A gutsy call to go for it on 4th-and-6 iced NC State football’s 21-11 win over a floundering Florida State team, clinching bowl eligibility for the 11th time in 13 years under head coach Dave Doeren.
“That’s what you do on fourth down. You give a chance to your really good quarterback,” Doeren said. “Can’t say enough about these kids.”
The Wolfpack (6-5, 3-4 ACC) did not play scared tonight, trusting freshman quarterback Will Wilson with a crucial third-quarter drive and senior corner Devon Marshall with limiting the Seminoles’ (5-6, 2-6 ACC) leading receiver. NC State held Florida State to 11 points despite allowing 383 yards of offense. Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey completed 18-of-25 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while the team won the turnover battle with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
After a Seminole defensive stop, receiving redshirt senior punter Caden Noonkester’s kick for a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter was not a simple task for Florida State. The football bounced off a Florida State player’s helmet and flew twenty yards back down the field into Noonkester’s sliding frame.
“It was definitely pure instincts,” Noonkester said. “I grew up a soccer player and I played goalie, so it reminded me of a little goalie slide there … Seemed like the perfect technique for the situation, so I’m glad I had that in my bag of tricks.”
Florida State’s defense forced another punt, but receiving this one was no easier than the last. The ball fell through the returner’s hands and was quickly covered by a Wolfpack pile-on.
“It’s a result-driven business,” Noonkester said.
Business was in NC State’s favor as the team earned a third-consecutive possession — and this one was the charm. Senior tight end Justin Joly stretched out for a touchdown on 4th-and-6, putting the Wolfpack up two scores and effectively ending the game.
Just one week after Noonkester was called upon eight times in a 41-7 trouncing by Miami, Doeren’s tone was different after calling the punter’s necessity “sad” in a season-worst performance. Though Noonkester was a highlight again, that’s anything but sad for Wolfpack faithful.
On the defensive side of the ball, Marshall made his mark.
“I look at myself as one of the leaders on the defense,” Marshall said. “I feel like I got to set the tone and just keep the tone throughout the whole game, and that’s what I did today.”
Florida State’s leading receiver, Duce Robinson, had his ticket to ‘Marshall Island’ punched tonight. After 15 catches for 258 yards in his last two games, Robinson only managed four catches for 74 yards. Half of those came on the Seminoles’ lone touchdown drive.
“We made a decision to try to get [Marshall] matched up on [Robinson] as much as we could,” Doeren said. “Felt like that was our best chance against that kid, and [Marshall] rose to the occasion … If he’s not player of the week in the ACC, they got blinders on, because that was a hell of a performance by him.”
An exposé in Miami — where NC State gave up 41 points — raised concerns coming into a game against one of the country’s top scoring offenses, but those were all answered by the end of the night.
“After last week, as a defense we knew we had to step up and play our best ball,” Marshall said.
The whole defense stepped up, pushing the Seminoles up and over the edge. Despite averaging over 40 points per game coming into Raleigh, Florida State managed just three through three quarters and 11 on the night.
“That’s the second-best offense, supposedly, in the country, ranking-wise,” Doeren said. “We just held them to 11 points.”
With the win, NC State earned bowl eligibility for the sixth consecutive season and 11th overall during Doeren’s tenure.
“To be in a bowl game with this team, I’m fired up,” Doeren said. “It’s a great group of guys. They’re phenomenal kids.”
The Wolfpack’s next game is at Carter-Finley against UNC, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29.
“I expect a crazy, crazy-ass crowd next week,” Doeren said. “7:30 kick on a Saturday night, Thanksgiving week against the baby blue.”
