NC State football’s defense seemed to still be on its bye week, continuing to flounder against Pitt’s aerial assault in a 53-34 pummeling.
The Wolfpack (4-4, 1-3 ACC) hoped to regroup after a week off, but the Panthers (6-2, 4-1 ACC) seized control early and never let up. Pitt’s offense scored on its first three drives, putting NC State in an early 17-7 hole.
“We studied ourselves, focused on what we’re good at and tried to fix the things we’re bad at,” said senior defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland. “As you can see, we just didn’t execute.”
Cleveland and the defense allowed 529 yards — 423 through the air — and 29 first downs, struggling to stop Pitt’s up-tempo passing game. The Wolfpack rarely found pressure on Mason Heintschel, who was sacked just once after the Panthers allowed seven the previous week.
Although down early, NC State kept trying to cut the deficit, but once star senior tight end Justin Joly left the field with an apparent quad injury in the second quarter, the Wolfpack’s offense took a big hit.
Joly had been a key part of both the passing and running games, catching six passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns and sparking a 65-yard touchdown by redshirt-sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers. Without him, Pitt’s defense was able to stack the box and limit NC State’s ground attack, while the Wolfpack struggled to find consistency through the air.
Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey looked like a deer in the headlights after Joly’s exit, losing a fumble and turning the ball over on downs three times in the second half. Head coach Dave Doeren did not give up on his team, though, deciding to keep Bailey in after the Panthers substituted Heintschel out for the remainder of the outing.
“You guys know, I’ve been a part of some good comebacks,” Doeren said. “I’m not going to quit and just throw in the backups.”
With the loss, the Pack has now lost four of its last five to sit at 4-4. Now, with a tough stretch to end the season, it poses the question of whether NC State will be bowl eligible at the end of the year.
“Win these four games,” Smothers said. “We’ve got to win, no other choice, I’m tired of losing.”
With two top-10 teams next up for the Pack, this will be a challenging task, as it hosts No. 7 Georgia Tech on Nov. 1 and follows that up by traveling to No. 9 Miami on Nov. 15.
Kickoff against the Yellow Jackets is set for 7:30 p.m.
