NC State Remains In Raleigh To Host Western Carolina

For their season opener the team located in North Carolina’s state capital hosted East Carolina.

On Saturday they will host Western Carolina.

NC State who is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with a record of 1-0 while Western Carolina who is a member of the Southern Conference comes into the game with a record of 0-1.

As for NC State’s season opener,

They got their season off to a winning start with a route of East Carolina.

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

Unlike NC State, Western Carolina’s season didn’t get off to such a fantastic start as they lost to Mercer.

Big plays turned in by Mercer and missed opportunities by the Catamounts including a pair of turnovers spoiled an otherwise festive afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field as the Bears handed Western Carolina a 49-27 loss in both the 2019 season and Southern Conference opener. “according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Despite the short-coming on the scoreboard on Saturday night, Catamount fans had something to celebrate as redshirt senior quarterback Tyrie Adams took over the top spot on two of Western Carolina's all-time career offensive records. On the Catamounts' third possession, Adams ran for four yards to officially by-pass his former mentor, Troy Mitchell, becoming WCU's all-time career leader in total offense. He also became the top passer in school history, throwing for 318 yards and two TDs to supplant Mitchell on that career chart. Adams set the record on a 33-yard touchdown pass to Daquan Patten in the second quarter. “according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Mercer (1-0) built its momentum on Saturday evening first on special teams, amassing 173 yards between six returns -- three kickoffs and three punt returns. Quarterback Robert Riddle, who was returning from an injury that sidelined him just four games into last season, completed 11-of-23 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns to maintain the edge for the Bears.”according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

And thirdly, Mercer's defense – which had surrendered a WCU school-record 545 yards of total offense to Adams a year ago in Macon – corralled the elusive escape artist in preventing the St. Petersburg, Fla., native from breaking many big plays that could have swung momentum.”according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Mercer's David Durden caught three passes for 106 yards and a score while Cannon tallied 93 receiving yards. Tailback Deondre Johnson rushed for a game-high 114 yards and a score while Tyray Devezin ground-out 84 rushing yards and a pair of TDs for the Bears.”according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Adams finished the game 25-of-38 for 318 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, adding 34 rushing yards on the ground. Redshirt sophomore WR D.J. Thorpe - a converted quarterback - matched two others with a team-best six catches, finishing with a career 130 receiving yards while true freshman RB Syheam McQueen rushed for a career-best 67 yards on 11 touches.”according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Mercer jumped out to a 14-0 lead midway through Saturday’s opening quarter before the Catamount defense hung the first points on the Whitmire Stadium scoreboard for the home squad. Senior DB John Brannon jumped an out route, deflected the Riddle pass attempt before ultimately snaring it for his fifth career interception. The Charlotte, N.C., native wasn’t done with the change of possession, though, as he scrambled 23 yards for a touchdown – the third defensive score of his career.”according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Spurred by the squad’s first takeaway of the season, the defensive unit forced Mercer into a 3-and-out with a sub-par Grant Goupil 23-yard punt setting up the Catamounts with tremendous field position as the first quarter ended. However, WCU was unable to capitalize on the swing in momentum, punting two plays into the second stanza with Mercer seizing control from there. On the third play of the frame, Riddle fired a pass to Tucker Cannon in stride for an 85-yard touchdown that ignited a 28-point quarter for the Bears and a commanding 42-14 halftime edge. “according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Three of Mercer’s second-quarter scores were big plays with the fourth following a WCU interception that set the Bears up with the ball at the three-yard line. “according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Mercer stretched its lead to 49-14 midway through the third quarter before the Catamounts close the game’s scoring with two-consecutive touchdowns including a five-yard pass from Adams to TE Owen Cosenke to end the third quarter and Adams five-yard TD rush midway through the fourth. WCU nearly pulled to within two scores inside the game’s final seven minutes, but a toss pitched to the outside by Adams looking for Connell Young on an option play was bobbled and fumbled, thwarting the would-be scoring drive. “according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

All told, WCU ran 22 more plays than did the Bears offensively -- 77-to-55 -- and ultimately outgained the Bears, 445-to-419. But four scoring plays of 32-or-more yards proved to be the difference.”according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Defensively, junior LB Trevor Childers led the Catamounts with a career-best 10 tackles while Mercer’s Sidney Otiwu was likewise credited with 10 stops. Brannon and Mercer’s B.J. Bohler both recorded interceptions.”according to http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211810589

Kick-off is set for 12:30pm from Carter Finley Stadium. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network.