The NC State Wolfpack defeated the South Florida Bulls by a lopsided score of 49-17 on Saturday to achieve its first road win since September, 2012. The Bulls managed just 159 offensive yards while the Pack compiled numbers of video-game proportions with 589 total yards. Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, played host to the Pack’s beat down of the Bulls.
Saturday’s contest marked junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s first game back in Florida since 2012. The Bulls’ crowd of more than 27,000 fans paled in comparison to the number of attendees at Brissett’s home games in The Swamp as a Florida Gator. Nevertheless, Brissett returned in style, as he threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior running back Shadrach Thornton and sophomore running back Matt Dayes had their way on the ground once again on Saturday. Thornton ran for 70 yards and one touchdown, while Dayes dashed his way to 129 all-purpose yards, and also won a touchdown.
The typical instigators of Thornton and Dayes were also joined by senior running back Tony Creecy and redshirt freshman running back Dakwa Nichols. Creecy recorded 81 all-purpose yards off of 10 carries and 2 receptions, while Nichols flashed out of the backfield for an 18-yard burst in the fourth quarter. The four backs dominated with 263 rushing yards.
Sophomore receiver Bra’Lon Cherry got things rolling in the first quarter for the Pack, as he took the jet sweep from Brissett and raced to a 17-yard touchdown. Cherry would also rush for another touchdown and be on the receiving end of 17-yard score.
On the Bulls’ ensuing drive, quarterback Mike White found a streaking Ryeshene Bronson, who sprinted away from the State secondary for a 75-yard touchdown.
Everything went downhill from there for the Bulls, as the Pack scored on four unanswered drives to close the half, bumping up the score to 35-7 at the break.
The Wolfpack defense impressed, no longer looking like the unit that has allowed a combined 942 yards for 57 points in their first two outings. Take away the Bulls’ first-half 75-yard bomb, and the Pack defense allowed just 19 yards in the air. The pass rush shut down White all day, as NC State recorded three sacks and forced a fumble. The Bulls struggled to get any push off the line as the Wolfpack defense stuffed South Florida for just 70 yards on the ground.
Freshman quarterback Quinton Flowers entered the game to provide the option attack for the Bulls. Flowers rolled out of the pocket, rushing two plays and passing, but was picked off on both occasions. Sophomore corner Jack Tocho and freshman safety Josh Jones were the benefactors of the speedster’s errors.
Freshman wideout Bo Hines continued to play well, as the Charlotte native hauled in three catches for 63 yards. Hines leads the team with 16 receptions for 209 yards on the year.
The rout continued the in the second half, as the Pack capped two more drives, creating six unanswered scores since the Bulls’ 75 yard pass play. With the score 42-7 in the 3rd more fans began filing out at Raymond James, which made the massive NFL stadium appear to be only populated by a couple thousand onlookers. The rest of the game looked to be something of a practice for the Wolfpack as Coach Dave Doeren began rotating his bench into the game and mercifully calling off the attack.
With the Wolfpack now 3-0 on the season, it is tempting for State fans to look ahead with optimism. NC State looks to begin ACC conference play undefeated after it takes on Presbyterian at Carter-Finley on Saturday at 6 p.m.
