Many around the country believe that the NC State football team’s 35-28 loss to South Carolina shows that the Pack (0-1) will be riddled with the same problems of the past: a lack of discipline in easy wins, the inability to finish close games and a less-than-desirable kicking game. However, this year NC State has a senior-heavy squad that showed flashes of greatness in Charlotte. The Wolfpack still might be able to win nine or even 10 games.
For starters, redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley and the Pack’s offense racked in 504 total yards of offense. Finley threw for 415 passing yards, tallied three total touchdowns, two passing and one rushing, and totaled a school-record 45 completions.
Senior all-purpose back Jaylen Samuels garnered a ton of action, tying the program’s single-game reception record with 15 catches for 85 yards. Nine different NC State players had a reception in a game where the offense shined and showed some promise for the remainder of the season.
The defense, despite several miscues that led to South Carolina Gamecock (1-0) touchdowns, held South Carolina to just 246 yards of total offense. The Wolfpack will soon return senior cornerback Mike Stevens, who should bring some stability and control back to a defensive backfield that was shaky at times, but also showed signs of strength.
Redshirt senior cornerback Johnathan Alston, in his first game since switching from wide receiver, hauled in an interception. He and senior defensive back Shawn Boone also combined for two sacks. The defense played its best football late in the game against the Gamecocks, holding South Carolina scoreless in the fourth quarter, carrying momentum into Saturday against Marshall.
The Wolfpack has potential to win at least eight games this year, and maybe more if it can find a way to beat any of the three football powerhouses on its schedule. Luckily for the Pack, the matchups against Louisville and Clemson are at home; and its road game against Florida State will feature a Seminoles team without star quarterback Deondre Francois, who is out for the remainder of the year with a leg injury. If this senior-filled Wolfpack can play a full 60 minutes, it can still reach nine or more wins.
Before South Carolina, some were picking NC State as a dark horse to win the loaded ACC Atlantic division and to contend for a spot in the college football playoff. Those predictions might be a bit of reach. However, a nine or 10-win season is in reach for the Pack, including ending in a bowl game against a top-tier opponent. NC State can take the next step to becoming a contender under head coach Dave Doeren.
While the loss to the Gamecocks featured many mistakes by the Pack, it’s nothing the team can’t fix. The defensive backs will continue to learn and with Stevens returning, the secondary will progress nicely. Ball control will definitely be practiced after two fumbles arguably costed the Pack a season-opening win.
One problem that could limit the Pack is one that disrupted its season, especially late in the game against Clemson: kicking. Graduate transfer kicker Carson Wise missed his only field goal, a 29-yard attempt, but made all four of his extra points. While the field goal ended up not determining the victor, mistakes like that could cost the Pack, and possibly a chance at a bowl game; a problem many fans would like to forget from years past.
The Wolfpack will look to get off on a good start for the rest of the season this Saturday in the home opener against Marshall.
