RALEIGH, N.C. — The start was promising.
Clemson, on the strength of perhaps the most accurate passes D.J. Uiagalelei has thrown beyond 10 yards to this point, silenced a crowd of 56,919 people inside Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday by taking a 7-0 lead on North Carolina State just two possessions in. Uiagalelei produced a couple of chunk plays — something that had been sorely lacking from the Tigers’ offense through three games — by sidestepping some pressure before hitting Joseph Ngata in stride near Clemson’s sideline for a 29-yard gain out near midfield.
Uiagalelei then bought himself some time by rolling to his right, eyed Justyn Ross cutting across the back of the end zone and unleashed a 32-yard dart that Ross hauled in, tapping a foot down before falling out of bounds.