NC State Rolls In Opener In Raleigh Against East Carolina
Last season NC State beat East Carolina by a score of 58-3 to close the regular season in Raleigh.
This season they beat them in their season in North Carolina’s state capital.
The NC State team that took the field today looked a lot different then the team that last played a home game in Carter-Finley Stadium. But the result was the same, a convincing win over East Carolina. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
The Wolfpack kicked off its 2019 season with a 34-6 win over visiting East Carolina in front of a sold out crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
With a 58-3 win over ECU to conclude last season's home schedule, NC State has now outscored the Pirates 92-9 in back-to-back contests at Carter-Finley Stadium. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
The Pirates took the opening possession down the field, but a fumble in the Pack's end zone squashed the drive. NC State converted the turnover into the first touchdown of the season on the 80-yard drive to go up 7-0. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
ECU answered with a field goal in the first quarter, but the Pack scored the next 27 points to build the lead to as much as 34-4 before a late ECU field goal ended the game in the final two minutes. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
6 plays, 80 yards in 1:50 – Zonovan Knight 9-yd TD run.
After NC State recovered an ECU fumble in the end zone on the game's opening possession, the Pack took their first offensive possession of the season 80 yards in six plays for the game's first TD. QB Matthew McKay was 2-of-3 for 37 yards on his first drive as the Pack's starter. The drive was capped by Fr. Zonovan Knight's 9-yard TD run, the rush was Knight's first of his career. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
4 plays, 70 yards in 1:40 – Matthew McKay to Tabari Hines, 48-yard TD pass. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
On its second possession of the second half, NC State added an insurance touchdown, Hines' first TD at NC State. On the drive, Hines caught three passes for 66 yards. The score put the Pack up 24-3 midway through the second quarter. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
STAT LEADERS
QB Matthew McKay
25 of 37 for 308 yards, 1 TD – 6 rushes for 35 yards, 2 TDs
WR Emeka Emezie
7 catches for 70 yards
WR Tabari Hines
4 catches for 74 yards, 1 TD – 1 rush for 34 yards
RB Zonovan Knight
9 rushes for 42 yards, 1 TD
CB Chris Ingram
9 tackles, 1 INT
“according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
NOTABLES
• Six NC State players made their first collegiate start today: DT Val Martin, OT Emanuel McGirt, Jr., C Grant Gibson, QB Matthew McKay, RB Ricky Person, Jr., and P Trenton Gill. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
• 17 NC State players made their NC State debuts, including 10 freshmen: Gill, Isaac Duffy, Ikem Ekwonu, Jalen Frazier, Tabari Hines, Bailey Hockman, Jordan Houston, Zonovan Knight, Keyon Lesane, Dylan McMahon, Taiyon Palmer, Cecil Powell, Liam Ryan, Jaylon Scott, Joe Shimko, Drake Thomas, and Payton Wilson. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
• Dating back to 1970, QB Matthew McKay became only the third QB in school history to throw for over 300 yards in his first career start: Philip Rivers, 397 yards in 2000 and Harrison Beck, 321 yards in 2007. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
• With a pair of field goals today, PK Christopher Dunn has now made 17 consecutive field goals dating back to last season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
FROM THE LCOKER ROOM
"We are 1-0. Half of the teams in the country are not, and half of the teams are. It's good to be on that side of the ledger. There were a lot of positives. I thank the fans for being there. It was hot today. Hopefully you enjoyed what you got to see from our players. We need you." - said Dave Doeren . “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/8/31/football-wolfpack-kicks-off-2019-season-with-34-6-win-over-east-carolina.aspx
Although East Carolina has a new head coach in Mike Houston his tenure didn’t start out the way he wanted.
Nine months after a lopsided loss to one of its biggest rivals, East Carolina's football returned to NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium on a toasty, sun-splashed Saturday with a new coach and new attitude. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
The Pirates exited with a 34-6 defeat – certainly not what Mike Houston wanted for his debut as head coach but a significantly more competitive effort than the 58-3 end to a third-straight 3-9 season. Two crucial first-half turnovers – one at the goal line on the opening possession – dropped passes and an inability to cash in on NC State's miscues extinguished any hopes of making a season-opening splash as the Pirates fell behind 17-3 by halftime and saw a string of quarters without a touchdown extend to 10 dating back second quarter of loss to Cincinnati. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"Obviously not pleased with the outcome of the ballgame," said Houston, whose James Madison team defeated ECU in the season-opener two years ago and fell to NC State last. "I thought they did the things they needed to do today in order to win the ballgame. They did not turn the ball over, even though they did have some balls on the ground. We were not able to take advantage of that." “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
Two drastically different teams that ended the season last year on Dec. 1 squared off Saturday before a sold-out crowd of 57,633 that thinned considerably after halftime. Turnover in coaching staffs and personnel created intrigue for the 31st meeting of the long-time rivals. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
ECU sophomore quarterback Holton Ahlers, who chose to stay home and play for ECU over an offer from NC State, watched from the sidelines last year due to an injury but got his chance to start after winning a preseason battle with Reid Herring. Ahlers had a hot hand early, completing his first seven passes, but finished 22 of 39 for 168 yards. He was intercepted once and sacked three times. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
Ahlers had little help from a running game that produced just 41 net yards on 29 carries, but Houston expects improved play from his left-handed offensive leader. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"I think he's better than what he played, and I think he'll say the same, exact thing," Houston said. "I love him. I'm glad he's our quarterback. I didn't think that he had the kind of performance today that we expect from him and that he expects from himself." “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
One play quickly changed the mood for both Ahlers and the Pirates on Saturday. ECU's opening drive could not have unfolded better until a Chris Ingle separated the ball from Ahlers at the one-yard line and Jarius Morehead recovered in the end zone for a touchback. Ahlers had directed an impressive drive, connecting on all six of his passes to four different receivers for 47 yards. He appeared headed for a score on a keeper on a first-and-goal run from the 9 before turning the ball over. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"The helmet just hit the ball and I lost it," Ahlers said. "That won't happen again. That's on me." “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
Houston didn't downplay the importance of the missed chance of jumping on top early. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"They don't give you any ribbons for coming close," he said. "That was a big play in the ballgame because that completely changed the outlook of the first half. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"We stick it in and score, it does a lot," he said. "It does a lot for your psyche. It does a lot for your confidence. It does a lot for the people sitting in the purple and gold in the stands. If we're going to do the things we want to do, we've got to finish, and that means finishing through the goal line." “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
NC State needed just six plays and 1:50 to respond, covering 80 yards and taking a 7-0 lead with freshman Zonovan Knight scoring from nine yards out on his first career carry. Matt McKay, making his first start, threw strikes of 19 and 18 yards to Thayer Thomas on the drive. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
Sophomore kicker Chris Dunn, who set a school record with 23 field goals a year ago, boosted the lead to 10-3 with a 27-yard field goal with 10:01 left in the half. A 34-yard sprint by Tabari Hines on a reverse set the Wolfpack up at the 13, but the ECU defense stiffened. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
The Wolfpack could not cash in a Chris Ingram interception on the next series, but McKay bulled into the end zone from the four with 51 seconds left – one play after ECU was unable to scoop up a fumble that squirted six yards on the turf and ended up in the hands of offensive lineman Emmanuel McGirt. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
That was one of three fumbles the Pirates were unable to corral. NC State did not commit a turnover; the Pirates had two. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"We fumble going into the end zone, they get it," Houston said. "They fumble going in, and they get that one. If those two are flipped, it's a completely different halftime score. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"If you're around the ball, good things happen. We had, I think, three balls on the ground today that we did not get the fumble. There was a tipped pass where I thought the free safety had an opportunity if he's breaking on the ball has a chance for an interception. We've got to translate the you should have been there to we're there." “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
McKay, a redshirt sophomore, was efficient in his first start, completing 25 of 37 passes for 308 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 35 yards and a pair of scores, highlighted by a 21-yard scamper that put the Wolfpack up 31-3 early in the fourth quarter. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
McKay found Hines four receptions for 74 yards and one carry on a reverse for 34 yards. Hines' first three catches came on the Wolfpack's second possession of the second half, capped by a 48-yard touchdown from McKay that extended the lead to 24-3. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
Emeka Emezie led NC State with seven catches for 70 yards, and Thomas had six for 83 yards. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
Jake Verity accounted for all of ECU's points, booting field goals of 47 yards in the first quarter and 31 yards with just 1:18 to play. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
Now ECU turns its attention to Gardner-Webb and its home opener next Saturday at 6 p.m. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"We've got to take step one, which is where we are, and we've got to start getting better," Houston said. "Gardner-Webb is now the biggest game of the year for us. Obviously this is not where we want to be and this is not where we will be." “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
But he does believe the foundation is being established. “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx
"I was pleased with the fact that our guys fought all the way through because that's not an easy situation to be in there in the second half," he said. "That's my biggest fear right now is some of the things we saw last year, that stuff has to be out of our program. I did think we did a pretty good job of that. I want to look at the film and see who was playing hard all day, but just on the hoof, I thought that our guys continued to compete." “according to https://ecupirates.com/news/2019/8/31/football-ecu-drops-season-opener-at-nc-state.aspx