NC State gets run over in loss to Hokies

2009 North Carolina State Wolfpack ... Head Coach: Tom O'Brien

- 2009 NC St Preview  
- 2008 NC St Season
- 2008 NC St Preview  
- 2007 NC St Season

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 8-4
2009 Record: 4-7 

9/3 So. Carolina L 7-3
Sept. 12 Murray St W 65-7
Sept. 19 Gard.-Webb W 45-14
Sept. 26 Pitt W 38-31
Oct. 3 at Wake Forest L 30-24
Oct. 10 Duke L 49-29
Oct. 17 at Boston Col L 52-20
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 at Florida St L 45-42
Nov. 7 Maryland W 38-31
Nov. 14 Clemson L 43-23
Nov. 21 at Va Tech L 38-10
Nov. 28 North Carolina

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 6-6
2008 Record: 6-7

Aug. 28 at South Carolina L 34-0
Sept. 6 William & Mary W 34-24
Sept. 13 at Clemson L 27-9
Sept. 20 E Carolina W 30-24 OT
Sept. 27 South Florida L 41-10
Oct. 4 Boston College L 38-31
Oct. 11  OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 Florida State L 26-17
Oct. 25 at Maryland L 27-24
Nov. 1  OPEN DATE
Nov. 8 at Duke W 27-17
Nov. 15 Wake Forest W 21-17
Nov. 22 at No. Carolina W 41-10
Nov. 29 Miami W 38-28
PapaJohns.com Bowl
Dec. 29 Rutgers L 29-23

NC State Wolfpack

Nov. 21
at Virginia Tech 38 … NC State 10
Ryan Williams ran for four touchdowns, scoring from four, one, one and 19 yards out, as Virginia Tech got up early and was never threatened. NC State stayed alive in the first quarter on a 20-yard Owen Spencer touchdown catch, but four turnovers and the inability to stop the Hokie running game proved costly. The Wolfpack only managed a 45-yard field goal in the final three quarters, while tech was able to pull away with 21 unanswered points capped off by a 38-yard Jarrett Boykin touchdown catch.
Player of the Game: Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams ran 32 times for 120 yards and four scores
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 15-26, 234 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 10-47, Receiving: Owen Spencer, 3-74, 1 TD
Virginia Tech: Passing: Tyrod Taylor, 9-17, 197 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Ryan Williams, 32-120, 4 TD, Receiving: Jarrett Boykin, 6-164, 1 TD 
What It All Means: NC State was supposed to be ultra-efficient, ultra-careful with the ball, and just tough enough defensively to get through the ACC as a player in the race. Instead, the turnovers have started flowing, State is 116th in the nation in turnover margin, and the defense has gotten extremely soft in too many key moments. Offensively, the big problem is the line that’s not giving Russell Wilson any protection. Now, after this loss, a bowl bid is gone, but the season can end on a positive note with a home date against North Carolina.

Nov. 14
Clemson 43 … at NC State 23
C.J. Spiller did it all for the Tigers with a 34-yard touchdown catch, a 16-yard scoring run, and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Dye on the way to an easy Clemson win. The Tigers got up 24-7 at halftime, but NC State kept fighting with two Russell Wilson touchdown passes, but they weren’t enough to keep up with the efficient and effective Tigers. Jamie Harper made the game a blowout halfway through the fourth on a 69-yard Jamie Harper run.
Player of the Game: Clemson RB C.J. Spiller ran 18 times for 97 yards and a score, he caught three passes for 48 yards and a score, threw a 17-yard touchdown pass, and returned a kickoff for 13 yards.
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 12-32, 183 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 19-76, Receiving: Owen Spencer, 3-50
Clemson: Passing: Kyle Parker, 12-18, 183 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: C.J. Spiller, 18-97, 1 TD, Receiving: Jacoby Ford, 2-55 
What It All Means: The defense isn’t getting any better. The offense isn’t built to keep up in firefights, but after a nice start to the year, everyone is getting fat on a Wolfpack D that isn’t forcing mistakes and is struggling to keep offenses out of the end zone allowing 40 points or more in four of the last five games. That’s not a plus with Virginia Tech coming up, and now that bowl hopes are gone, State played Murray State and Gardner-Webb to start the year, it’s time to open it up and see if the chance is there to bomb away on the Hokies and North Carolina.

Nov. 7
at NC State 38 … Maryland 31
NC State overcame four turnovers with 482 yards of total offense with Russell Wilson throwing three touchdown passes and running for another. The Wolfpack outplayed the Terps, but struggled to put the game away as Alex Wujciak took one of Wilson’s three interceptions 70 yards for a touchdown, and Torrey Smith returned a kickoff 82 yards for a score. But the Maryland offense only managed three points in the second half and couldn’t get any closer than seven after a 31-yard Nick Ferrara field goal. Wujciak made 14 tackles.
Player of the Game: NC State QB Russell Wilson completed 25-of-38 passes for 343 yards and three scores and three interceptions, and he ran nine times for 11 yards and a score.
Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 12-19, 135 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Jamarr Robinson, 9-38, Receiving: Torrey Smith, 8-64
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 25-38, 343 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 19-75, Receiving: Jarvis Williams, 7-107 
What It All Means: What happened to the Russell Wilson who was such a caretaker? He’s taking more shots and more chances, and it shows. The running game provided a little bit of help, but it only averaged 3.4 yards per carry. The defense did its job, but turnovers and a missed play on special teams allowed a bad Maryland team to stay alive. The Pack can’t be so sloppy against Clemson or Virginia Tech in the next two weeks. It’s going to take a clean sweep, with North Carolina to finish up, to go bowling.

Oct. 31
at Florida State 45 … NC State 42
In a wild shootout with the two teams combining for 1,093 yards of total offense, FSU got the game winner on a three-yard touchdown from Bert Reed on a short catch and a barrel into the end zone with 1:36 to play. The Noles rumbled for 278 rushing yards with Jermaine Thomas scoring from four and 54 yards away and Chris Thompson scoring from six and four yards away, but NC State kept pace with five touchdown passes from Russell Wilson including an 80-yarder to Owen Spencer in the first quarter. Jarvis Williams caught two touchdown passes for the Wolfpack in the second half.
Player of the Game: Florida State RB Jermaine Thomas ran 20 times for 186 yards and two scores.
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 20-30, 349 yds, 5 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 19-112, Receiving: Owen Spencer, 5-165, 1 TD
Florida State: Passing: Christian Ponder, 26-40, 277 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Jermaine Thomas, 20-186, 2 TD, Receiving: Rod Owens, 7-56, 1 TD 
What It All Means: The bad season turns worse, and now the team doesn’t have anything to hang its hat on. All season long the run defense has made up for a mediocre pass defense, but that all changed as Florida State ran at will. Russell Wilson did his best to keep the Wolfpack in the game, but he’s being forced to press more and it’s showing with two interceptions. Remember, this is a quarterback who set records for being careful with the ball. There’s a chance to turn things around next week with Maryland coming to Raleigh, but this one hurts. The Pack gave the game away.

Oct. 17
at Boston College 52 … NC State 20
Montel Harris set a Boston College record with 246 yards, helped by several plays from the Wildcat formation, with touchdown runs from two, 12, ten, one, and 29 yards out on the way to a 45-13 lead. NC State got a one-yard Russell Wilson touchdown run and a 27-yard scoring pass to Jarvis Williams, but couldn’t keep pace as BC broke open a 14-13 game with 31 straight points. BC got two touchdown passes from Dave Shinskie including a 49-yarder to Colin Larmond in the first quarter.
Player of the Game: Boston College RB Montel Harris ran 27 times for 264 yards and five touchdowns
Boston College: Passing: Dave Shinskie, 13-25, 187 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Montel Harris, 27-264, 5 TD, Receiving: Rich Gunnell, 5-42
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 23-40, 243 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 9-36, Receiving: Jarvis Williams, 7-62, 1 TD
What It All Means: What is happening? State was on a nice three-game winning streak with a good win over a solid Pitt team, and then the wheels completely came off. The defense that was so strong against the run this year got destroyed by Montel Harris for 264 yards, while the offense failed to get anything going until it was too late. Russell Wilson isn’t keeping the chains moving and he hasn’t been as effective as he was earlier in the year, but he’s not getting a whole bunch of help from the running game. Even at 0-3 in the ACC, there’s still plenty of time to get to a bowl game, but the Pack needs to win four of its last five games to be bowl eligible. Blame the schedule for Murray State and Gardner-Webb, but three of the final four games are at home. However, the road games are at Florida State and Virginia Tech.

Oct. 10
Duke 49 … at NC State 28
Thaddeus Lewis threw for five touchdown passes and ran for a two-yard score as Duke cranked out 502 yards in the shocking win. NC State kept up the pace with Russell Wilson running for a ten-yard score and connecting with Owen Spencer for a 63-yard touchdown on the way to a 21-21 halftime score, and then it was all Duke as Lewis threw three of his scoring passes in the second half and Adam Banks recovered a muffed punt return for a score. NC State’s only second half points came on a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from T.J. Graham. The Pack turned it over four times and had the ball for just 19:36.
Player of the Game: Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis completed 40-of-50 passes for 459 yards and five scores, and he ran for a score.
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 15-27, 172 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 9-73, 1 TD, Receiving: George Bryan, 4-41
Duke: Passing: Thaddeus Lewis, 40-50, 459 yds, 5 TD
Rushing: Requan Boyette, 9-29, Receiving: Conner Vernon, 10-86, 1 TD
What It All Means: Where did NC State’s defense go? It does a decent job of preventing yards and the run defense is the best in the ACC, but the points are coming in bunches, allowing 110 points over the last three weeks. All of a sudden, Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis is Sam Bradford, and while he has been able to put up some big numbers in the past, he was unstoppable against a Pack defense that didn’t appear to be focused. Russell Wilson and the State offense didn’t pick up the pace in the second half, and with four turnovers and just 19:36 of possession, this was one to throw away. Fortunately, Boston College is up next. There’s no worry about getting burned for 459 passing yards and five touchdowns next week.

Oct. 3
at Wake Forest 30 … NC State 24
Riley Skinner connected with Marshall Williams for two touchdown passes and he hit Chris Givens for a 25-yard touchdown to give Wake Forest a 27-17 lead, but NC State never gave up. Russell Wilson, who saw his NCAA record-setting streak of passes without an interception stop at 379, got picked off twice, with the second one coming in the final minutes as Kenny Okoro came up with a pick in the end zone to preserve Wake Forest’s six point lead. Jimmy Newman hit three field goals for the Demon Deacons including a 21-yarder that ended up giving the cushion needed late.
Player of the Game: Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner completed 31-of-45 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 20-43, 275 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Toney Baker, 10-42, Receiving: George Bryan, 6-79, 1 TD
Wake Forest: Passing: Riley Skinner, 31-45, 361 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Josh Adams, 9-36, Receiving: Chris Givens, 8-113, 1 TD
What It All Means: Russell Wilson might have been picked off twice, making mistakes he never makes, but he also had problems with dropped passes and some poor play from the receivers. The bigger problem was the lack of stops from the secondary that gave up too many big plays to let Wake Forest keep the chains moving. There can’t be a gaffe against Duke next week with trips to Boston College and Florida State to follow, and to get into the ACC race, there has to be more from a ground game that produced just 104 yards against the Demon Deacons.

Sept. 26
at NC State 38 … Pitt 31
Down 31-17, NC State roared back with 21 unanswered points as Russell Wilson threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Williams and a seven-yard scoring pass to George Bryan to tie it, and Toney Baker ran for a two-yard touchdown in what would be the game-winner. Pitt marched deep into NC State territory with a chance to tie, but an errant snap ended the final chance. Bill Stull threw two third quarter touchdown passes for the Panthers, highlighted by a79-yarder to Jonathan Baldwin, but Wilson was too much throwing four touchdown passes and running for 91 yards. The two teams combined for 20 penalties with NC State committing 12 of them.
Player of the Game: NC State QB Russell Wilson completed 21-of-35 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns, and he led the team with 91 rushing yards on ten carries.
Pitt: Passing: Bill Stull, 12-23, 206 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Dion Lewis, 19-95, 2 TD, Receiving: Dorin Dickerson, 4-52
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 21-35, 322 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Russell Wilson, 10-91, Receiving: Darrell Davis, 4-47 
What It All Means: Russell Wilson is showing week after week what kind of a superstar he’s growing into. This wasn’t a normal Tom O’Brien game with 12 penalties and too many errors early on. But the team kept fighting and Wilson got hot at the right time, and now, very quietly, this is growing into an ACC title contender. The offensive line has to be better in pass protection, but the mobility of Wilson helps make up for the problems. ACC play begins this week at Wake Forest.

Sept. 19
at NC State 45 … Gardner-Webb 14
Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes, with two to George Bryan, and Toney Baker ran for two short scores on the way to an easy win. Gardner-Webb only converted one-of-13 third down chances and committed 11 penalties, and didn’t get on the board until late in the third quarter on an 18-yard Marquis Sanders run. But GW was already down 38-0 before scoring.
Player of the Game: NC State QB Russell Wilson completed 26-of-36 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns.
Gardner-Webb: Passing: Stan Doolittle, 14-22, 112 yds
Rushing: Phillip Peoples, 9-36, Receiving: James Perry, 4-28
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 26-36, 345 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Toney Baker, 10-71, 2 TD, Receiving: George Bryan, 6-89, 2 TD
What It All Means: Russell Wilson passed former Kentucky QB Andre Woodson for the most consecutive passes without an interception, pushing the mark to 329. The team got a chance to get the offense moving after the problems in the season opener against South Carolina, and now after ripping up Murray State and Gardner-Webb, the big test comes against a Pitt defense that’s one of the best in the Big East, but if Wilson can continue to be mistake-free, and if the nation’s No. 2 defense keeps stopping drives cold, the Pack has a great shot at 3-1 before the ACC starts out against Wake Forest.

Sept. 12
at NC State 65 ... Murray State 7
Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes with two to James Washington, who also ran for a four-yard score, and Toney Baker scored on a 39-yard touchdown catch and a three-yard run on the way to a 65-0 NC State lead after three quarters. Murray State only finished with 36 yards of offense and didn't get on the board until the fourth quarter with a two-yard Daniel Ard run.
Player of the Game: NC State QB Russell Wilson completed 15-of-21 passes for 228 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran for 26 yards.
Murray State: Passing: Nico Yantko, 8-19, 30 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Prince Nwagbara, 8-18, Receiving: Derrick Townsel, 2- -1
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 15-21, 228 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Toney Baker, 12-74, 2 TD, Receiving: Jarvis Williams, 3-63, 1 TD
What It All Means: After the clunker of an offensive performance in the season opener against South Carolina, all the parts were working in the layup game against Murray State. While Russell Wilson and the attack kept things moving with a good balance, the defense was the star again keeping the MSU passing game to just 35 yards and one rushing yard. With another scrimmage against Gardner-Webb coming up next, Wilson has to keep pushing the ball down the field to get the mid-to-deep passing game going even more before dealing with Pitt and Wake Forest.

Sept. 3
South Carolina 7 … at NC State 3
In a sloppy game with several drops, little offensive consistency, and only 389 yards of combined offense, South Carolina took advantage of a Toney Baker fumble to go 14 yards in four plays with Brian Maddox scoring from one yards out for all the points needed. NC State came up with a 43-yard field goal from Josh Czajkowski, but failed on late drives with a drop and another broken up play in the end zone. NC State was held to just 133 yards of offense.
Player of the Game: South Carolina LB Eric Norwood made eight tackles and two sacks
South Carolina: Passing: Stephen Garcia, 13-22, 148 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Brian Maddox, 23-66, 1 TD, Receiving: Weslye Saunders, 4-50
NC State: Passing: Russell Wilson, 12-23, 74 yds
Rushing: Jamelle Eugene, 9-36, Receiving: George Bryan, 4-22
What It All Means: NC State needed a tune-up game, and badly. From dropped passes to a general lack of execution, this was not the Wolfpack team that head coach Tom O’Brien was hoping for to start the season. The defense did its job getting South Carolina off the field time and again, but the offense didn't do anything with its chances. The offensive line had problems throughout the game with the Gamecock pass rush, but it gave Russell Wilson just enough time in key moments to make big plays, but they didn't click. The team will be kicking itself for weeks after this game, and the outcome likely would've been far different if it came after the upcoming Murray State and Gardner-Webb layups.