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Published Sun, Nov 15, 2009 02:00 AM
Modified Sat, Nov 14, 2009 10:44 PM

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N.C. State did a good job keeping the ball away from Clemson's dangerous C.J. Spiller on returns.

But the Tigers got such good field position that N.C. State might have been better off kicking to Spiller. One poorly performed rugby punt by Jeff Ruiz traveled just 6 yards and gave Clemson the ball at the Wolfpack 17-yard line in the second quarter.

After N.C. State's first two kickoffs, which were booted low and hard off the ground to elude Spiller, Clemson took possession at its 37 and its 43.

Clemson has a maddening history of meltdowns with a trip to the ACC title game on the line. But on paper, it's difficult to imagine the Tigers losing at home Saturday to a downtrodden Virginia team that's probably in the last throes of Al Groh's tenure.

Ken Tysiac

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