With nonconference play over, the NC State football team gears up for its first ACC game against the Louisville Cardinals Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Wolfpack (4-0, 0-0 ACC) and Cardinals (1-3, 0-1 ACC) meet each other with both programs trending in opposite directions. Following a 4-0 start, the Pack looks primed and ready for a chance to prove itself on the national stage against a quality opponent. The Cards, on the other hand, had high aspirations at the start of the season. But after narrow losses to Auburn and No. 12 Clemson coupled with a crippling home loss to Houston, the Cardinals found themselves barely treading water after three weeks of play.
“Going into Louisville, they are 1-3 obviously but have lost three close games,” NC State head coach Dave Doeren said. “You remember playing them a year ago and know that the race begins as far as what happens in the [ACC].”
Louisville did get back on track last week with a 45-3 thumping of Samford. Although the victory came over an FCS school, a win like that helps keep team morale from falling any lower than it already is.
Freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson had a solid game, completing 15-of-22 throws for 212 yards and a touchdown. Much like the Wolfpack, the Cardinals have a dual-threat athlete in Jackson, as he has carried the ball 47 times for 314 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Along with Jackson, junior running back Brandon Radcliff anchors the Cardinals’ potent ground game. Carrying the ball 52 times for 200 yards and three scores, Radcliff has been giving opposing defenses headaches this season.
The receiving corps for the Cardinals is as deep as it gets. With four receivers totaling 51 catches, 645 receiving yards and three scores, the Cardinal passing game doesn’t play second fiddle to the run game.
NC State had yet another stellar outing Saturday against South Alabama. Scoring 63 points and posting 586 total yards on offense, the Pack had no trouble dispatching the Jaguars.
Senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett had yet another solid performance, completing 18-of-23 passes for 218 yards and two scores. Junior running back Matt Dayes also shined for the Pack after tallying 150 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.
“We spread the ball around,” Doeren said. “[We had] two back with over 100 yards. We didn’t take too many shots, but the shots we took we had two good completions.”
Following the dismissal of senior running back Shadrach Thornton, offensive coordinator Matt Canada should have no problem replacing him. Needing to follow a “next man up” mentality, Dayes, sophomore fullback Jaylen Samuels and freshman running back Reggie Gallaspy II are more than capable of filling the void left by the senior back.
After allowing a South Alabama touchdown to start the game, the Wolfpack defense pinned its ears back and allowed only six points the rest of the night. Aside from their opening drive, the Jaguars converted on third down twice the rest of the game and committed three turnovers.
“I like the resolve of our team,” Doeren said. “To open the game the way we did, a poor drive by the defense, which is uncharacteristic because they’ve opened games really fast. Defensively, to get the takeaways is a big deal.”
Although sitting at 4-0, many point out the lack of competition the Pack has faced this season. It’s one thing to beat lesser teams, but beating them without turning the ball over and playing clean games has helped the Wolfpack improve as a team.
“This is a different kind of test,” Doeren said. “Our players will understand that. I think we’ll be excited to play against their football team regardless of what their record is.”
Following Saturday’s game, the Pack travels north to Blacksburg, Virginia for a Friday night showdown on Oct. 9 with the Virginia Tech Hokies. State returns to action at Carter-Finley Stadium Oct. 31 against the Clemson Tigers.
