On This Date: 1991 (19)Clemson- 29 (12)NC State- 19
Oct 26, 2020, 8:35 AM
10/26/1991 Death Valley, SC
Clemson Changes Its Colors and Luck, 29-19 October 26, 1991|From Associated Press
Clemson went up 7-0 in the 1st QTR when the Tigers & PK Nelson Welch (who would go on to hit 5 FGs on the day), after lining up for a Chip Shot FG, quickly shifted into a bunch formation. Holder Jimmy McLees took the snap from under center & handed off to RB Richard Cassidy who barreled his way into the EZ for the first score of the afternoon:
Coming off a loss and a tie, Clemson needed a change.
So the 19th-ranked Tigers turned in their orange uniforms for the purple they hadn't worn since 1939, and freshman Nelson Welch kicked five field goals in a 29-19 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over No. 12 North Carolina State Saturday at Clemson, S.C.
DeChane Cameron passed for 143 yards and rushed 79 as Clemson, 4-1-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the ACC, gave the Wolfpack (6-1, 3-1) its first loss.
N.C. State won eight consecutive games before losing to Clemson for the third time in a row.
The Tigers, who had an open date a week ago, tied Virginia, 20-20, two weeks ago and lost to Georgia, 27-12, the week before. Clemson had not won since a 9-7 over Georgia Tech on Sept. 28.
Clemson missed a field goal on its first series but scored on its five other first-half possessions for a 23-7 lead against a team that had given up only 45 points to lead the nation in scoring defense.
Clemson rolled up 297 yards in the first half--53 more than N.C. State's had allowed per game. Of the Tigers' 50 first-half plays, 13 went for 11 yards or more.
The Tigers did it without the ACC's leading rusher, Ronald Williams, who sprained his knee during warmups.
Welch, four of nine previously this season, missed 46-yarder early in the game. Then he made field goals in the second period from 31, 42 and 32 yards, added a 46-yarder in the third quarter and a 41-yarder with 4:14 left.