This weekend, the NC State football team will take on the Syracuse Orange in its penultimate game of the 2015 season. The matchup will feature two teams that have significantly cooled since starting the season white-hot.
The Orange (3-7, 1-6 ACC) visits a struggling Wolfpack (6-4, 2-4 ACC) team that has not been consistent since the start of the year. After rocketing out to a 4-0 start, the Pack has struggled to get any momentum going, losing four of its last six games. Head coach Dave Doeren is happy to be back at Carter-Finley Stadium after playing six of the last eight games on the road.
“It’s great to be back at home this week,” Doeren said at his Monday press conference. “We’ve had six of the last eight games on the road, so it’s nice to be back at home, especially for Military Appreciation Week.”
The following week will be a matchup with the No. 17 UNC-Chapel Hill and the potential to solidify the team’s bowl positioning. Despite the impending game with the Tar Heels and a bowl game, Doeren will try to keep his team focused on the task at hand.
“I would hope that we don’t look ahead,” Doeren said. “They just played great against Clemson Saturday, so I definitely think that will get our guys’ attention. All of our attention is focused on getting win number seven this week.”
In the most recent game against Florida State, the Wolfpack jumped out to an early 17-7 lead in Tallahassee, Florida, but failed to score after the first quarter and fell to the Seminoles 34-17. Despite the loss, Doeren remained optimistic, focusing on the positives from the game.
“I was excited about the way we started in the first half,” Doeren said. “Our defense also played well; we forced some turnovers in the game.”
Syracuse, much like the Wolfpack, has been struggling after a quick start to the season. Even though Syracuse started the season 3-0 with an early conference win, the Orange has failed to capitalize, losing the last seven games, including a 37-27 to No. 1 Clemson. Despite the recent struggles, Doeren acknowledged that Syracuse should not be taken lightly.
“We’re playing a Syracuse team that played Clemson tough,” Doeren said. “They are starting their third-string quarterback, but he played very well when the team played against LSU early this year.”
The group to watch for the Orange will be not the defense or the offense, but the special teams unit. The Orange are third in the conference in terms of punt return yards, and according to Doeren, run trick plays on punts and field goal attempts.
As for the Wolfpack, senior defensive end Mike Rose will look to make his impact on the game. The Fountain Inn, South Carolina native has registered 10.5 sacks through 10 games and is considered a candidate for first team All-ACC. Doeren also recognized the stellar season the defensive end is having.
“I hope he gets conference recognition for his performance,” Doeren said. “In the league, [Rose] is one of the best defensive ends.”
The Wolfpack and the Orange meet Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium, with both teams hoping to have their homestretch of the season end on a strong note. After, the Pack hosts arch-rival UNC-Chapel Hill for a showdown in the regular season finale for both teams.
