Saturday was the epitome of NC State football over the last four years: play well against a top-tier team just to find a way to lose in the end. The Wolfpack was tantalizingly close against Florida State, falling in heartbreaking fashion 24-20, as the Seminoles scored the game-winning touchdown with just over three minutes left in the game.
The loss drops the Wolfpack to 4-5 (1-4 ACC), as the team lost its fourth-straight game. Here’s what we learned from another disappointing result.
1. The offense was inconsistent
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Finley is what he is: a game managing quarterback with a weak arm that will limit mistakes but won’t make many big plays. Finley showed his weak arm strength with a poorly thrown jump ball in the red zone that was intercepted on NC State’s first possession of the game.
Finley rebounded well to distribute the ball efficiently and effectively over the next two quarters as the Wolfpack offense led the team out to a two-score lead.
Senior running back Matt Dayes was terrific, rushing for 104 yards. Dayes ran hard and protected the football, and he made several plays happen where it seemed he had no running room.
Junior Jaylen Samuels reminded us what happens when he touches the ball, scoring a touchdown on a reverse to put the Pack up 20-10. After that touchdown, however, the Pack offense retracted into its den and disappeared; it couldn’t punch it in at the end when it needed to the most.
The Wolfpack scored just six points on three red zone trips which was probably the difference in winning and losing the game.
2. NC State found its kicker
After sophomore kicker Kyle Bambard missed yet another field goal, a 31-yarder in the second quarter, Doeren made the decision to give graduate transfer Connor Haskins another opportunity to win the job. Haskins did not waste the opportunity, making both of his field goal attempts on the day.
Haskins missed two field goals against East Carolina earlier in the season and has been relegated to the bench ever since. Bambard’s struggles forced Doeren’s hand and Haskins will have the job for the near future.
This is likely the end of Bambard for at least the rest of this season. You have to imagine that if Haskins struggles, Doeren will abandon the kicking game all together.
3. Things will never change
The Wolfpack, under head coach Dave Doeren, have been unable to finish in the end when it matters most. The team is just 7-22 against ACC opponents under Doeren.
The Wolfpack is just 2-5 against Power Five opponents in games decided by 10 points or less, with the two wins coming against Notre Dame (although it is technically independent, not part of a Power Five conference, it is considered a football powerhouse) this season and against Syracuse in 2014. It’s time to come to terms that the big win for Doeren just might never come after so many wasted opportunities.
That’s not to say all is lost however; if Doeren can beat Miami (FL) and North Carolina to end the season then the whole narrative will change. He will have two huge wins to end the season and the Pack will go to a bowl game.
Does anyone really believe that will happen though?
4. Bowl eligibility is an uphill battle
The Wolfpack travels to Syracuse this weekend to face the struggling Orange. Syracuse was bludgeoned by Clemson 54-0 this past weekend, as the Orange defense gave up 565 yards and the offense turned the ball over three times.
Syracuse is 4-5 as well, and one has to think that the loser of this weekend’s game will miss a bowl game in 2016.
Looking further into the future, Miami (FL) got back on track with a 51-28 win over Pitt and UNC crushed Georgia Tech, 48-20. NC State will have to beat two of these three teams to go bowling, a tough task.
It all starts with the Orange this weekend, as a win guarantees the Wolfpack nothing, but a loss all but guarantees sitting home in December.
Sophomore running back Nyheim Hines rushses the ball during the Military Appreciation game against the Florida State University Seminoles in Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday. Hines received for 124 yards with 60 yards for kickoff returns. The Seminoles beat the Wolfpack, 24-20.
