NC State Hits The Road For The First Time This Season As They Visit West Virginia
After kicking off the season with two straight home games in North Carolina’s state capital NC State will hit the road as they visit West Virginia on Saturday.
NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 2-0 while West Virginia who is a member of Big Twelve comes into the game with a record of 1-1.
As for NC State’s previous game they obliterated Western Carolina.
After just three points on its first four possessions of the game, NC State scored on six straight drives and shut out visiting Western Carolina, 41-0. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
The lone points in the first quarter came on a Christopher Dunn 32-yard field, but the Pack broke the game open in the second quarter with a trio of touchdowns to go up 24-0 at the half. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
After being held to 57 yards of offense (32 rushing) in the first quarter, the Pack had 207 yards of offense and 103 rushing yards in the second quarter. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
NC State went on to score on six straight possessions overall and secured its first shutout since 2015. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
NC State dominated in many statistical categories, including 540 yards of total offense to just 106 for the Catamounts. In fact, Western Carolina had 61 yards in the first quarter and just 45 the rest of the game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
NC State out-rushed WCU 309-8, the biggest run differential since 2014 against North Carolina (388-30).”according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE
7 plays, 65 yards in 2:21 – Ricky Person, Jr. 6-yd TD run. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
The first TD of the game came on the Pack's first possession of the second quarter, as the Pack went 65 yards in seven plays capped by a Ricky Person, Jr., six-yard run. Fr. DB Cecil Powell lined up at wide receiver and caught an 8-yard pass, with WCU being flagged for a 15 yard face mask on the play to start the drive. The last four plays of the drive were all rushes for Person, going 29 yards. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
STAT LEADERS
QB Matthew McKay
18-of-28 for 200 yards, 1 TD
RB Zonovan Knight
18 carries for 119 yards, 2 TDs
RB Jordan Houston
8 rushes for 73 yards, 1 TD
TE Cary Angeline
4 catches for 47 yards, 1 TD
“according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
NOTABLES
• NC State has now won 32 straight games against FCS/Division 1-AA teams, a streak that dates back to 1987. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• NC State has also won 15 straight non-conference games at home and is 18-1 at home under Doeren. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• NC State has also won 16 straight games with 1:00 p.m. or earlier start times, dating back to 2016, and nine straight such contests at Carter-Finley Stadium. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• The shutout was the first for NC State since 2015 (Eastern Kentucky). “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• Dating back to last season, NC State has now not given up a touchdown in three straight home contests. That is the longest streak without the opponent finding the end zone at Carter-Finley since the home finale in the 1990 season and the first two games of 1991. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• RB Zonovan Knight finished with 116 yards rushing, going over 100 yards in only his second career game. Knight becomes the 57th player in school history with a 100-yard rushing game, and accomplishing the feat in his second career game is the fastest for a player since Tremayne Stephens did so in his first career game in 1994. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• With his 32-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 25-yard FG in the third, PK Christopher Dunn has now connected on 19 consecutive field goal attempts dating back to last season. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• CB Teshaun Smith started his first career game, filling in for the injured Nick McCloud. WR Devin Carter also recorded his first career start. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
• Fr. DB Cecil Powell lined up at WR for the first snap of the Pack's first TD drive. He caught a pass for eight yards, and drew a 15-yard face mask foul on the play to start the drive. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
"First of all, just really proud of a lot of the guys in the game. To get a shutout and to hold a team to eight yards rushing. Defensive guys did a great job. I thought we started slow on offense and then got the run game going. It was great for Bam (Knight) to get his first 100-yard game. I thought Jordan Houston gave us a good spark in the second half with his change of pace. The tight ends got involved in the passing game. We had 7 catches at tight end, so that was good to see. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
We did some good things. Obviously, there are things we have got to do better. It was good to see us get a takeaway at the end of the game. I was proud of how they played for four quarters. We got a lot of guys out there; we played a ton of people, which is great for our roster. I think we came out of the game relatively healthy, which is really good. Nice hot day, and we are looking forward to the next one." - NC State head coach Dave Doeren “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/7/football-three-touchdown-second-quarter-propels-pack-to-41-0-shutout.aspx
Unlike NC State who won their previous game,
West Virginia was blown out by Missouri their previous game.
Kelly Bryant threw three first-half touchdown passes and West Virginia's running woes continued in today's 38-7 loss to Missouri at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
In last week's 20-13 season-opening victory over FCS James Madison, West Virginia generated 34 yards rushing on 24 attempts. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Today, WVU running backs had even less room to operate against the Tigers, netting only 30 yards on 32 attempts - all of it coming in the second half after Missouri had jumped out to a commanding 31-0 halftime lead. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
At one point, West Virginia (1-1) had at least one negative yardage play on nine of 11 offensive possessions with six of those possessions starting with a loss. Before the game, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Matt Moore chose to move Josh Sills back to guard and start Chase Behrndt at center. Sills was moved to center following the first scrimmage of fall camp.”according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
"We've got to get movement and without watching the film I just know it was bad," Moore said of West Virginia's blocking today. "I don't know if it was miscommunication, whether it was guys trying too hard and falling down. At this point we've just got to keep working. We've got to go to work when we get home tonight and keep grinding. We'll get to that point, but it's never easy getting there." “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Missouri's defense was credited with 13 tackles for losses for minus 45 yards. Four different Tiger defenders had multiple TFLs. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
"It wasn't a case where our guys weren't ready, we just got outplayed," Brown said. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Brown said defenses are going to continue to crowd the line of scrimmage and play press-man coverage on the outside until his offensive linemen can handle one-on-one blocks. He expects to see the same thing from NC State next weekend in Morgantown. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
"We've got to start winning some one-on-one blocks at the point of contact," Brown said. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Consequently, Missouri's defenders were able to pin their ears back and come after West Virginia quarterback Austin Kendall. The Tigers got to him three times and knocked him to the ground on several other occasions. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Kendall finished the afternoon completing 15-of-25 passes for 137 yards, including a late 48-yard touchdown strike to a wide-open George Campbell, West Virginia's leading receiver with 59 yards. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Freshman Sam James had a team-best five catches for 35 yards, all of those coming in the first half. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Kendall returned to the field to throw his touchdown pass to Campbell after backup Jack Allison got into the game the series prior. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Allison's second pass attempt went right into the arms of Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton, who returned it 20 yards for a touchdown – Missouri's lone touchdown of the second half. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Bryant's passing was responsible for three Missouri touchdowns, two going to massive tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and the other a short one to slot receiver Barrett Banister right before halftime. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
The senior completed 17-of-25 passes for 150 yards before giving way to backup Taylor Powell late in the third quarter, while Larry Rountree just missed reaching 100 yards rushing with 99 yards on 18 carries. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Rountree added a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Tucker McCann booted a 43-yard field goal on the game's opening possession. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Freshman Trey Lowe III finished the game at quarterback for the Mountaineers. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
West Virginia's defense, which had allowed Missouri to score on five of its six offensive possessions in the first half, tightened up considerably in the second half, especially once Bryant left the game late in the third quarter with what was termed as "overheating."“according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Brown thought his defense performed much better in the second half. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
"Our guys on defense and on special teams competed in the second half," he said.”according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Missouri (1-1) outgained West Virginia 382 to 171 and had a 26 to 13 advantage in first downs. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Sophomore linebacker Josh Chandler led the WVU defense with six total tackles while junior defensive lineman Darius Stills was credited with both quarterback sacks. He now has a team-best three for the season. The Mountaineers produced eight more TFLs this afternoon and now show 14 negative yardage plays in two games this season. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
It appears one promising defender sustained a significant injury, however, when junior defensive end Taijh Alston was taken off the field on a golf cart in the second quarter. Brown said afterward that he will have more information on Alston's injury early next week. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Today's game was West Virginia's first appearance in Columbia since 1994 when the Mountaineers defeated the Tigers 34-10. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
West Virginia returns to Morgantown next Saturday to face NC State, which defeated Western Carolina earlier today to improve to 2-0. Former Mountaineer defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is now a member of the Wolfpack coaching staff.”according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
"This is the first real adversity we've had," Brown said. "I asked our guys, 'What are we made of?' “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
"We've just got to get these young guys better," Brown concluded. “according to https://wvusports.com/news/2019/9/7/football-mountaineers-fall-in-columbia.aspx
Kick-Off is set for 12:00pm from Mountaineer Field. The game will be televised on FS1.