NC State Travels To Tallahassee To Take On Florida State
NC State’s first road game of the season didn’t go as planned as they lost on the road at West Virginia by a score of 44-27.
On Saturday night in Tallahassee the team located in North Carolina’s state capital will get another opportunity to get their first win on the road in 2019 when they visit Florida State who unlike them already has two conference games under their belt as thy have played Virginia and Louisville
NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 3-1 while Florida State comes into the game with a record of 2-2 while they’re 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
As for NC State’s previous game,
They bounced back from their loss at West Virginia by defeating Ball State in Raleigh.
NC State used two huge special teams plays in each half and downed visiting Ball State, 34-23, at Carter-Finley Stadium.
NC State opened the scoring with a 39-yard Christopher Dunn field goal in the first quarter. Ball State answered on the ensuing possession with an 11-yard TD run to take its lone lead of the game. Dunn's second field goal of the quarter made it a 7-6 score after the first. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/21/special-teams-plays-crucial-in-packs-34-23-win-over-ball-state.aspx
NC State scored the first pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 20-7 halftime lead. Ricky Person, Jr., rushed in from three yards out midway through the quarter, then Matthew McKay had a five yard run in the final two minutes. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/21/special-teams-plays-crucial-in-packs-34-23-win-over-ball-state.aspx
Thayer Thomas took back a Ball State punt 76 yards for a score to push the Pack's lead to 27-7 early in the third quarter. The Cardinals tacked on two field goals to cut the lead to 27-13 at the end of the third. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/21/special-teams-plays-crucial-in-packs-34-23-win-over-ball-state.aspx
A third straight Ball State field goal made it 27-16 with 12:21 left in the contest. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/21/special-teams-plays-crucial-in-packs-34-23-win-over-ball-state.aspx
Another huge special teams play came when WR Max Fisher blocked a Ball State punt midway through the fourth quarter, and gave the Pack the ball on the seven-yard line. Three plays later, McKay scored his second rushing TD of the game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/21/special-teams-plays-crucial-in-packs-34-23-win-over-ball-state.aspx
Ball State cut the lead to 34-23 with 4:49 left with a 75-yard scoring drive, and that proved to be the final score of the contest after a Chris Ingram interception sealed the game. “according to https://gopack.com/news/2019/9/21/special-teams-plays-crucial-in-packs-34-23-win-over-ball-state.aspx
Like NC State, Florida State won their previous game as they topped Louisville.
This time, Florida State stared down its fourth-quarter ghosts and chased them away. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Or, to borrow from FSU safety Cyrus Fagan, the Seminoles threw those ghosts out the window. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Faced with another potential late flameout – a three-point deficit after leading by as many as 21 – Florida State rallied for a go-ahead touchdown, and even better, held firm on defense for a 35-24 victory over the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday afternoon at Doak Campbell Stadium.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Fagan turned the tide with an interception deep in FSU territory, and the Seminoles took the lead with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Alex Hornibrook to Tamorrion Terry. A little while later, the last of Cam Akers’ career-high three rushing touchdown added an exclamation point. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
After a loss to Boise State (in which FSU led 21-6) in the opener, and then a closer-than-it-should-have-been win over ULM (in which FSU led 21-0), yeah, this one had the home locker room smiling again. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“We had that, ‘Oh here it is again (feeling),’” Fagan said of FSU’s trials in the fourth quarter. “We had to throw that out the window. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“Now we know we can do it. We know what we can do in the fourth quarter when our backs are against the wall.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Indeed, after Fagan’s interception – which prevented a likely Louisville field goal attempt that could have extended FSU’s deficit to six – the Seminoles (2-2, 1-1 ACC) scored two touchdowns, notched two of their six total sacks and otherwise made sure that there would be no late heartache this time around. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
It was the first time this season that FSU scored more than its opponent during the fourth quarter. The Seminoles had been outscored 48-21 in the final period during their previous three games. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“For our guys to come here and play the way they did and play the fourth quarter and find a way to win the ball game was big for our football team,” Taggart said. “A much-needed win for our football team.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
And, maybe, some much-needed confidence as the Seminoles move into the heart of their ACC schedule. They’ll host North Carolina State next week (7:30 p.m., ACC Network) and then visit No. 1 Clemson on Oct. 12. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“Guys are showing they’re improving,” Taggart said. “Each week they’re improving. Hasn’t been as fast as we would like, but for them to go out and put a complete game together was big for our team and big for our confidence moving forward. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“We’ve got to build off it now.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Hornibrook, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, received his first snaps as a Seminole in the first quarter as part of a planned rotation with usual starter James Blackman. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Hornibrook took over for good early in the second half, when Blackman left with an apparent knee injury. Taggart said Blackman will have an MRI on Sunday to determine the severity of the injury but did note that seeing Blackman walking on the sidelines was a good sign. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Hornibrook, though, gave reason to believe that the Seminoles’ offense will be in good hands either way. The fifth-year senior completed 15-of-20 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including a 44-yard score to Keyshawn Helton on his first pass in an FSU uniform. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Blackman had thrown for 127 yards on 11-of-14 passing when he left the game. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“For (Hornibrook) to come in and lead our team was big for us,” Taggart said. “I think it showed his experience and how mature he is. The game wasn’t too big for him. The moment wasn’t too big for him. He was ready for it.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
As was the case in each of FSU’s first two games, the Seminoles looked ready to cruise in the early goings. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
And just like in those first two games, things had tightened up considerably by the fourth quarter. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Behind two of Akers’ touchdowns and Hornibrook’s scoring strike to Helton, the Seminoles led 21-0 after the first quarter.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
But, aided by three missed FSU field goals, Louisville answered back with an offensive surge of its own: 24 consecutive points that culminated with a 74-yard touchdown pass that gave the Cardinals their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
At that point, it would have been hard to blame the Seminoles – or their fans – for fearing the worst. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
After all, FSU had held and surrendered fourth-quarter leads in every game this season and yet entered Saturday’s contest with a 1-2 record. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
But the Seminoles were having none of it. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“Respond. That was the number one word going around the sideline,” said running back Cam Akers, who ran for 112 yards on 29 carries to reach the 100-yard mark for the third time this season. “Just stay in our cocoon and keep doing what we have been practicing. We have practiced for adverse situations like that and have played in adverse situations this year. The vibe was just to respond.””according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“I told (teammates) that we are going to trust what we have learned,” defensive tackle Marvin Wilson added. “That we are going to trust each other, and that we are going to trust our coaches, that we are going to win this football game. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“That is exactly what we did.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
That turnaround started with Fagan’s interception, the first of his career and maybe the first time this season that the Seminoles’ defense made a stop when it absolutely needed it.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
And it continued when Hornibrook found D.J. Matthews over the middle of the field for a 24-yard gain on second-and-20, just moments after a broken play and a pre-snap penalty put the Seminoles’ behind the chains.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Had Matthews not come down with the ball – and it took a big effort for the 5-10 receiver to go up and get it – the Seminoles might not have been in position for what happened two plays later.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
That’s when Hornibrook saw Terry sprinting down the right sideline without a single defender anywhere near him – a play later described by Louisville coach Scott Satterfield as a botched blitz. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“It’s just a major bust,” he said. “You are not even making them work for it. You are giving them an easy touchdown. That’s unacceptable.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Hornibrook, no surprise, had a different perspective on it. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“I think, before I threw it, everyone saw it in the stands, too,” he said with a smile. “They just didn’t have another (defender) for him and Terry did the rest. That was a gift.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
It might have been a footnote had the Seminoles’ defense not done its part on the ensuing drive.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
But it did, first by bringing down quarterback Malik Cunningham for a loss of five on first down, and then by holding its nerve on second and third. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
The drive finished as the last of seven three-and-outs forced by coordinator Harlon Barnett’s group, and that was enough to throw those late-game ghosts out the window.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
For good measure, the Seminoles slammed that window shut when Akers punched in the last of his touchdowns to provide the final margin.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“We have been staying cool, staying together, and just building on the losses we’ve had,” Akers said. “Today, that started to show. We showed a lot of grit and heart as a team as we came out with a victory.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
FSU finished with its most total yardage (522), its lowest penalty yardage (36 on five infractions), and its highest time of possession (26:18) of the season. The Seminoles also didn’t turn the ball over while forcing two takeaways of their own. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
And, led by a career night from defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (10 tackles 3.5 for loss, two sacks), Florida State’s defense bottled up the Cardinals’ vaunted rushing attack to the tune of 124 yards on 47 attempts. That’s a paltry 2.6 yards per carry and nearly 140 yards beneath Louisville’s season average. “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“Our guys corrected some mistakes that caused us not to win those games early in the year,” Taggart said. “We played smart today and found a way to make some winning plays when we needed to (have) them.”according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
“That’s how you win ball games.” “according to https://seminoles.com/noles-find-fourth-quarter-answers-beat-cards-35-24/
Kick-off is set for 7:30pm from Doak Campbell Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.