Despite Injuries and Losses, Wolfpack Can Still Finish on a High

State needs two wins in its final three games to earn bowl eligibility for the sixth straight year

NC State's football season is circling the bowl. But it hasn't gone down the drain just yet.

Despite a catastrophic epidemic of injuries and lopsided losses in its three most recent games, the Wolfpack still has a realistic chance at finishing on a high note. It needs two wins in its final three games to qualify for the postseason for the sixth straight year. 

With two of those three remaining opponents currently sporting losing records, the most daunting obstacle facing coach Dave Doeren's team as it chases the goal of bowl eligibility might be tuning out all the negativity going on around it.

It's an issue Doeren addressed this week as the wounded Wolfpack looks to get back on the right track against Louisville at Carter-Finley Stadium.

"That's my job is to insulate, because everyone else overreacts," Doeren said. "We're not happy. Let's not say that. But they understand when we started the season, we made a pact in that room that we're gonna go one week at a time. 

"We'll have to reassess our goals as we go obviously. But there's a lot for this team to play for, most importantly their pride."

State (4-5, 1-4 ACC) has been outscored by a whopping 144-44 margin over its past three games -- at Boston College and Wake Forest, then at home last Saturday against No. 3 Clemson.

Not only haven't been the games been competitive, but in each contest, more and more key players went down with injuries.

Against Clemson, for instance, the Wolfpack finished the game with three linebackers -- including two walkons -- that had never before played a snap from scrimmage in their careers.

It's a situation can understandably demoralize a team. But according to senior defensive end James Smith-Williams, that's not the case with this one.

"It's less difficult than maybe how it appears," he said when asked how he and his teammates continue to stay positive. "We want to win ballgames. We're working our (butts) off here and we're really excited about playing games. 

"So for me it's about being the same guy every day, coming in here working hard. When the younger guys see that and for years ahead, (they learn) you never fold, you never quit."

The key, junior offensive guard Joshua Fedd-Jackson said, is not getting too caught up on what has already happened and staying focused on what can still be done.

As far as he's concerned, it's the younger players thrust into action because of the injury situation that should have the most incentive to keep playing hard.

"For the younger guys, you can't get down because it's the older guys getting hurt," Fedd-Jackson said. "So this is your time to play. Take advantage of it."

One thing the Wolfpack has going for it is its remaining schedule. After playing two straight ranked teams, including one in position to win a second straight national championship, Louisville, Georgia Tech and North Carolina figure to present a much more reasonable challenge.

That having been said, Smith-Williams is careful to warn that no opponent -- especially under the circumstances -- should be taken lightly.

"You've seen the games played in the ACC," he said. "You just never know. Louisville beat Wake Forest at home. We're playing good teams. Everyone can beat anybody in the ACC and that's happened every week. You have to treat everybody the same. That's what we always do."

Besides, as Doeren often points out, it's the Wolfpack not its opponents that will have the most impact on how -- and when -- the season ends.

"I think that's the biggest thing," the coach said. "Having a conference game at home coming off a tough couple weeks. they want to fight hard to get that locker room the way they want it after a win."