Key Play Breakdown: Bailey's Backbreaker
NC State was off to a horrible start Saturday, But despite giving up a pick six and going nowhere fast offensively, the Wolfpack still only trailed 10-3 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.
Any thoughts of a comeback, though, began to unravel when backup running back David Bailey took a handoff, broke several tackles and raced 54 yards for a touchdown. It was the first of what turned out to be an avalanche of uncharacteristic defensive breakdowns that added up to an embarrassing a 35-24 defeat.
Here's a look at how the play that spelled the beginning of the end for the Wolfpack unfolded:
State's defense, which was still ranked No. 1 in the ACC against the run at the time, has eight men packed into the box anticipating a running play from a BC team looking to take the pressure off a first-time starting quarterback.
As it turned out, co-coordinators Dave Huxtable and Tony Gibson anticipated correctly. As wide receiver Zay Flowers comes back against the flow of the play to give the appearance of a possible reverse, quarterback Dennis Grosel hands off to Bailey.
State's defense isn't deceived by the fake reverse and linebacker Isaiah Moore (at the bottom tip of the B at the 43-yard-line) appears to have Bailey bottled up at the line of scrimmage for no gain.
Even though Bailey breaks the tackle, he still doesn't appear to have much room to run. And even if he does escape, cornerback Malik Dunlap (24) is waiting unblocked at midfield to make the tackle.
Dunlap, however, takes a bad angle and runs right into pulling left tackle Tyler Vrabel as Bailey (hidden from view at the monent) somehow escape's Moore's grip.
As Bailey escapes, linebacker Brock Miller makes a diving (and unsuccessful) attempt at keeping the ballcarrier from breaking into the open field.
Next, it's safety De'Von Graves' turn to try and limit the damage. But he overpursues as Bailey puts on the breaks and makes a hard cut back toward the middle of the field as State's other safety, Tanner Ingle, sprints to try and make a play from behind.
But Ingle's attempt at a leg tackle also fails to bring Bailey down.
At that point, the 240-pound Bailey turned on the jets and outraced the Wolfpack's remaining pursuers the rest of the way into the end zone. One possession later, Bailey added a 48-yard scoring burst that got the Eagles off and running to their easy victory.
