The NC State Wolfpack won the second game of the season against the Georgia State Panthers 41-7 with strong play on both sides of the ball. The Wolfpack stands at 2-0 and will look to utilize this momentum going forward. But for now here is how the Pack performed in this game:
Quarterback: A+
Instant Analysis: The passing game was elite on all levels, with graduate Ryan Finley throwing for 370 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and an absurd 31 of 38 passes completed (82 percent). The Pack also pulled out all the stops when former walk-on, and redshirt freshman, Thayer Thomas completed a pass to freshman Trent Pennix for an impressive 56 yard play. Even with an interception that came late in the game, the passing game gets an A+.
Wide Receivers: A+
Instant Analysis: Another A+ performance came from the ridiculously deep receiving corps of NC State. Junior receiver Kelvin Harmon and the aforementioned Thomas both ended with 100-plus yards. Even with missing last week’s MVP, redshirt junior Jakobi Meyers, and graduate Stephen Louis having a brief return, the crew looked astounding in all aspects. Thomas had some insane catches and a nice pass on a trick play. Sophomore Emeka Emezie and redshirt sophomore C.J. Riley produced yet again by providing a combined 74 yards on eight catches. This was another game that showed why the Wolfpack has one of the strongest receiving groups in the nation.
Running Backs: D+
Instant Analysis: Last week, the offensive line looked like it could have provided better lanes, but this week the offensive line seemed to create enough space for these running backs, which was not capitalized on. This running corps can certainly bounce back, and had flashes from senior Reggie Gallaspy Jr. and graduate Brady Bodine with their pair of touchdowns, but no one from this group was explosive on the ground, and only Pennix caught any passes. This group will need to recuperate, especially when the Pack starts to face in-conference opponents with strong defensive backs that might shut down its receivers.
Tight Ends: B-
Instant Analysis: The tight end group is still awaiting six-foot-seven redshirt sophomore transfer Cary Angeline to become eligible to play, but in the meantime this group is performing well. Redshirt sophomore Dylan Parham caught the first pass of the season by a tight end for a solid 12 yards. Each tight end that was utilized to create space and lanes did so nicely, which results in a B-.
Offensive Line: A
Instant Analysis: The offensive line allowed zero sacks in the game, and helped create space for Finley to pass for 370 yards. Allowing no QB hits or sacks is hard to do, and this group managed to find a way to accomplish it, as well as create better lanes than the last game.
Offense Overall Grade: B+
Defensive Line: A-
Instant Analysis: The defensive line was another group that showed all around improvement from week one. The frustrations from this group were certainly fixed here, and while they could have capitalized on facing a smaller school by recording more sacks, they did an excellent job here. This group definitely put pressure on Georgia State’s quarterback Dan Ellington, by recording six QB hits and forcing him to make terrible throws. Freshman Alim McNeill recorded his first career sack and senior Eurndraus Bryant showed no signs of injury when he blocked a field-goal attempt by Georgia State.
Linebackers: A-
Instant Analysis: The linebackers built on their strong performance from week one by stopping numerous runs. Graduate Germaine Pratt and redshirt freshman Isaiah Moore recorded a combined 14 tackles, showing how efficient this group can be. The only complaint here would be that they allowed a combined total of over 100 rushing yards for Georgia State (as did the defensive line), but even then, Georgia State’s running game was still disrupted.
Defensive Backs: B-
Instant Analysis: The defensive backs did record a large sum of tackles, but looked mediocre on the opening drive, which led to the Panthers getting a touchdown later in the drive. This group did not do anything bad in particular, but it would have been nice to have seen an interception or two from the defensive backs, to establish more faith in themselves to cover stronger opponents further down the road.
Defense Overall Grade: B+
Special Teams: A
Instant Analysis: Special teams is another group that significantly improved on its showing from last week. Redshirt senior Maurice Trowell had a nice 36-yard kick return, and the kicking crew looked much better. Freshman Christopher Dunn went 2 for 2 on field goals and 5 for 5 on extra points, and senior A.J. Cole III looked better punting the football. Overall solid showing.
Overall Team Grade: B+
Players of the Game and Their Stat Lines:
Thayer Thomas – Nine receptions, 114 yards receiving, 56 yards passing, one receiving touchdown
Trent Pennix – Three receptions, 66 yards receiving, 28 yards rushing, one receiving touchdown
Kelvin Harmon – Eight receptions, 129 yards receiving
Ryan Finley – 370 yards, 82 percent completion percentage, two touchdowns
Brady Bodine – 50 yards rushing on five carries
Eurndraus Bryant – Blocked field goal
Alim McNeill – 1.5 sacks
Germaine Pratt – 7 tackles and one sack
