Lawrence, Clemson turn showdown into laugher
Clemson’s Travis Etienne scores on a short run in the first half, one of his three touchdowns in the game. Clemson 41, North Carolina State 7
CLEMSON, S.C. — Trevor Lawrence came in wanting to leave little doubt about No. 3 Clemson's championship goals this season and about his ability to take the Tigers there.
He accomplished both Saturday in a 41-7 rout of No. 16 North Carolina State, helping Clemson dominate the showdown between the Atlantic Coast Conference's last remaining undefeated teams.
"We just didn't want to leave any doubt that the game should've went a certain way," Lawrence said. "It was clear how we won the game by a good bit."
And it was clear Lawrence, the strong-armed freshman, has the goods to keep the Tigers out front.
He passed for a careerbest 308 yards, including a 46-yard TD throw to Tee Higgins in his third college start. He directed three first-half drives of 50-plus yards as the Tigers took quick control of an expected tight contest.
Travis Etienne ran for three touchdowns, increasing his ACC-leading total to 14 on the ground this season.
Etienne said Clemson has adjusted well to Lawrence's leadership since he took over as starting quarterback.
"We know what he can do and we're excited about it," Etienne said.
The Tigers (7-0, 4-0) opened with seven straight wins for the third time in four seasons in topping the Wolfpack (5-1, 2-1) for the seventh consecutive season.
North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley came in leading the ACC at more than 324 yards passing a game. He managed just 156 yards passing with two interceptions and a fumble.
"We just never really got into a rhythm," Finley said. "That hurt because we're a rhythm offense. We're going to get right and we're going to bounce back. I'm confident in our guys."
The Wolfpack avoided their first shutout in four years on Reggie Gallaspy's 9-yard TD run to start the fourth quarter. Still, it was their fewest points scored since that 41-0 loss to the Tigers in 2014.
Clemson quickly took the steam out of this showdown with touchdowns on two of its first three possessions. Etienne had a 3-yard TD run to close the first one while Lawrence threw a 46-yard scoring pass to Tee Higgins to lead 14-0.
The Wolfpack seemed to stabilize themselves and drove into Clemson territory looking for points when Ryan Finley bobbled a shotgun snap and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence pounced on it. Etienne closed that series, too, with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Clemson piled on right before the half ended when safety K'Von Wallace's interception and 46-yard return to the Wolfpack 4-yard line set up Greg Huegel's 28-yard field goal for a 24-0 lead at the half.
Lawrence, whose rise led last year's starter, Kelly Bryant, to transfer, looked smooth and polished in his third career start. He completed 26 of 39 passes and his long TD throw.
"I felt really good out there," he said. "This was good for me."
The Wolfpack came in averaging 480 yards of offense a game, but were limited to 297.