The NC State Wolfpack squeaked out a win Thursday night in a 24-17 victory over the ECU Pirates at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The Pack almost choked away an early 17-0 lead, but in the end, they got their revenge over the in-state rival.
“I’m really proud of the guys for finding a way to win,” said NC State coach Dave Doeren. “A hard fought game and ECU played really hard. Being 1-0, with a lot of things that we can get better at, is a good place to be.”
Trouble found the Wolfpack late in the second quarter when the Pirates switched to an up-tempo, pass-heavy offense that got time just nine yards away from a tied game, before back-to-back one-yard stands on the NC State-9 sealed the win for the Pack.
“I loved the way that the defense battled there at the end,” Doeren said. “It’s great to have a goal line stand like that to win a football game.”
“We didn’t get off to the greatest start early and we were just kind of feeling our way through it,’ said ECU coach Blake Harrell. “Got a score right before the half and came out still feeling our way through it, but then we battled back here in the fourth quarter and drove down with a chance to win. Anytime you’re in a ballgame where you have the chance to go and win the game, that’s where you want to be. Obviously we need to execute, but I thought our kids fought to the end.”
For the Wolfpack, the game was also a chance to have a better showing of themselves after how last season ended.
Not only did NC State lose to the Pirates in the Military Bowl to end last season, but there was also a fight that broke out on the field at the end of it too.
“I felt like we tarnished our reputation,” Doeren said. “It was a game that really hurt me seeing the way our guys couldn’t stop the run. It was an embarrassing thing as a head coach who considers himself a guy who knows how to play defense. Then having the actions that we did afterward was embarrassing.
“This game wasn’t about ECU. It was about us playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played. Respecting the game, respecting each other, respecting the university that we play for, the fans, the guys in the locker room, the guys who have worn the jersey. So this game was about getting our identity back and playing ‘Hard, Tough, Together’ football.”
NC State is still looking to reclaim their big-play identity on defense, but the way they performed against the run was promising.
Graduate linebacker Caden Fordham led the way for the defense with the lone sack as well as 11 total tackles. It was the captain’s first game back since suffering a season-ending knee injury in practice last season.
“Anytime you can get back to the sport you love and be able to play in any situation is such a blessing,” Fordham said. “It was so much fun going out there with my brothers, fighting and getting the win.”
While the run defense was good, the way the secondary performed? Well, that’s a different story.
The Pirates totaled just 30 yards on 29 rush attempts, but there was a lot to like about the passing game.
ECU racked up 383 yards through the air as Katin Houser completed 30 of 44 passes and five different receivers eclipsed 40 yards.
“The first couple of drives we were just trying to figure out what they were doing, but once we got that figured out toward the second half, I felt like we were rolling and in a rhythm,” Houser said. “I felt we just ran out of time there. Had a chance to win the game, we just didn’t capitalize.”
NC State had a good offensive outing as well though, with 105 yards on the ground and 318 yards through the air, but the team failed to convert on a few key drives, especially late.
“I thought we stalled out in the red-zone several times with penalties and tackles for loss,” Doeren said. “We’d have an explosive play to get down there, then all of a sudden, we’d be going backwards. Lots to improve on on offense. A lot of good things, but our goal is to score 31 or more, so we were a touchdown short of our goal in this game.”
There was a lot to like though from sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey, who had both a rushing and passing touchdown in the win.
A big thing that Doeren had talked about with Bailey was his added weight, with the QB having put on over 20 pounds over the offseason, and that work showed as he shook off a tackle attempt by ECU senior linebacker DJ Johnson Jr. (224lbs) for the Pack’s first touchdown of the season.
“He’s just very poised, he’s got a lot of confidence and he sees the game,” Doeren said on his quarterback. “It’s slowing down for him and he trusts his guys and has chemistry with his guys.”
The pack also did a good job of sharing the ball, with seven different receivers coming away with catches. Freshman wide receiver Teddy Hoffman was a definite point of interest as the first-year player had five catches for 93 yards, including a big 50-yard reception.
There’s still a good bit that NC State will need to clean up before next week’s matchup against Virginia, but it’s hard to complain about being 1-0.
