], I just saw a picture of it walking up here."
 
On the illegal shift call late in the game:
“They said it was an illegal motion. We audibled, the receivers were realigning, and the ball got snapped.”

On the key to the offense’s efficiency in the first half:
“We were getting first downs and getting them tired. Their defense was fatigued. We were able to get them misaligned and out of their stances. Ryan [Finley] had a good rhythm, and they were playing soft coverage. That’s kind of what we’ve done all year, just had a good rhythm going."
 
“They made some adjustments in the second half, and we missed a great opportunity to Kelvin [Harmon]. That would’ve been a huge play. I think that was the second drive, we had a double move that would’ve been a big play in the game. We ended up going three-and-out that drive, so that was a critical play there. We had a fourth-and-one that [we punted on]. We had been playing in bad field position the whole quarter on defense, and I just felt like if we don’t get it, we’re putting them out there for their third-straight series on bad field position. So I thought we’d pin them back and stop them, then we gave up the big run. That was unfortunate. Obviously, if I had that back, I’d probably go for it. But after three-straight drives starting on our side of the 50, I thought flipping the field there was going to help us.”

On how the team was able to have the opportunity to tie the game:
“They’ve got grit. They’re tough kids that want to win, and didn’t want to be denied that game tonight. I’m proud of them for how they fought, and I’ve got a great group of guys to coach. I really do. I’m really proud of the way they continue to battle, and I know they will - even though they’re very down right now - continue to battle as the season goes on.”
 
On what it meant for Kyle Bambard to come in and make a field goal:
“I was happy for Kyle. Obviously disappointed we ended up there, but that’s where we’re at. I’m very happy for him.”
 
On Jakobi Meyers’ and Kelvin Harmon’s performances:
“They’re playing so hard, and I’m very proud of both of them. I think Jakobi Meyers showed a lot of toughness tonight. He was sore going into the game, and played through it and made some tough, physical contact catches. He did a great job, and he’s grown up so much. Proud of him."

“Kelvin continues to do what he’s been doing. He’s just a great player.”
 
On what he said to the team now that the Atlantic Division is not in their control:
“I told them downstairs the same thing I said to you. I don’t have any magic speech for that. It’s going to hurt. That’s what happens when you lose a big game, it hurts. But we’re not going to quit either. We’re going to try to win 10 games. We’ve got three regular-season [games] and a bowl game left. That’s been done once in program history, so that’s what we’re going to play for now. Their season isn’t over, either. They could lose still. It’s just out of our control now, but we’re continuing to play hard and finishing the season. That’s what's in our control, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

On how the players reacted postgame:
“They’re just pissed. They wanted it. They’re down, and they’re emotional. They’re what you would want them to be. When you put everything in it and don’t get it, that’s what you expect.” 

On not having Nyheim Hines and Jaylen Samuels at 100%:
“It doesn’t help, when some of your best players aren’t 100%. Justin Jones tried to play, too, and he couldn’t make the full game. Proud of those kids for trying. They really wanted to be out there. It hurts, you know? That’s why you recruit. You find a great player, and you need them in a big game like that."

“Offensively, we had 491 yards, and Nyheim wasn’t healthy out there. I think we did a hell of a job putting together a package that still gave us a chance to win. We scored 31 points.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney

Opening Statement:
"It was an unbelievable ball game. It was a great effort by both teams. I thought NC State played a heck of a game, especially in the first half they kicked our butt. We knew it was going to be a tough, hard-fought game."

"This is an incredibly experienced and veteran-led team that we were going to play at home. I'm really proud of our team. We have a really young team and thought a lot of our guys grew up tonight. This is an unbelievable experience for our group. This was championship-type football where you have to make critical plays in critical situations. I'm proud of the perseverance of our guys, especially how we played in the third quarter when we got control of the ballgame."

"I give them (NC State) credit though, their quarterback is a heck of a player. If you gave him any space at all he was taking it. We're fortunate to win the game, we got done what we came up here to do and that was to find a way to win and stay on track. There was no way to win the division if we didn't win up here. We got that done but we still have a tough road."

On the punt downed inside the Pack one-yard line:
"He (Hunter Renfrow) had a big third down and we went to him on fourth and five. The one thing I challenged our coaches and the thing I told our team last night is that I promised them we weren't going to walk out of that field and not put the ball in their hands. The game is about the players and I wanted to make sure that we gave our players the opportunity to win the game. I'm really proud of our coaches because I thought offensively, especially, that we did that. That was a huge play."

On Ray-Ray McCloud's performance:
"That's why we didn't fire him. That's why we hung in there with him. I wanted to fire him many times in the last year or so but he grew up and matured. He's a special talent. I'm really proud of him and proud of those guys holding up. There's a bunch of guys out there getting the job done for him. We've created a lot of confidence and we have some swagger on our return team right now. That was one thing we talked about last night was somebody being the spark on special teams. What a huge play by Ray-Ray and all those guys. Huge momentum play."

Deon Cain

On career-high nine catches: 
“I love to be out there doing what I love. The ball came my way plenty of times but there are still plays I should have made out on the field. I need to execute more.”

On if the team panicked early: 
“No panic. We were prepared for the ups and downs of the game. Kelly (Bryant) just had to get a feel for the game, and once he did we were good after that. That's the game of football right there - overcoming adversity. Our sideline had to stay together and we had to play as one. It was good to see our offense step up and help our defense.”

On Ray-Ray (McCloud) playing CB:

“Actually, I was on my toes a little bit because they were moving the ball and getting first downs and all of that. But once I saw Ray-Ray go in, I was like, 'Ok, it's official now. Let's go.' And we made the plays we had to make.”

Clelin Ferrell

On the offense: 
“I saw them carry the team. That's what I saw. The defense, we had our struggles the first half. That was probably our best third quarter defense of the year. And then in the fourth quarter, we bent but didn't break. The offense had that first interception but they got that out of their head. You saw how tough Kelly played. The special teams played. The defense had a lot of help tonight from the offense and special teams.” 

TEAM NOTES

• This was Clemson’s ninth straight win over a top 25 team, extending a school record. It also tied the ACC record of nine in a row. Florida State also had a nine-game winning streak against top 25 teams from 2012-14.
• Clemson is now 39-3 over its last 42 games.
• Clemson has now won 23 of its last 25 ACC games, including 13 of the last 14 away from home against league foes.
• Clemson has won six straight over NC State and 13 of the last 14.
• Clemson has now won seven in a row against teams it defeated by a touchdown or less in the previous season.
• Clemson is 8-0 vs. N.C. State since 2004 when the Wolfpack enters the game with a winning record.
• Clemson is now 84-21 in the decade of the 2010s, an 80 percent mark. The most wins in a decade for the Clemson program is 87 in the 1980s.
• Clemson’s 2017 senior class is now 27-4 against ACC teams in the regular season. The record is 28-4 by the seniors of 2015 and 2016, so this class can tie the record with a win next week against Florida State.
• This was Clemson’s third win on the road over a top 25 team this year. Earlier, Clemson won at top 25 teams (entering the game) on the road from Louisville and Virginia Tech. This is the first time since 1950 that Clemson has won three road games over top 25 teams in the same year.
• Clemson is now 13-1 vs. Top 25 teams over the last three years. The only loss is the National Championship loss at the end of the 2015 season to Alabama, 45-40. Only Alabama has more wins than Clemson over top 25 teams over the last three years. The Crimson Tide has 18 going into tonight’s game against a top 25 LSU team.
• When N.C. State scored a touchdown after a Clemson turnover on their first drive of the game, it was the first time this year that Clemson’s defense gave up a touchdown after a Clemson turnover. Clemson had given up just six points off turnovers all year entering this game.
• Clemson had 14 points and 202 yards in the third quarter.
• Clemson is 69-2 since 2011 when leading going into the fourth quarter.
• Clemson rushed for over 200 yards in this game. The Tigers are now 44-1 under Dabo Swinney with at least 200 yards rushing, and this was the 40th consecutive win when rushing for at least 200 yards.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Dabo Swinney moved into second place on Clemson’s all-time wins list and now has 97. He moved ahead of Danny Ford, who had a 96-29-4 record. Swinney is now 97-29-4. Frank Howard is the record-holder with 165.
• Swinney is now the record-holder for wins by a Clemson head coach as an ACC coach. Entering today, Swinney, Howard, and Ford all had 96 wins since the ACC was formed in 1953.
• Swinney is now fifth in ACC history in wins by a league coach with 97. Next on the list is Bill Dooley, who had 98 while coaching for North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
• Swinney is now 63-17 in his 10 years against ACC teams.
• Coach Swinney is now 22-2 against ACC teams from the state of North Carolina, including 15 wins in a row since NC State defeated the Tigers 37-13 in 2011.
• Offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt has started 38 of the last 39 games at left tackle.
• Deon Cain has now caught a pass in 32 consecutive games. Hunter Renfrow now has a streak of 23 in a row. The Clemson record is 38 in a row by Artavis Scott, who played from 2014-16.
• Ray-Ray McCloud had a 77-yard punt return in the first quarter. It was the first punt return for a touchdown by a Clemson player since the 2014 Louisville game when Adam Humphries returned a punt 72 yards for a score in a 23-17 Clemson win.    
• McCloud’s punt return was the first for a touchdown by a Clemson player on the road since 2000 at Virginia when Joe Don Reames went 69 yards for a touchdown.
• McCloud’s 77-yard return for a score was the longest by a Clemson player since C.J. Spiller had a 77-yard punt return for a score against Boston College in 2009.
• Tavien Feaster’s 89-yard run on the last play of the third quarter tied for the third-longest run by a Clemson player in history. It is the longest by a Clemson player since 1993 when Derrick Witherspoon had an 89-yard run against Maryland.