N.C. State overpowered Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon, outrushing the Chippewas 239-94 en route to a 48-14 win in Raleigh. State scored 28 points in the third quarter and led 35-0 at halftime.
Sophomore running back Shadrach Thornton led State’s rushing attack with 71 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Thornton, who had just one carry this season before Saturday’s game against the Chippewas, showed good speed and vision on his 29-yard dash to the end zone almost midway through the second quarter.
Thornton earned an increased role in the offense on Saturday, with the backfield duo of junior Tony Creecy and freshman Matt Dayes only combining for seven carries. However, Creecy and Dayes averaged 5.7 yards per carry and Dayes scored a rushing touchdown against the Chippewas.
“I’m just blessed to have a chance to go out there with my teammates and perform with them and just play for the guy next to me,” Thornton said. “It’s an opportunity given to me by these great coaches and I just want to seize the moment.”
After using end-around runs and jet sweeps to great effect against Clemson, offensive coordinator Matt Canada ran both plays early often against the Chippewas.
State’s receivers took advantage of their opportunities. Junior receiver Brian Underwood picked up 42 yards on three carries and senior receiver Rashard Smith added 41 more yards on his five rushes.
“I thought the coaches had a good game plan, especially early with the jet sweeps we had going and misdirection plays,” Doeren said.
State’s potent outside rushing attack spread out the Chips’ defense, opening gaps for State’s running backs in the inside rushing game.
The effectiveness of these plays was visible on Thornton’s touchdown run. Junior quarterback Pete Thomas faked a jet sweep handoff to Smith, who was in motion to the left. The Chips’ linebackers and safeties bit on the fake, running to the sideline to stop Smith’s supposed run.
This game Thornton all the room he needed in the middle of the field. The sophomore burst through a hole in the line and outran the defense to the end zone.
Underwood also had a memorable game for the Pack. Along with his 42 rushing yards, the junior added 148 receiving yards on five receptions to his total against the Chips. Underwood accounted for 190 of State’s 483 total yards on the night.
With Central Michigan’s defense preoccupied with stopping State’s rushing attack, Thomas exploited the Chippewas through the air. The junior completed 14 of his 20 passes for 244 yards and late touchdown to Underwood.
The 80-yard strike to Underwood was Thomas’ first career touchdown pass for the Pack. The score capped off fine performance from Thomas, who praised his teammates and coaches for their efforts.
“I think coach Canada and the whole offensive staff came up with a great game plan,” Thomas said. “I think we executed it fairly well. We have a lot of playmakers who, if we get the ball in their hands, can make plays and they showed that today.”
State’s defense was equally impressive on Saturday. The Pack shut out the Chippewas until the fourth quarter and only let CMU convert two of 12 third downs.
The Pack’s defensive unit even found a way to get on the scoreboard. On the Chips’ second play of the game, senior linebacker D.J. Green intercepted a pass and took it 37 yards to the end zone for State’s first score of the game.
“We played well today as a defense,” Caldwell said. “But there were some plays where we lacked discipline and didn’t finish through the play.”
Smith, along with providing 80 yards of total offense for the Pack, also produced for State on special teams. The senior took a punt return 67 yards to the house in the second quarter as part of 38 unanswered points by the Pack through the first three quarters.
