NC State Looks To Snap Their Two-Game Losing Streak On The Road At Boston College
Things haven't been going NC State's way as of late as they have lost two in a row.
For the third time in the last four games, NC State's football team will be on the road when it visits Boston College Saturday at noon. The game will be televised on either ABC Or ESPN2 depending on your location. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
Coming off a tough, hard-fought 38-31 defeat against #6 Clemson a week ago, the Wolfpack (6-3, 4-1 ACC) will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak against the suddenly resurgent Eagles (5-4, 3-3), who have posted consecutive victories over Louisville, Virginia and Florida State after getting off to a 1-4 start. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
Last week's loss to the defending national champions Tigers has left NC State needing some help to get back into the Atlantic Division race. In order to advance to the ACC title game, the Wolfpack will need help, first from Florida State, which visits Clemson on Saturday. Even with an FSU upset this weekend, the Pack would then need to run the table in its last three league games to represent the Atlantic in Charlotte. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
"We need to keep going," said NC State offensive guard Tony Adams "We still have a lot at stake and we can still do a lot with this team. We don't control our own destiny for the championship anymore, but you don't know what might happen. We can still control what we can control and ultimately become a 10-win team and have a really successful season." "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren has tried to keep his team focused on their season-long goals this week, one of them being the quest to become the first NC State squad to post double-digit wins since 2002. Getting to 10 would require a three-game sweep to end the regular season followed by a bowl victory. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
"We're playing for our seniors and the opportunity to have a chance to win 10," Doeren said. "Those things matter to our guys. The fact that the national spotlight is not pumping it up doesn't change how important those things are to our guys in the locker room. I think more than anything it's about getting that winning taste back in your mouth as a football team, a football player and as a coaching staff. To do that, we have to beat a very good Boston College team." "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
The Eagles stumbled out of the gate, losing three of their first four games. Since then, coach Steve Addazio's club has prevailed in four of five, including three in a row. In the wins over Louisville, Virginia and Florida State, Boston College averaged 40 points per game. The Eagles piled up better than 500 yards of offense on the road against both the Cardinals and Cavaliers. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
More impressively, a pair of freshmen have sparked the recent offensive explosions. Quarterback Anthony Brown, a redshirt freshman ranks fourth in the nation among rookie quarterbacks with 1,338 passing yards and third in touchdown passes with 11. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
True freshman tailback A.J. Dillon has also sparkled with 843 rushing yards, a figure that ranks fourth among all first-year backs in Division-1. At Louisville on October 14, Dillon pounded out 272 yards on 39 carries, the second-best rookie rushing performance in ACC history. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
Such gaudy numbers have certainly caught Doeren's attention, especially since the Wolfpack has yielded an average of 271 rushing yards in back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Clemson. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
"I think any time you play a team that's playing well it gets your attention," said Doeren. "I think the fact that it was someone we didn't beat last year, that helps to. We want to play a lot better than we did." "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
Boston College came to Raleigh 12 months ago and upended the Pack, 21-14. This will mark only the 15th game in series history. NC State is seeking its fifth ACC win on the season, something that hasn't happened since 2010. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
The Wolfpack Sports Network begins pregame coverage on Saturday with the Matthews Motors Pregame Show starting at 10 a.m. In the second hour of the pregame, network analyst Johnny Evans will answer questions from fans on 'Ask the Analyst.' Questions to Johnny can be submitted via Twitter@packradio or by clicking HERE. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/10/football-wolfpack-heads-north-to-boston-college.aspx
As for NC State's last game, they lost to Clemson and lost their second straight game.
#20 NC State went into halftime with a slight lead, but #6 Clemson outscored NC State 21-10 in the second half to claim a 38-31 win at Carter-Finley Stadium. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
The Tigers (8-1, 6-1 ACC) scored a pair of TDs in the third quarter. The Wolfpack (6-3, 4-1) cut the lead to seven just three minutes into the fourth, but Clemson turned a Pack interception into an insurance touchdown to go up 10 with just over six minutes left for the win. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
After a NC State field goal cut it to 38-31 with 1:50 left, Clemson recovered the onside kick and ran the clock down to 1:31. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
Starting at its own 20-yard line, the Pack moved the ball to the Clemson 28, but was stopped on fourth down on the final play of the game. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
The loss was the first in ACC for NC State this season, and also the first at home. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
The teams traded scores the entire first half, as the Pack went into halftime with a 21-17 lead. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
NC State started the scoring with a Ryan Finley to Kelvin Harmon 40-yard TD pass just two minutes into the game. Clemson answered with a 77-yard punt return for a score. "according tohttp://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
Jaylen Samuals scored the Pack's next two TDs, a 1-yard rush and a 7-yard reception – sandwiched around a Clemson TD – to give the Pack a 21-14 lead midway through the second quarter. The Tigers added a field goal five minutes before halftime. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 1st half
3 plays, 40 yards in 1:16 – Ryan Finley to Kelvin Harmon 40-yard TD pass "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
After Tim -Kid Glass ended Clemson's opening drive of the game with his first career interception, NC State went 40 plays in three plays for the first score of the day. On 3rd & 10 from the Clemson 40, QB Ryan Finley found WR Kelvin Harmon deep down the middle for a 40-yard TD pass. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
WOLFPACK SPOTLIGHT DRIVE – 2nd half
6 plays, 65 yards in 2:37 – Ryan Finley to Jakobi Meyers 40-yard TD pass
After Clemson took its largest lead of the game at 31-21 with a TD on the final play of the third quarter, NC State responded on the next drive to cut the lead to 31-28 with 12:23 left to play. The Pack went 65 yards in six plays, capped by a Ryan Finley to Jakobi Meyers 15-yard TD score. On the drive, Finley was a perfect 4-of-4 for 69 yards. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
STAT LEADERS
• QB Ryan Finley
31-of-50 for 338 yards, 3 TDs "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• WR Jakobi Meyers
9 catches for 105 yards, 1 TD "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• WR Kelvin Harmon
8 catches for 155 yards, 1 TD "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• Nickel Shawn Boone
9 tackles, 7 solo "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• DE Bradley Chubb
8 tackles, 1.5 TFLs "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
NOTABLES
• The Pack scored a TD on its first possession of the game for the first time since the Furman game, and its first points on its first drive since the Syracuse game. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• With his two TDs (1 rushing, 1 receiving), Jaylen Samuals now has 43 for his career, moving him into second place in school history for career TDs (Ted Brown – 51). Today marked the second time this season Samuels has had at least 1 rushing score and 1 receiving score (@ FSU) "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• In the first quarter, QB Ryan Finley was a perfect 6-for-6 for 75 yards, including a 40-yard TD pass. He completed his first 14 on the day, with his first incompletion not coming until 3:11 left in the second quarter. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• With 338 passing yards, Finley now has 5,570 in his two-year Wolfpack career, and moves into sixth place all-time for most career passing yards at NC State. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
• WR Kelvin Harmon record his fifth 100+ receiving yard game of the season. He is the first player with at least five in a season since Jerricho Cotchery had seven in 200, and only the fifth player in school history with at least five in a season. "according to http://gopack.com/news/2017/11/4/football-wolfpack-falls-at-home-to-6-clemson-38-31.aspx
Unlike NC State Boston College has won three straight games. Their most recent win coming against Jimbo Fisher and Florida State in a route last Saturday.
The Boston College football team earned its first victory over Florida State since 2009, recording the largest margin of victory over FSU in the program's history as the Eagles rolled to a 35-3 victory over the Seminoles. The Eagles (5-4, 3-3 ACC) collected their third straight ACC victory in the annual Red Bandanna Game, honoring Sept. 11 hero Welles Crowther. "according to http://bceagles.com/news/2017/10/27/football-recap-boston-college-35-florida-state-3.aspx?path=football
Freshman running back AJ Dillon rushed for 149 yards and scored one touchdown while senior linebacker Ty Schwab had 12 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss as the Eagles (5-4, 3-3 ACC) defeated the Seminoles (2-5, 2-4 ACC), 35-3, at Alumni Stadium. "according to http://bceagles.com/news/2017/10/27/football-recap-boston-college-35-florida-state-3.aspx?path=football
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kobay White finished the game with two receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown and junior tight end Tommy Sweeney had two catches for 19 yards and one touchdown in the first half to give the Eagles a commanding lead that they would hold throughout the remainder of the game. "according to http://bceagles.com/news/2017/10/27/football-recap-boston-college-35-florida-state-3.aspx?path=football
The win marked the first over the Seminoles since Oct. 3, 2009. BC snapped a seven-game FSU winning streak. The 35 points scored were the most BC has notched against Florida State. Prior to Friday night's game, the Eagles' largest margin of victory over the Noles was 13 points on Sept. 29, 1957. "according to http://bceagles.com/news/2017/10/27/football-recap-boston-college-35-florida-state-3.aspx?path=football
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Boston College 35, Florida State 3
Records: Boston College (5-4, 3-3 ACC), Florida State (2-5, 2-4 ACC)
Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Attendance: 40,629
Time of Game: 3:16
Weather: 52 degrees, clear
BC HIGHLIGHTS
- Freshman running back AJ Dillion recorded his third career 100-yard rushing game. He scored one touchdown and finished the game with 33 carries for 149 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
- Junior wide receiver Jeff Smith threw his second touchdown pass of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Redshirt freshman Kobay White caught his second touchdown pass of the season. Both catches have for over 30 yards.
- Senior linebacker Ty Schwab recorded a career-high 12 tackles and notched his second career interception. He added one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.
- Redshirt freshman linebacker John Labot tied a career high with 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and recorded his first career sack.
- Junior defensive back Will Harris had two fumble recoveries in the game, the first two of his career. "according to http://bceagles.com/news/2017/10/27/football-recap-boston-college-35-florida-state-3.aspx?path=football
KEY MOMENT
A double reverse trick play at 7:55 in the first quarter in which Jeff Smith threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to White gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead. BC never trailed and held Florida State to just a field goal. "according to http://bceagles.com/news/2017/10/27/football-recap-boston-college-35-florida-state-3.aspx?path=football
HOW IT HAPPENED
- BC opened the scoring at 7:55 in the first quarter on a double reverse when Jeff Smith completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to White to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. Dillon set the Eagles up at the Noles' 46-yard line with a 27-yard run at the beginning of the scoring drive.
- Harris recovered a fumble by FSU running back Cam Akers with under four minutes to play in the first to keep the Seminoles from scoring.
- Freshman running back Travis Levy rushed for eight yards to the Florida State 38-yard line. After a series of rushes by Dillon and a 15-yard pass interference call on defensive back Tavarus McFadden, the Eagles had the ball at the FSU nine-yard line. Brown completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Tommy Sweeney at 10:10 to make it 14-0.
- An interception by Schwab gave the Eagles the ball at their own 37-yard line. Dillon rushed for 39 yards to the Florida State 17 and carried it three more times to the four-yard line. Brown rushed for a four-yard touchdown at 6:48 in the second quarter to increase the Eagles lead.
- Seminoles kicker Ricky Aguayo converted a 36-yard field goal with 44 seconds left in the first half to complete a 13-play, 51-yard scoring drive and give the Noles their only points of the game.
- In the beginning of the second half, senior kicker Mike Knoll punted the ball 37 yards to the FSU 12-yard line but McFadden fumbled it, allowing Harris to recover at the 11. Dillon carried the ball twice and then rushed for a two-yard touchdown with 11 minutes to play in the third quarter to give the Eagles a 28-3 lead.
BC had the ball at the FSU 24-yard line and after a series of rushes by Dillon, including an 11-yard rush to the one-yard line, graduate quarterback Darius Wade converted a one-yard touchdown run on fourth down with 13 seconds remaining in the third quarter. "according to http://bceagles.com/news/2017/10/27/football-recap-boston-college-35-florida-state-3.aspx?path=football
Kick-off is set for 12:00pm. The game will be televised on ABC / ESPN2. "according tohttp://gopack.com/schedule.aspx?path=football