Holliday: NC State bounces BC, but can't sleep on Miami
Posted October 20, 2021 9:48 a.m. EDT
In the rain at Chestnut Hill, NC State’s highly acclaimed defense appeared to have finally met its match. Boston College unleashed 215 pound Patrick Garwo, a powerful back who ranks among the ACC’s top rushers. On BC’s opening drive, Garwo bulled his way for eight yards on his first carry. Then he bludgeoned his way through the NC State secondary, breaking tackles and running over one would be defender on a chunk run of 18 yards. Soon after, the Eagles scored as Dennis Grosel passed to Trae Barry, yet another in BC’s seemingly endless line of great tight ends.
On the next series, Garwo bolted through a huge hole opened by the veteran Boston College offensive line. 21 more yards. Patrick Garwo gained 45 yards on his first five carries. NC State only allows 92 yards rushing for an entire game.
But then the Wolfpack defense began to adjust, getting penetration before Garwo could get his big engine started. The BC strong man would get six more carries in the game but he would gain just five more yards. On the night, NC State limited Garwo to 50 yards total, barely half his average. Boston College as a team gained just 85 yards rushing. The Eagles normally get 185. Taking away Garwo and making Boston College one dimensional played a big part in NC State’s impressive road victory.
Still, the Wolfpack had to make plays against the pass and lots of them. BC quarterback Dennis Grosel is not as big or as dynamic as the injured Phil Jurkovec, but the senior led the Eagles to an emotional overtime win against Missouri; he also passed for more than 300 yards in the near victory at Clemson. Also, the Eagles have playmakers among their receivers. Tight end Barry, Travis Levy out of the backfield, and wide outs Jaelen Gill, Joey Luchetti, and especially Zay Flowers all create problems for an opposing secondary. But NC State’s corners and safeties proved equal to the challenge; especially Devan Boykin.
The freshman from Greensboro prevented a first down on third and long at the NC State 36 with a big hit on the receiver. BC was able to extend the drive thanks to a roughing the passer call against Daniel Joseph, a verdict which replay rendered somewhat questionable. So Boykin’s services became necessary a second time. On third and three at the 14, Grosel spotted Barry in the end zone. Boykin came out of nowhere to break up that pass as well. And then kicker Conner Lytton missed a chip shot field goal.
So in the first half, when NC State’s offense yielded to the punter three consecutive times, and control of the game was very much in doubt, the Wolfpack defense preserved the 7-7 tie.
Devin Leary and the offense found success on NC State’s very first drive of course, thanks to a circus catch by the Clayton Comet, Devin Carter. I hope readers saw this catch because I can’t possibly find words to describe it. If it wasn’t a Sports Center Top Ten play Saturday it jolly well should have been.
Carter appeared on our screens again in the second quarter, as he took a pass from Leary, ran a couple of steps, dropped the ball, picked it up, and ran a few more; a nine yard gain. Officials ruled it a catch, but after looking at replay decided Carter did not take the required number of steps with clear possession of the football.
Fast forward to the frenzied finish of the first half. On second and ten at the BC 11, Leary passed to Emeka Emezie. Jason Maitre put a big hit on the Pack’s career receptions leader and the ball came loose. The Eagles recovered. But, fumble or incomplete pass?
The officials ruled incomplete pass on the field. After replay review, they allowed the call to stand. I think the officials saw a connection between the Carter play and the Emezie pass. In both cases, the receiver took two steps after the ball arrived. For consistency, if Carter’s catch was an incomplete pass, so was Emezie’s—in the minds of the officials.
So NC State kept the ball, but the Wolfpack had exhausted its time outs. Leary ran on third down but failed to get out of bounds, which meant the game clock would continue ticking off the final 19 seconds of the half. With the Boston crowd still in an uproar over Emezie’s non-fumble, NC State’s field goal unit went into “Mayday Mode,” scampering onto the field and hurriedly lining up as the final seconds on the clock wound down. Perfect snap, perfect hold, and a perfect kick by Christopher Dunn—with about two ticks to spare. NC State took a 10-7 lead to the locker room. That was a huge moment in the game.
Certainly NC State got some good bounces in this rain and wind swept battle; the biggest came when BC punter Grant Carlson dropped the ball after catching the snap and taking one step. Did I mention Devan Boykin also plays on special teams? NC State’s man of the hour picked up the loose football and scurried 34 yards to the end zone. 17-7. Breathing room.
NC State’s now more relaxed offense then produced touchdowns on back to back possessions. Leary’s six yard dart to Dylan Parham off an RPO capped a 69 yard drive that took seven plays. Then Leary, who completed 16 of 24 passes without a turnover, clearly risked an interception when he floated a pass in traffic at about the 30 yard line. Thayer Thomas alertly snatched the football as two BC defenders collided, and raced away to a most unlikely touchdown.
NC State’s defense continued to dominate with Isaiah Moore intercepting a pass, and then Devon Beatty tackling Peter Stehr in the end zone for a safety.
Having failed on the road at Mississippi State, a Wolfpack win at Boston College was all important. NC State continues to control its own destiny in the Atlantic Division and has now moved to #18 in the AP Poll, two spots behind Wake Forest, which also controls its own destiny.
NC State preserved, actually enhanced its place in the hierarchy because its defense withstood the early blows from Boston College and then completely throttled the Eagles in the second half. The offense, despite a somewhat pedestrian 130 yards rushing, amassed 285 yards through the air, almost 100 yards more than Jeff Hafley’s best in the ACC pass defense normally allows. State won the turnover battle 2-0. Above all, the Wolfpack made big plays—in all three phases of the game.
Don’t overlook Miami, Wolfpack
Nobody but nobody can wake up a lifeless football team like the North Carolina Tar Heels. Georgia Tech, Florida State, and now Miami all emerged from their somnambulant conditions against the team from Chapel Hill. While Miami came up short against the Heels, the Hurricanes showed dramatic improvement from the first quarter to the fourth quarter.
Dave Doeren, don’t show your players video from the first 25 minutes, when Miami averted an early checkmate only because of a pick six, and a field goal drive comprised substantially of the opponent’s penalty yardage. NC State’s defenders shouldn’t see Miami’s moribund ground game; ditto all of freshman Tyler Van Dyke’s errant passes from the first half; nor should the Wolfpack offense see Manny Diaz’ defense get streamrolled for 28 points by the middle of the second quarter. That’s not the Miami offense and defense NC State will see Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
To get a clear perspective of the threat Miami poses to NC State’s sudden emergence in the national rankings, roll the game tape as Miami starts a 75 yard drive while trailing by 18 points. Watch the 6’4 Van Duke throw crisp passes to Xavier Restrepo and Keyshawn Smith. Check out the freshman running back Jaylan Knighton, finally getting a chance to show his quick burst because of an injury to Cam’Ron Harris. Fast forward through Van Dyke’s freshman mistake, the interception he threw with 55 seconds left in the first half that enabled UNC to go up 31-17. But do show Carter Johnson’s sack of Sam Howell – one of four in the game by the Canes – which forced Carolina to kick a field goal when moments before a touchdown appeared possible.
As for the second half Wolfpack Nation, I suggest before you prematurely chalk this one up as an easy NC State victory, that you do a deep dive into the plays Miami made in all three phases of the game in last Saturday’s second half. The Hurricanes dominated the final 30 minutes and did everything but win the game.
Here’s some of what stood out:
Knighton and Van Dyke, as freshmen, have no fear of getting behind schedule. Facing a third and 17, Knighton darted seven yards, and then Van Dyke on fourth and 10, ambled his way to a first down, setting up a touchdown two plays later. Van Dyke doesn’t look that fast but he rushed nine times for 36 yards, second only to Knighton’s 92 in the area of rushing proficiency during the Canes’ most recent game.
Van Dyke really spreads the ball around. In addition to Smith and Restrepo, Charleston Rambo, Mike Harley, tight end Will Mallory, and Knighton, all caught passes Saturday. Xavier Restrepo! Charleston Rambo! Two of the great names in ACC football for sure.
NC State must be aware of Knighton catching passes out of the backfield. Against UNC, he caught one for 12 yards and another that he took 60 yards to the house.
Miami’s 97 yard drive late in the fourth quarter was something to behold. Van Dyke converted three times on third and long, including a third and 21 at the UNC 25. After Knighton’s four yard touchdown, Van Dyke then passed for two with Rambo making a nice leaping grab.
Defensively, Miami shut North Carolina down over the final 23 minutes. The Canes stopped the Tar Heels cold on third down, forcing four punts. UNC’s only touchdown during that span was a result of Sam Howell’s individual brilliance and one huge Miami penalty. The Canes had actually stopped Carolina at midfield, but 6’5 freshman safety James Williams got flagged for roughing the passer. In the first half Williams was cited for roughing the kicker. UNC scored the eventual winning touchdown after Williams roughed the passer. The Tar Heels drove for seven points rather than settling for a field goal after Williams hit Grayson Atkins. That’s 11 extra points for UNC as a result of Williams’ penalties. So yeah, Miami didn’t win in Chapel Hill but easily could have.
Miami has been labeled a disappointment at 2-4, but two of the losses came against Top 10 teams. The loss to Virginia occurred when Andy Borregales’ potential game winning field goal smacked the upright. The program lost star quarterback D’Eriq King for the season with an injury suffered in the Michigan State game. Diaz then tried Jake Garcia at quarterback against Central Connecticut before deciding to go with Van Dyke.
300 yards of total offense from Van Dyke in his first ever road start drew plaudits from the Canes’ head coach. And Diaz added: “With these guys, the way they fight, I know the reward is coming.”
NC State, which must now make a long flight south after making a long trip north last week, can only hope the Miami reward doesn’t come Saturday night in Coral Gables.
