It’s a new season for the football team (2-5), according to coach Tom O’Brien. Entering the second half of the season with a 34-20 win over ECU (4-4) Saturday, it appeared last week’s return to fundamentals during the bye week was a fresh start for a previously struggling, injury-depleted N.C. State team.
“This win meant a lot to them, and it meant a lot to the staff,” O’Brien said. “We made some changes that worked out for us, and I am just really happy for these kids. They won the football game. The challenge was to play four quarters, which they did.”
The Wolfpack scored three touchdowns in under four minutes beginning with a 37-yard pass from redshirt junior quarterback Daniel Evans to redshirt freshman receiver Darrell Davis with 1:20 left in the first quarter. After an ECU fumble on its first possession after the ensuing kickoff, Evans immediately found senior receiver John Dunlap for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
Forcing a three and out after the preceding kickoff, redshirt senior defensive back Jimmie Sutton III blocked ECU’s punt and junior J.C. Neal returned the blocked punt 20 yards for a touchdown, putting the Pack up 21-0 early in the second quarter.
“They should take a lot of credit for what they did,” ECU coach Skip Holtz said. “Daniel Evans did a really good job running that team from an offensive standpoint. They protected the ball, and there’s no doubt they have a lot of talent, and they corrected a lot of mistakes they’ve been making in the first half of the season.”
But the Pirates rallied, scoring 17 points to close the first half. O’Brien used some risky play-calling that “backfired” as he called a passing play on fourth and 15, rather than allowing graduate kicker Stephen Hauschka to attempt a 50-yard field goal. Later in the half, Hauschka attempted a fake field goal that failed and set up an ECU touchdown.
“We made the decision to fake it, and they made a good play,” O’Brien said. “At that point, they hadn’t done anything against our defense. I thought it was worth the shot to keep the ball and run the clock out at the half, and if we had to, then we’d kick it again. It backfired on us.”
State went scoreless in the third quarter, and ECU connected on a field goal, making it a 21-20 State lead. According to redshirt sophomore running back Jamelle Eugene, the Pack kept its composure throughout the ECU comeback.
“The coaches kept us composed,” Eugene said. “We had a lot of faith in the locker room. We didn’t feel like they were coming back. The fans kept them in it. But on our side, we just felt like we were dominating them anyway.”
The Pack pulled away in the fourth quarter, as the defense shut out the Pirates offense, and Evans found Eugene for a 15-yard touchdown pass, and Hauschka tacked on two field goals for the 34-20 win.
Sophomore receiver Donald Bowens said the win served as an awakening for the once-struggling offense. Bowens had a career game, catching five passes for 93 yards. Davis also had a career game, catching his first touchdown pass for the Pack.
Evans also posted a career-high 335 passing yards, the most for a State quarterback since Philip Rivers passed for 475 against Kansas in the Tangerine Bowl in 2003.
According to O’Brien, the defense overcame a late first-quarter lapse and forced turnovers, a rarity in earlier games this season. Despite “getting a little bit out of whack at the end of the first half,” the defense caused two turnovers: an interception by senior defensive tackle DeMario Pressley and a fumble recovery by redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Alan-Michael Cash. The Pirates fumbled the ball four times in the game.
“We have been talking about how we haven’t been forcing turnovers,” O’Brien said. “We forced them tonight, and that really helped this football team.”
State players echoed O’Brien’s optimism after the game, saying the team is excited about redeeming itself in the “new season.”
With five conference games remaining, O’Brien said he hopes the ECU win will carry over in other rivalries and conference match-ups.
“We are looking at the season as 1-0, and the best improvement comes with the second ball game, which is next week in Raleigh,” he said.
Career Days for Wolfpack Players
Daniel Evans – 335 passing yards Donald Bowens – five catches for 93 yards, 103 kick-return yardsJohn Dunlap – eight catchesDarrell Davis – fist career touchdown on 37-yard passDeMario Pressley – first career interception
-Langdon Morris