What they’re saying after NC State football’s win over Clemson

NC State returned to the win column with a 24-17 victory against Clemson on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium, which marked the Wolfpack’s second win over the Tigers in its last three meetings with the ACC power.

Here is what those who covered the game are saying about the Pack’s fifth win of the season.

Ethan McDowell, The Wolfpacker — Through good and bad, NC State stuck to its identity

“Over the past 11 seasons, NC State head coach Dave Doeren put countless hours into establishing a successful football culture within the Wolfpack athletic department. 

After drifting away from the ‘hard, tough, together’ mentality that is so deeply embedded into the Murphy Center during a 24-3 loss to Duke, the program got back to its winning ways with a 24-17 rivalry victory over Clemson. 

NC State’s journey to that triumph started with its bye week. 

The staff gave the players time off during the open date, helping them rest up for a grueling five-game stretch to end the regular season. NC State returned to practice focused, and staff tested the team with a challenging week of practice. 

“The whole team just came together, just pointed out what we needed to get better at, just stopped hurting ourselves and you see how successful we were able to play today,” junior safety Devan Boykin said.”

Noah Fleischman, The Wolfpacker — NC State WR Kevin Concepcion does it all in the Wolfpack’s win over Clemson

“As NC State walked off the natural grass field at Carter-Finley Stadium for halftime against Clemson on Saturday afternoon, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren found himself next to his star offensive playmaker and had a challenge for him.

The 11th-year coach told freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, who has been playing banged up, he would give the young star some time off this week at practice, but he needed him to “suck it up” for the second half. 

Concepcion had 58 total yards — of NC State’s 85 — and the team’s lone touchdown at the half. Doeren knew the Wolfpack would lean on Concepcion in the second half, and he needed a big half from the do-it-all guy. 

“He said, ‘Coach, you know me, I’m going to play my butt off,’” Doeren recalled postgame. “You’ve just got to love that, and that type of guy. I’m super proud and thankful that he is in the Wolfpack.”

Jadyn Watson-Fisher, News & Observer — NC State football adds honorary coach, helping 12-year-old Florida girl live a dream

“Doeren became acquainted with the Gibbs family last year when PJ Gibbs contacted him through social media, telling him of Payton’s aspirations. In addition to her desire to be a coach, Payton also became enthralled with animal mascots, including N.C. State’s Tuffy. Doeren invited her to attend a Wolfpack practice, and meet the players and coaches. 

The families stayed in touch. The Gibbs family sent Doeren photos of Payton on the sideline, and when Doeren learned about the school district’s decision to ban Payton from the sideline, he reacted. 

“They contacted me, and it (ticked) me off,” Doeren said. “I wrote a letter to the Superintendent of Schools down there and everyone else that was on this board.”

In an email to the Collier County School Board, Doeren asked — rhetorically — where in its bylaws it states a person can be restricted due to their disability. It can’t, he said, otherwise it would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Doeren told the board it should at least allow her in the press box. 

“They wouldn’t respond to me about it,” Doeren said. “I said, ‘Well, maybe the only thing I can do then is put her on a college sideline.’ Let us put a story out about how this is the right thing to do, and how stupid they look down there, restricting somebody who’s done it for two years.”

Rodd Baxley, The Fayetteville Observer — ‘He can kiss my…:’ NC State football coach Dave Doeren has message for Steve Smith

“NC State football coach Dave Doeren had a message for former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. 

“Tell Steve Smith in the studio this ain’t a basketball school. He can kiss my (expletive),” Doerean said in a postgame interview with the CW Network after the Wolfpack’s 24-17 win against Clemson. 

Smith, who got his start as a standout at Utah, was ESPN College GameDay’s celebrity guest picker ahead of the Utes’ game against Oregon. He, along with Kirk Herbstreit and Pat McAfee, picked the Tigers to beat NC State. Desmon Howard was the only one on set to pick the Wolfpack.”

Christina Long, Greenville Times — Clemson football, Dabo Swinney have now lost 4 regular-season games for first time since 2010

“RALEIGH, N.C. — Clemson football has four regular-season losses for the first time since 2010. The Tigers fell 24-17 at NC State on Saturday for their second straight loss.

Clemson (4-4, 2-4 ACC) hasn’t lost back-to-back games since 2011, when it lost to NC State and South Carolina in consecutive weeks on its way to a 10-4 finish.

The Tigers outgained NC State (5-3, 2-2) with 364 total yards to the Wolfpack’s 203. It was the third tie this season that Clemson outgained its opponent in a loss.

The Tigers attempted a late comeback. They scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and got the ball back down a touchdown with 4:24 left to play. They used all but 14 seconds of that time and didn’t make it past midfield.”

Chapel Fowler, The State — Rough patch: Clemson falls to NC State. What went wrong in latest Tigers loss

“Turnovers keep happening, streaks keep breaking and the Clemson football team keeps free-falling after a decade of consistency and six years among the sport’s elite. 

The Tigers dropped their fourth game of the season and second in a row Saturday at N.C. State, falling 24-17 to a conference rival they’d beaten 17 times in their last 19 meetings and dropping even lower in the ACC standings. 

Clemson scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and had the ball back with a chance to tie the game with about four minutes remaining. But on fourth and 19 from their own 43-yard line with 25 seconds remaining, the Tigers couldn’t convert as quarterback Cade Klubnik’s pass to receiver Tyler Brown fell incomplete. 

N.C. State ran out the clock from there at Carter-Finley Stadium, securing a second straight win against the Tigers in Raleigh and moving to 5-3 and 2-2 in the ACC.”