Holliday: One-of-a-kind Wolfpack win keeps lofty hopes alive
Posted October 12, 2022 9:04 a.m. EDT
Devin Carter left the game with an injury. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye followed suit. Devin Leary landed awkwardly after taking a shot on a pass play. He finished the game on the sideline, his arm in a sling.
NC State failed to convert a single third down in the first half, and then had to attempt a comeback without three of its very best offensive players.
Florida State led 17-10 when Leary got hurt. To Leary’s credit, he shook off a poor first half and drove the Wolfpack 84 yards on the first possession of the second half, completing all four of his passes and giving NC State its only touchdown of the night. But then came the hit that knocked the ACC Preseason Player of the Year out of the game. Enter Jack Chambers.
The 5’10 Chambers played quarterback at Charleston Southern before landing in West Raleigh as a grad student. The one time walk on made his presence felt immediately.
On third and five near midfield, Chambers scrambled out of the pocket for a first down. Then he ran for another first down-against a fast Florida State defensive front. Chambers drove the Wolfpack into field goal range and Chris Dunn made it 17-13.
NC State’s defense forced a three and out just as the third quarter ended. The fourth began with one of the most bizarre sequences in the history of Atlantic Coast Conference football.
FSU punter Alex Mastromanno grew up Down Under playing Australian Rules football. He simply did what he’s always done – run freely for a few yards and send a booming kick far down field. Mastromanno booted the ball at his own 20, sending the pigskin inside the NC State 20, some 60 yards! Alas the line of scrimmage was the FSU 18. “Mastro” was over the line. By rule this invokes a five yard penalty. And LOSS OF DOWN! NC State got the ball just 13 yards from a go ahead touchdown.
Except the Wolfpack moved in the wrong direction. By now the proud Florida State defense understood Chambers was not a likely threat passing, coming in cold off the bench as he did. The Wolfpack’s first two plays lost 10 yards. Then came a holding penalty. And another. State faced a third and 40! To get back into field goal range the Wolfpack needed at least seven yards. Jack Chambers got those seven yards. Dunn’s field goal from 53 yards just cleared the crossbar. One point game.
After watching its defense give up a field goal on a scoring drive of MINUS 23 yards, the FSU offense tried to get in gear, but couldn’t. “Mastro” punted again, this time behind the line of scrimmage.
NC State was able to move the ball forward on what proved to be the game-winning drive. Chambers ran for 19. Then Delbert Mimms, in the game to spell workhorse Jordan Houston (24 carries for 90 yards) broke off a 14 yard run. The Pack drove inside the Seminoles’ 10 before the drive stalled. Dunn was money from 27.
Now leading 19-17, NC State simply had to hold on. Shyheim Battle picked off Jordan Travis’ pass at the FSU 40-just Travis’ second interception all season. But State’s offense couldn’t move and punted deep into Florida State territory.
The Seminoles started at their own nine with 4:44 remaining. NC State’s defense came together at halftime and vowed to shut the ‘Noles down after giving up 294 yards and 17 points in the first half. They did, but in the closing minutes FSU’s offense got some traction for the first time since the second quarter. Travis mixed runs and passes, driving to the NC State 24.
Dave Doeren began calling time outs with 51 seconds left to save some time for the Wolfpack offense in the event the ‘Noles recaptured the lead. FSU sent Lawrence Toafili off tackle for two yards, making it appear Coach Mike Norvell would soon call on kicker Ryan Fitzgerald. However news of the FSU coach’s distrust of Fitzgerald surfaced last week in the ‘Noles loss to Wake Forest. And even though the kicker made a 47 yarder in the first half, Florida State’s look on second down suggested a shot at the end zone.
Safety Devan Boykin saw a formation that he had seen before in film study; and that formation had always led to a pass. Travis threw and Boykin beat the receiver to the ball. Game over.
Here are two takeaways going forward:
NC State survived a miserable second quarter defensively.
Actually, those 15 minutes were abysmal all around – the offense couldn’t move, Leary threw a pick, and special teams gave up a 51 yard punt return in the final seconds that led to a field goal. But defense, the bedrock of this 2022 Wolfpack team struggled mightily.
It all started with Jordan Travis’ 71 yard run. State had held the Seminoles in check during the first quarter but now the ‘Noles kicked it into high gear, throwing a touchdown pass on the very next play.
The ‘Noles moved on their next possession, too. Treshawn Ward, a non-factor in the first, suddenly broke off a 39 yard run as the Pack perhaps turned its focus more toward containing the dynamic Travis at quarterback. FSU most likely would have scored again but got flagged for offensive pass interference and could not regain those 15 lost yards.
But after Leary’s interception the ‘Noles drove 72 yards in just eight plays to go up 14-3. The long Ontaria Wilson punt return to the NC State 36 led directly to the field goal that made it 17-3.
In the first half, FSU amassed 117 yards passing and a whopping 177 yards on the ground. But in the second half, the Seminoles picked up only 64 yards through the air and 29 yards rushing. NC State’s defense achieved the goal players set at halftime, holding FSU to a measly 93 yards and zero points, while forcing two critical turnovers.
Tony Gibson’s unit cannot, however, afford a bad quarter this week at undefeated Syracuse.
NC State’s running game picked up with Chambers at quarterback.
NC State rushed for just 58 yards in the first half, but tallied 124 yards after intermission, largely due to the boost from Chambers, who gained 47 yards on seven runs. However, Chambers attempted just one pass and it was incomplete.
The big news for NC State is that Devin Leary’s MRI on his injured shoulder was negative and his status is now listed as day to day. Presumably Chambers will start. However, if Leary makes rapid progress this week from his injury Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck will no doubt prepare two quarterbacks to face the hard hitting and aggressive Syracuse defense. It’s difficult to know now what Leary will be physically capable of doing in the game, and what happens if he takes a shot to the shoulder? Leary’s passing could be a factor in the game Saturday. Or not. So Beck must get Chambers ready to be his best self as quarterback.
Chambers will no doubt get reps with the first unit this week while Leary convalesces. He needs to get better acquainted with NC State’s receivers so that he can throw and complete at least some passes. The guy did, after all, throw for more than 4000 yards in his four years at Charleston Southern. Chambers can definitely help the Wolfpack get the running game going, as we saw against Florida State. Syracuse allows just 95 yards per game, and the Pack will need more than that to win in the dome.
Leary, clearly, won’t be running Saturday if he can play. But his passing would certainly make a difference against an Orange secondary that allows just 177 yards per game, tops in the ACC.
NC State’s defense will face a two pronged challenge: Sean Tucker leads the ACC in rushing averaging 109 yards per game; Garrett Shrader at QB is part runner, part passer and averages 287 yards per game in total offense. Shrader has some good receivers too.
Leary’s recovery as well as game conditions will determine how much, or if, Jack Chambers will play this week. But know this, Chambers will always have the Florida State game, where he replaced NC State’s highly regarded QB1 and led his team to a “somehow some way” come from behind victory.
If NC State can produce an encore – to use Dave Doeren’s word, a win based on “grit” – then the Wolfpack still may achieve the lofty goals players set for themselves before the season started.
