N.C. State fell to Syracuse in a conference matchup Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack is winless in ACC play, after the loss.
Saturday marked the first time the Orange had ever topped a State football team since the two teams first met in 1972. The all-time series now stands at 6-1-1 in favor of the Pack.
State’s (3-3, 0-3 ACC) defense held strong through three quarters, holding Syracuse’s (3-3, 1-1 ACC) run-first offense to ten points. But in the fourth quarter, the game changed when Syracuse broke two runs through the middle of State’s defense for 57 and 48 yards, respectively.
Both runs led to eventual touchdowns that put the Orange ahead by 14— a lead that State couldn’t recover from.
“I was very happy with what we put on the field for three quarters,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “Obviously, we have to finish the game.”
“[The run game] was the main focus of their offensive attack,” senior cornerback Dontae Johnson said. “We were able to contain it in the three quarters but were unable to buckle down and stop it when it mattered most.”
Syracuse’s run game was a daunting presence throughout the game, especially in the second half. The Orange totaled 362 yards on the ground, the most State has allowed all year. This is in stark contrast from the average rushing yards allowed by the Pack through its first five games: 108.8.
“[Syracuse is] a blue-collar running team,” sophomore defensive end Mike Rose said. “They did what they do best.”
Syracuse running backs junior Jerome Smith and senior Prince-Tyson Gulley gained 140 and 132 yards, respectively. Sophomore quarterback Terrel Hunt also added 94 yards on the ground, 20 more than he gained through the air. The Orange also totaled three runs of 55 yards or more, all coming in the second half.
“At the end, they wanted it more than we did,” Rose said. “That’s the only way you can explain big runs in the fourth quarter. That’s a big concern, definitely something we need to address in the locker room.”
State’s offense couldn’t seem to find a rhythm throughout the contest. The Pack ran an enormous 95 offensive plays, but was only able to gain 355 yards, including merely 129 on the ground. Junior quarterback Pete Thomas completed less than 50 percent of his passes, with Syracuse’s pass rush playing a big factor in the Pack’s offensive dismay.
“The pressure had quite a bit of an effect on us,” freshman tight end David Grinnage said. “It gives the quarterback a hard time when he’s trying to get the ball off.”
Injuries also played a role in Saturday’s contest. Many of State’s players were inactive, including graduate quarterback Brandon Mitchell.
“[The decision to play Mitchell] wasn’t close,” Doeren said. “I could’ve played him, and put him at risk, but I didn’t do that. We’ve shown this year that our quarterbacks are going to have to scramble at times, and I don’t want to put him in that position.”
Senior wide receiver Rashard Smith and senior cornerback Jarvis Byrd were among others sitting out for the Pack on Saturday.
In-game injuries were also a factor, as three players left the game after going down on the field. Among these was freshman cornerback Jack Tocho, who recorded two interceptions in the first quarter.
Doeren said that injuries are just a part of the game.
“The guys we have, we’re going to coach them as hard as we can,” Doeren said. “Would I like to have every guy in the lineup? Absolutely, but I don’t get to complain about that. I have to coach who’s there.”
“We had a lot of injuries,” senior linebacker Robert Caldwell said, “but it shouldn’t affect us, if we do our jobs together as one, as a unit.”
Saturday’s game was huge in terms of bowl eligibility for both teams. To be eligible for a shot at postseason play, a team must win at least six games, and with no easy wins left in the schedule, every game is a must win for the Pack. However, the team is confident that they can still make a run at a postseason appearance.
“Everyone thinks we can still win out,” freshman quarterback Bryant Shirreffs said. “You expect to win every game.”
The Pack has next week off, before travelling to Tallahassee to take on No. 5 Florida State on Oct. 26.
