After a gut-wrenching home loss to Boston College over the weekend, the road doesn’t get any easier as the NC State football team heads to Kentucky for a bout with ACC newcomer Louisville.
Saturday’s 30-14 loss to the Eagles came as a surprise to Wolfpack fans. After an embarrassing performance at Clemson two weeks ago, a trip home seemed like just the right medicine. Instead, the Wolfpack (4-3, 0-3 ACC) go into Saturday’s showdown with Louisville (5-2, 3-2 ACC) having lost 11 straight conference games. A matchup with the Cardinals is a tough task, one in which State will need to play its best to have any shot at pulling out a victory.
“For us, it’s week eight,” NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren said at the weekly ACC Coaches Press Conference. “I think all of our focus has to be on what’s in front of us and not what’s behind us.”
Redshirt junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett had an average outing against the Eagles, going 14-for-30 with 174 yards, one score and one interception. Running backs Matt Dayes and Shadrach Thornton combined for 38 yards on 10 carries, well below their season averages. The offense won’t catch many breaks this weekend against a stout Cardinal defense.
“Louisville has a really good defense,” Coach Doeren said. “The No. 1 defense in college football giving up only 14 points a game, 230 yards and 60 yards rushing a game.”
Louisville relies on its defensive presence. The Cardinals’ defense has forced 13 interceptions, seven of which have come at the hands of sophomore safety Gerod Holliman. Louisville boasts the top-ranked rushing defense in the nation along with the third best scoring defense, so if the Wolfpack wants to score often, it needs to be extra creative.
“They’re going to pressure a lot, Doeren said. “They mix their coverages and have multiple fronts. Our offensive coaches are excited about the challenge, and our players will be too.”
The Cardinals come into Saturday’s matchup off a 23-17 loss in Death Valley to Clemson. Louisville outgained the Tigers on offense 264-229, but their Achilles heel came in the form of their third down offense as they went 1-for-17 on the day for third down conversions. The two-quarterback system Louisville runs will be sure to keep the Wolfpack defense on its toes.
“Offensively, [Louisville] Coach Petrino is a very good play caller,” Coach Doeren said. “Both quarterbacks are playing, and they’re very different from each other, so we’ll have to be ready for whichever QB steps out onto the field.”
In light of the seven suspended players, including defensive starters Jerod Fernandez and Josh Jones, the Wolfpack defense will start true freshman Airius Moore at linebacker. With this move, the defense gets younger, but it also loses the experience and leadership Fernandez brought. Off-the-field issues haven’t kept Coach Doeren from keeping his players motivated, however.
“I just hate losing,” Coach Doeren said. “I’m just like these guys; I hate it, and I want so badly to win, and I want them to win and to taste the rewards of their hard work. I love my players, and I’ll never quit on my guys.”
After Saturday’s trip to Louisville, the Pack has a bye week before traveling north to New York to take on the Syracuse Orange.
