In the final game of NC State football’s regular season, the Wolfpack will take on East Carolina Saturday in Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Wolfpack (8-3, 5-3 ACC) is looking to finish strong in what will be a final tune-up before a bowl, while the Pirates (3-8, 1-7 AAC) want to end on a high note following a 56-6 walloping at Cincinnati.
Let’s take a look at East Carolina’s offense:
ECU Offensive Line vs NC State Defensive Line
ECU’s offensive line has struggled this year, falling victim to injuries.
“You were looking out there at your third-string center, a non-scholarship guy … at the guard position,” ECU’s third-year head coach Scottie Montgomery told ECU Athletics. “A right tackle that was a backup. Your right tackle had to move over to left tackle.”
The turnover has handicapped their offense. The Pirates have one of the nation’s worst rushing attacks, averaging only 139 rush yards per game. The line consistently fails to win the line of scrimmage, allowing seven tackles per loss each contest. Opposing defenses get to the passer at will. Due to hits taken by Holton Ahlers, the Pirates’ starting quarterback, he had to leave the Cincinnati game due to injury, and he came into the contest playing injured.
Injuries aren’t foreign to NC State’s defensive line. At separate points in the season, almost every key player at defensive line has missed a game, but this week the Wolfpack should be healthy. Last week against a stellar UNC offensive line, the defensive line combined to create only one sack and five tackles for loss. Against the Pirates, things should be different. Look for senior defensive tackle Eurndraus Bryant and redshirt junior defensive tackle Larrell Murchison to wreak havoc in the Pirates’ backfield.
ECU Running Backs vs NC State Linebackers
East Carolina’s aforementioned run game struggles are partly due to the fact that its leading rusher is Ahlers. Ahlers has over 100 more yards this season than starting tailback Anthony Scott. ECU largely ignores its running backs, as Scott only has 91 attempts on the year. Compare that to NC State’s starting tailback Reggie Gallaspy Jr.’s 190 attempts this season.
Graduate linebacker Germaine Pratt missed last week’s contest with an undisclosed injury, and it’s unclear if the Reese’s Senior Bowl invitee will suit up this week. If he can’t go, redshirt sophomore Brock Miller will get his second start of the season. Miller performed well in Pratt’s stead last week, combining with redshirt freshman Isaiah Moore to record 15 tackles. Moore added a tackle for loss. NC State’s linebacking corps shouldn’t have any trouble with the Pirates rushers, and like against Virginia, they will likely spend the lion’s share of their time blitzing or spying Ahlers.
ECU Quarterback and Wide Receivers vs NC State Secondary
ECU has had two quarterbacks see time this season: Ahlers and Reid Herring. Ahlers is a young Eric Dungey, a tough scrambler with a big arm but questionable accuracy at times. Ahlers can make any throw, but his questionable footwork leads him to miss passes short. Herring is much less of a threat to run, averaging a loss of two yards per carry. The sophomore lacks arm strength, which hurts him in the passing game.
At wide receiver, the Pirates only have one threat: senior Trevon Brown. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound pass catcher leads the team in receiving yards with 1,075 on the year. No other receiver has topped 400 yards. The corps lacks speed, which should be music to NC State fans’ ears. In addition to not being able to burn corners, their effort in fighting back to the football is lackluster. The game plan will be to stop Brown, as every other matchup looks to be in the Wolfpack’s favor.
NC State’s secondary only gave up 276 passing yards last week, and on less than a 50 percent completion percentage. The secondary created turnovers, as freshman cornerback Teshaun Smith recorded his first interception of the year. Against ECU, this secondary will have opportunity after opportunity to show off their hands, especially if Ahlers can’t play. In the Pirates’ last outing, Cincinnati intercepted the ball three times, and dropped at least two other interceptions. Against ECU, NC State’s secondary will have an opportunity to show its improvement.
