Nick Faulkner
Senior running back Reggie Gallaspy Jr. dodges to the right before being tackled just short of the end zone on Saturday, Nov. 24 in Kenan Memorial Stadium. Gallaspy scored all five of the Wolfpack’s touchdowns, tying the school record for rushing touchdowns in one game. The Wolfpack won 34-28 overtime.
The NC State football team takes on ECU this week in a makeup game that was scheduled due to Hurricane Florence canceling the Sept. 15 West Virginia game. The Wolfpack (8-3, 5-3 ACC) will look to get to nine wins for the second year in a row against the Pirates (3-8, 1-7 AAC).
Let’s take a look at the matchups for this weekend when NC State has the ball:
Quarterback vs. Secondary
Graduate Ryan Finley did not have his typical game Saturday against UNC-Chapel Hill. He had a rough first half through the cold and wet conditions. Finley finished the game completing only 16 passes for 200 yards. This is certainly a mark that he will want to improve on this weekend in his final game in Carter-Finley Stadium.
Last week, Cincinnati threw for 394 yards against the ECU secondary. The Pirates secondary is allowing an average of 256.4 passing yards per game, something that the Pack will look to increase on Saturday.
Wide Receivers vs. Secondary
Despite a below-average day for the Pack’s passing game Saturday, redshirt junior Jakobi Meyers still registered seven catches for 111 yards and an incredible one-handed catch on the game-tying drive against UNC-Chapel Hill to push the game into overtime. Meyers is only 135 yards away from reaching 1,000 yards, and if he reaches this mark it would be the first time in NC State history that it would have two 1,000-yard receivers in a single season.
Meyers and junior Kelvin Harmon will look to finish out the regular season strong against an average ECU secondary.
Running Backs vs. Linebackers
Senior Reggie Gallaspy Jr. had the best game of his collegiate career, as he tied a school record with five touchdowns and broke his personal record with 129 yards rushing in one game. Gallaspy led the Wolfpack to its third straight win over its rival. He has been a reliable touchdown target for the Pack, as he has scored 16 touchdowns on the year.
Sophomores Aaron Ramseur and Bruce Bivens for the Pirates are among the top five tacklers on their defense. Bivens has registered nine tackles for loss throughout the season, but overall the Pirates linebackers should be something that the Pack’s running game should be able to exploit.
Offensive Line/Tight Ends vs. Defensive Line
The offensive line will be an area to watch Saturday because of suspensions to redshirt senior Tyler Jones and redshirt sophomore Justin Witt from the fight that broke out after the Pack defeated UNC-Chapel Hill last Saturday. Head coach Dave Doeren mentioned in his press conference Monday that he would more than likely split the suspensions up in between the first and second half because he was given the option to do so.
Redshirt sophomore tight ends Dylan Autenrieth and Cary Angeline will need to step up blocking wise, especially in the running game, with the suspensions of Jones and Witt.
The Pirates defensive line is their best group of players on the defensive side of the ball. With the Pack being thinner on the offensive line this week, ECU will look to stay in the Pack’s backfield and disrupt Finley and the passing game. In the games ECU has won this year, they brought consistent pressure on the quarterback and offensive line.
Matchup to Watch
The matchup to keep an eye out for this week will be the offensive line vs. defensive line. ECU is a struggling football team who will come in wanting to spoil the Wolfpack’s day and doing so through the defensive line.