The NC State football team has two opportunities at bowl eligibility, with the first coming this weekend against Miami (FL). The Hurricanes are eliminated from the Coastal Division race, but still have higher bowl aspirations in front of them.
The Wolfpack finally broke through its losing streak and took down Syracuse last weekend, using a steady rushing attack to run past the Orange on the road. The Wolfpack will need to run the ball effectively again to beat a better Hurricanes squad.
With only two games left in the regular season, here are the position battles that will decide if the Wolfpack can clinch bowl eligibility.
Rushing attack vs Hurricane defense
Senior Matt Dayes is just 61 yards away from the 1,000 yard threshold and is primed to reach it against Miami (FL) this weekend. The NC State offense has relied on the senior back to be the focal point of the offense this season, and if the Hurricanes can shut him down, the NC State offense may not be able to recover.
Wolfpack seniors vs Hurricanes
Saturday’s game will be the final game at Carter-Finley Stadium for 14 seniors and graduate students, of which some are from head coach Dave Doeren’s first recruiting class at NC State. The notable losses for the Wolfpack will be Dayes, who was a three-star recruit that turned into one of NC State’s all-time leading rushers, in addition to nickels Dravious Wright and Niles Clark. Corner Jack Tocho and wide receiver Bra’Lon Cherry, two major contributors from the last four years, will also be playing their last game. It will undoubtedly be an emotional Saturday at Carter-Finley.
Canes’ passing attack vs Wolfpack defense
Miami (FL) junior quarterback Brad Kaaya is a lock to be drafted into the NFL and will undoubtedly pose one of the tougher tests for the Wolfpack secondary this season. Kaaya needs only 561 passing yards (hopefully not all against the Pack) to become the Hurricanes all-time leading passer. Kaaya has on many occasions suffered from his offensive line’s struggles to protect him and he is not exactly the fleetest of foot, so the Wolfpack defense should have plenty of sack opportunities on Saturday.
NC State Red Zone Offense vs. Itself
The Wolfpack’s red zone woes have plagued it all season and the win against Syracuse is a prime example of what can happen when it converts those opportunities into touchdowns. The Wolfpack was four of five in the red zone against Syracuse and the 28 points in the red zone it scored made a huge difference in the outcome of the game.
The Wolfpack will need another strong showing in the red zone this weekend to get ahead and stay ahead against the Hurricanes. The Wolfpack’s margin of error is thin against a very talented Miami (FL) team, so a few points left on the table could be the difference in the game.
Miami (FL) Offensive Line vs NC State Defensive Line
The NC State defensive front has been stifling this season, ranking an impressive fourth in the nation in rush defense. The Miami (FL) offensive line has struggled all season, not allowing Kaaya much time to throw in the pocket. If the Wolfpack defensive line can put the Hurricanes behind schedule and force them into passing situations, the offensive line may not be able to protect Kaaya long enough when the defensive line is pinning its ears back.
