State has never won at Boston College since the Eagles joined the ACC, and to continue the quest toward a postseason berth, the Pack is going to have to change that.
The Wolfpack will be hoping to move one step closer toward bowl eligibility when it takes on the Eagles in Chestnut Hill, M.A . this Saturday. The game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m . and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
N.C . State (5-4, 2-3 ACC) is coming off a strong weekend in which the Pack shut out arch rival North Carolina, 13-0. State will be hoping to build on that performance against Boston College (2-7, 1-5 ACC), who has endured a season to forget through nine games. The Eagles have already been eliminated from postseason competition for the first time in 13 seasons.
Quarterback Mike Glennon will be looking to have a big game against Boston College, whose defense is ranked No. 114 in the country in sacks.
On the other side of the ball, linebacker Terrell Manning will be coming off of a stellar weekend where he led the team with 11 tackles and one sack. Manning said he felt that the defense’s performance was due to the hard work the players put into practice, and he was finally satisfied to see the results.
“I felt like as a defense we knew we could do it,” Manning said. “We watched film, we practiced hard, and we went the extra mile. It meant a lot. I think the overall objective was to get the win and finish the game, but the goose egg (shutout) at the end; it was a statement for our defense.
“We know we can play defense against anybody.”
The Eagles average over 36 run attempts per game compared to 27 pass attempts per game, and pose a similar challenge to what the Pack faced against UNC . Manning, who was also named ACC player of the week in the linebacker category for his performance against the Tar Heels, said there are several similarities between both UNC and Boston College.
“Both definitely want to run the ball,” Manning said. “Just like I said before the Carolina game, it plays into our hands. That’s what we want to try and happen because I feel like we can stop the run.”
Senior wide receiver Jay Smith, third in receiving yardage this season, admitted he was aware of the performance the defense was putting on, but said the offense is working hard to reach a similar level.
“We go against our defense everyday, so I know what to expect out of our defense,” Smith said. “Our offense, as far as they go, it’s all about execution and sometimes we may not execute as we should. This week in practice we are going to work on how we did not execute in the UNC game and apply it against our next opponent.”
Smith said he also felt the team would be better prepared to play in the Eagle’s nest after a humiliating 34-0 loss against Florida State the last time the team was on the road.
“I think its always a little tougher on the road,” Smith said. “I feel our guys are always focused when they are playing here, but this week they know they are on the road so they are going to be extra focused because we cannot afford a loss like at Florida State. We cannot afford to come out flat, but I know the guys are really pushing themselves to step up to make that adjustment.
“Hopefully we will do the things we need to do in order to get that win.”
Coach Tom O’Brien, who spent 10 years as head coach at Boston College and has as many as eight people on his staff who were either on the staff or were a player at BC, gave a glowing tribute to Earl Wolff. The senior boundary safety is having a stellar season by leading the team in tackles made.
“Earl, I think he is the heart of the defense,” O’Brien said. “He works so hard and tries so hard. I think everybody loves him on defense because of the energy he brings to the defense. I think he gets a little bit of ribbing by a lot of guys, but he’s certainly grown up a lot in the last two years.”
O’Brien admitted that running back James Washington’s performance against UNC was admirable, and he expected Washington to keep up the good work against a formidable defense. The junior will have to be on top of his game Saturday as he and the offense face Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, who averages 16.67 tackles a game and has registered 150 on the season, is the country’s leading tackler.
“That was a heck of an effort [by Washington against UNC ],” O’Brien said. “He didn’t get anything easy. A hundred-something yards against those guys is a pretty good day for him. He has a great knack for the football. [ Kuechly ] doesn’t take a bad first step, he’s going to find the football, and he’s going to get there and make the play.”
At the prospect of reaching bowl eligibility after a slow start to the season, O’Brien felt the team still had work to do to attain that and were solely focused on the next game at hand.
”We’ve still got three games. We need to win two to get there,” O’Brien said. “We’re going to beat BC on Saturday, that’s the first thing we’ve got to do.”
