NC State at BC: Running game thread
FIRST QUARTER
Sorry for the delay in getting going here ... Spectrum Cable rears its ugly head again. But we're up and running now ... and so are the BC Eagles, who move the ball deep into Wolfpack territory thanks to a big gainer on a screen pass on their first possession of the day ...
State gets a break, though, when first-time starting quarterback Dennis Grosel throws the ball away under pressure from Isaiah Moore for an intentional grounding penalty and a missed field goal that keeps the game scoreless with 8:55 to go in the opening period ...
The Wolfpack goes three-and-out with its first possession, then gives up a decent punt return -- something it hasn't done often this season. BC takes over near midfield ...
Alim McNeill is down for State. That would be a big loss. Not only is he playing well, but his backup Val Martin has been banged up as well ...
BC gets a first down, but State's defense holds again. Eagles punt is downed at the 1 ... not sure the Wolfpack has a 99-yard drive in it. But if it does, this would be a good time to pull it out ...
The situation just went from bad to worse for State. Hockman finally is made to pay for a rookie mistake. He's picked off by BC's Jason Maitre on third down and returns it eight yards into the end zone for an early Eagle touchdown. ... BC 7, State 0
A bad kickoff gives Hockman some field position for the ensuing possession. This is a big drive for the Wolfpack. This BC defense has struggled against everyone this season and State has done nothing to take advantage of it thus far. ...
Struggling to move the ball, State dials up its go-to big play with its best passer throwing the ball. Wide receiver Thayer Thomas threw touchdown passes on his first two completions this season. This one only went for 36 yards to Devin Carter, but it couldn't have come at a better time. Wolfpack finally on the move ...
And now Carter catches a 22-yarder from Hockman ... first and goal from the 6. This has been a problem area for State. Too many field goals and not enough TDs. How about a jump ball to Angeline?
Why run out of the shotgun when its third and goal from inside the one??? I will never understand the thinking behind that. Doesn't make any sense. Knight stopped for a loss and Hockman throws incomplete to Thomas on fourth down. Another red zone possession wasted. A recurring problem. That one is one the playcalling. ...
Defense holds and will receive a BC punt after the quarter break. ... End of 1: BC 7, State 0
SECOND QUARTER
Devin Leary into the game at quarterback as State takes over at the BC 41 ... One nice completion from Leary to Thomas, but a bad snap and a scramble shortcircuits the drive. But at least this time the Wolfpack gets someting out of the possession. Christopher Dunn with his 11th red zone field goal of the season. This one is from 31 yards out ... BC 7, State 3
McNeill back in the lineup at defensive tackle. He was shaken up earlier ...
Big run by Dillon. Twenty-two yards. Wolfpack can't afford to let that happen very often today. Eagles going uptempo. ...
BC isn't bothering to try and throw the ball now. Probably a good idea. Dillon and his backup David Bailey are having their way on the ground right now. But after Jarius Morehead and Larrell Murchison blow up a jet sweep for a 7-yard loss, the Wolfpack holds again and forces another field goal attempt. This time it's good ... BC 10, State 3
All things considered, the Wolfpack is fortunate to be within a touchdown. Leary back in at QB ...
Drop by Emezie ends this drive quickly. State scuffling worse than ever offensively today. And to make matters worse, Trenton Gill with a rare shank on the punt. BC has another short field..
Well, State's defense didn't let Dillon get an explosive play. It did, however, just get gashed by backup Bailey, who goes 54 yards for a touchdown that puts the Wolfpack in serious distress. To put that run, which featured some awful tackling in the secondary, into perspective, State came in averaging 66 yards allowed per game on the ground. That one run nearly matched the average. BC is already up to 150 yards on the ground today. By contrast, State has just four yards rushing. ...
Leary completes a third down pass to Tabari Hines, but it's a yard short of the marker. Grad transfer who has played three-plus seasons of college football has to have better awareness than that. Another Wolfpack punt upcoming ...
State defense is getting manhandled at the point of attack. This one is getting away in a hurry ...
Bailey again ... this time for 48 yards and another Eagles touchdown. BC is over 200 yards rushing already and it's still the first half. It's getting ugly, folks ... BC 24, State 3
And now a BC linebacker comes in unblocked and sacks Leary ... it's completely unraveling now.
Eagles called for defensive holding, but got away with a late hit on Carter.
By far the worst half of the season for the Wolfpack. Just an absolute disaster on both sides of the ball ... Halftime: BC 24, State 3
THIRD QUARTER
Second verse, same as the first ...
Big gain on a pass from Leary to Carter gets the Wolfpack inside the 10. Two running plays and an incomplete pass put the Wolfpack into a fourth-and-goal situation. And yet again, State can't get into the end zone. Give State credit for at least trying something different this time. Matthew McKay, the third quarterback of the day for the Wolfpack, came in to try and run off a direct snap. But he came up short of the end zone, setting up another empty possession.
The contrast of how unevenly matched these teams are today is vividly illustrated by these past two possessions. After State failed to get into the end zone for a touchdown that would have at least given it hope of getting back into contention, BC methodically drove 98 yards on 16 plays -- most of which were on the ground -- to make it 31-3.
BC coach Steve Addazio and his team clearly used their time wisely during last week's open date. Doeren and the Wolfpack need to do the same next week. Wake Forest is next in two weeks.
This one is almost certainly unsalvageable, but perhaps State can build a little momentum moving forward over the final quarter and a half. A 2-yard touchdown pass from Leary to Thomas that finally ends the Wolfpack's red zone woes could perhaps start that process. If nothing else, it makes the score look just a little less lopsided ... BC 31, State 10
Three quarters in the books ... State trails by three touchdowns
FOURTH QUARTER
Bailey got the job done on the ground for BC in the first half. Now it's Dillon's turn. The ACC's rushing leader scores his second touchdown since halftime to make it 38-10. He's up to 176 yards on 30 carries. Bailey has 166 on 11 tries. The Eagles have rushed for 358 yards today. To put that into perspective, State had given up 400 yards on the ground in its first six games COMBINED coming into this game. ...
Bam Knight gets the Wolfpack's best run of the game, 15 yards around left end, to pick up a first down on third and four. Small victories. ...
Leary connects with Thomas for their second touchdown pass of the day -- both of them on fourth down plays -- and the Wolfpack deficit is down to 38-17
For the third time this season, it appears that State will be re-opening its quarterback competition during the upcoming open week. This time Leary will be the man to beat. He's 13 of 28 for 220 yards and two touchdowns today ...
Looking ahead, the Wolfpack still needs two more wins in the last five games to earn bowl eligibility. Other than Georgia Tech, where's the other one come? Wake Forest, Clemson, Louisville and UNC are the others. ...
A.J. Dillon 3.0 makes it 45-17. He's got 223 yards on 34 carries today. Again, State's defense had allowed a total of 400 yards on the ground all season coming into the game. ...
Jordan Houston with 29 yards of window dressing rushing yardage. ...
Cary Angeline sighting in the end zone. ... Nice scramble by Leary and a bullet to the big tight end in the end zone for his third touchdown pass of the day. This one for 15 yards ... BC 45, State 24
The carnage is complete ... BC rushes for 429 yards -- more than State had allowed all season combined -- in a 35-24 rout of the Wolfpack. State falls to 4-3 overall, 1-2 in the ACC with an open date next week.
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