Holliday: Special teams rule as NC State and UNC escape

By Bob Holliday, WRAL Sports contributor

NC State survived a defensive battle. UNC prevailed in a record setting track meet. The Wolfpack headed east while the Tar Heels traveled west to the high country. Yet their respective wins, both by the slimmest of margins, had much in common. Most notably the importance of special teams.

First, let’s set the stage. Both State and Carolina played highly motivated rivals with programs that are most definitely bowl worthy. Both the Wolfpack and the Tar Heels competed before record-setting crowds—more than 51,000 at East Carolina and more than 40,000 at App State. It’s hard to imagine a more difficult early season environment for either team.

Both the Pack and the Heels survived thanks to the kicking game. NC State blocked a punt for a touchdown. ECU missed an extra point to tie the game and a field goal to win the game.

UNC made two important field goals in two tries. App State missed a field goal. The Tar Heels returned an onside kick for a touchdown. The Mountaineers meanwhile, gained 649 yards but could not score on two attempts at two-point conversions from the three yard line; one to potentially win the game, and the other to force overtime.

So State and Carolina remain undefeated, though by the disparate scores of 21-20 and 63-61. Both teams have issues: goal line offense and pass defense for NC State; tackling and coverage for UNC. But now Dave Doeren and Mack Brown can push for improvement without the sting of defeat in those dramatic road games in Greenville and Boone.

Good win, disappointing performance for the Pack

Tyler Baker-Williams intercepted a Holton Ahlers pass on the game’s second play. Then the Wolfpack offense promptly went three and out. Dave Doeren at halftime bemoaned his team’s inability to capitalize on turnovers—Shyheim Battle picked off a second pass in the second quarter that also went unredeemed. Meanwhile ECU did take advantage of a rare Devin Leary interception. Jireh Wilson brought it back to the State 27. Four players later, the Pirates scored what would have been the tying touchdown but for the extra point. NC State committed a second costly turnover when Jordan Houston fumbled on the EC one yard line.

Most of the question marks attached to this team in preseason pertained to the skill positions with the departure of the two top running backs and leading receiver Emeka Emezie. Apart from the fumble, Houston ran adequately, 55 yards in 15 carries. The Wolfpack got a big boost from new running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye. The 210 pound sophomore broke off a 24 yard touchdown run late in the first half to put the Pack up 21-7. He popped off an eye opening 22 yard run in the fourth quarter that gave State a first and goal at the one.

Demie Sumo remained in the game after his 22 yard run, but was stuffed on first down. He gained two feet on second down but was still short of the goal by inches. State then suffered a couple of tough breaks. Leary, who almost never lines up under center, suddenly rushed to the line of scrimmage and followed Grant Gibson into the end zone, only to have the play called off. The official wanted to reset the ball. He moved it a couple of inches and the game resumed. With the element of surprise gone, Leary lined up in shotgun as usual and handed to Demie Sumo who looked likely to score; but no, ECU called a late time out just before the snap. Demie might have nosed in when third down finally took place, but the official on the field ruled him down just shy of the goal and replay was inconclusive. On fourth down ECU overpowered the Pack’s now predictable handoff from shotgun, and that was that.

NC State, understandably, has made running the football a priority this fall to relieve some of the burden on Leary; but with trying to power in four straight times-six actually, counting the two snaps canceled by the officials-the Wolfpack missed an opportunity to stretch the field with some kind of play action, or to kick a field goal. Seven points there or even three would have changed the game entirely.

Sumo-Karngbaye with 79 yards on 14 carries helped push the Pack to 133 yards rushing for the afternoon. But State will need more from its ground game—150 plus at least—while Leary acclimates to some new receivers in the patterns.

Leary spread the ball around Saturday finding nine different targets. But aside from a 24 yard pass to Thayer Thomas and a 24 yard pass to Keyon LeSane, all of his passes went for fewer than 20 yards. Also, State’s established deep threats Thomas and Devin Carter caught a combined four passes for 56 yards on State’s first touchdown drive, but were largely held in check thereafter. Maybe this explains Leary’s subpar performance? The ACC preseason player of the year was just 17-33 for 211 yards and one touchdown. Especially given that he threw an interception, his numbers in Greenville were well below the norms he established in 2021.

The best part of NC State’s team is supposed to be its defense. Even that unit with ten starters back had some issues. The Wolfpack did a good job containing ECU’s potent ground game. Holton Ahlers is a very good running quarterback, which makes it difficult to key on running backs Keaton Mitchell and Rahjai Harris. However, the two RB’s were limited to a combined 59 yards on 22 carries.

But Ahlers, who rushed five times for 57 yards, torched the Wolfpack through the air. ECU did a good job of forcing State’s stout linebackers into coverage mismatches against quick backs and wide receivers. The Pirates were also able to throw downfield against State’s veteran secondary.

So while the Wolfpack offense converted just 4-13 third downs, ECU moved the chains 9 times in 17 tries, amassing nearly 400 yards. The Pack also committed 8 penalties for 73 yards.

One other negative note. Payton Wilson got hurt again early in the second quarter. He remained on the sidelines during the entire second half.

Bottom line, ECU moved the ball well enough to win the game. An elite defense should not allow that to happen.

NC State gets a chance to regroup on both sides of the ball this week against Charleston Southern at Carter-Finley Stadium. State should dominate on both sides of the ball.

Drake Maye leads Heels to rare road win

A Twitter meme I saw depicts a caricature of Drake Maye carrying a 1000 pound gorilla on his shoulders. Truly, the freshman sensation is not getting much help from his defense.

After allowing 279 yards passing and 24 points to a Florida A&M team that could not score a single touchdown against Jackson State, the Tar Heel defenders gave up 649 yards and 61 points to Appalachian, 40 of those coming in a record setting, really astonishing fourth quarter.

UNC’s tackling troubles began early. App State was backed up on its own 20, facing a second and 25. Chase Brice threw a swing pass to Eli Wilson. Cam’Ron Kelly was in perfect position and took the receiver down. Except that Wilson landed on Kelly, rolled and never touched the ground. He alertly leaped up and kept going, dashing for 27 yards and a first down. It was all downhill for the Mountaineers after that.

Well, until the second quarter. Then the Tar Heels began playing like a Gene Chizik defense. Cedric Gray nailed Brice on a third down quarterback draw. The Mountaineers missed a 51 yard field goal. Then Carolina forced an actual punt on the next series, and thanks to Maye, led 28-21 at the half.

There was more two way football in the third quarter. Maye ran for a touchdown and directed the offense to a pair of Noah Burnette field goals. The defense produced two more stops. ASU drove to the Tar Heel 32, but Kaimon Rucker sacked Brice on fourth down. On the next series, Gray feinted a pass rush but then dropped back into coverage. He intercepted Brice’s pass and returned It to the App 28. That’s when Burnette booted the second field goal.

But with UNC up 20 as the fourth quarter began, the Tar Heel defense appeared to let up. That was all App needed. The Mountaineers drove 71 yards in 8 plays. 41-28. Thus began the great fourth quarter—and I like Gene Chizik’s word for what happened—“implosion.”

Maye fumbled on the next offensive possession. His only big mistake all season. App State quickly made it 41-35 and the race to 60 was on.

UNC’s offense spent very little time on the field in the fourth quarter-that was part of the defensive “implosion” I think. The Tar Heels scored touchdowns on a three play drive and a five play drive that consumed a collective two minutes and 22 seconds. UNC also had a six play, 2:34 drive that ended in a punt. That punt allowed Appalachian to tie the game on a three play 46 second possession. You get the idea.

UNC is supposed to have more depth defensively this season but we didn’t see that Saturday. The Tar Heels were on their heels the entire fourth quarter. Not only did they allow multiple chunk plays and miss tackles, they committed penalties. Big ones. UNC racked up a defensive holding, a late hit, and a face mask infraction, all within the span of a few minutes. UNC was assessed 130 yards on the day, almost all of it on the defensive end.

Stretched out by an explosive offense the entire fourth quarter, and unable to defend the full field, the Tar Heels did rise to the occasion in the confined space of the two point conversion. The Tar Heels rushed Brice on the first conversion and he overthrew an open receiver. On the second attempt, Brice kept the ball on the zone read. Noah Taylor stopped Brice on the one yard line with help from Rucker. Special teams play saved the day.

But the primary reason UNC celebrated its first road win since 2020 is of course Drake Maye. Appalachian last year gave up just 348 yards and 22 points per game. Thanks to Maye, the Tar Heels piled up 567 and 63.

Carolina played without star wide receiver Josh Downs, who suffered a knee injury back in Week Zero. So Maye made some new connections, notably J.J. Jones and Koby Paysour who caught a combined 12 balls and Maye’s first two touchdown throws.

Maye repeatedly demonstrated an ability to read the defense and quickly find the open man. He completed 24 o5 35 passes to 8 different receivers. Maye was sacked three times and threw under pressure on other occasions. He never saw his touchdown pass to D.J. Jones, as he took a huge hit on that play. But often his mobility made it difficult for the App State defense to contain Maye, whether passing or running. The quarterback rushed 12 times for 76 yards, which made it easier for Caleb Hood, George Pettaway, and Omarion Hampton to get their yards-138 in all.

Georgia State this weekend gives UNC one more chance to figure things out before the big home game against Notre Dame September 24. South Carolina scored 35 points against the Panthers, but did not take the lead for good until midway through the third quarter and the Gamecocks needed a couple of blocked punt touchdowns to hit 35; otherwise it was a 21-14 game. UNC and Maye should exceed South Carolina’s meager 306 yards of total offense against the Panthers.

The big question of course lies on the other side of the ball. Now, UNC will be better prepared this week. The Tar Heels had not seen Appalachian in 2022 and the Mountaineers added some new wrinkles, including RPO’s (run-pass option) that were not on video of their 2021 games. Chizik and the UNC defense will be able to see what Georgia State did against South Carolina last Saturday. The Panthers ran for 200 yards against a good defense. At the same time, Georgia State completed just 7-29 passes for 111 yards. Bottom line, UNC should have a better grasp of what it faces this week and won’t be playing in such a frenzied environment as Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The Georgia State Panthers gave Carolina a close game at Kenan for two periods last season before the Tar Heels blew it wide open in the third quarter to win 59-21. After Saturday’s thriller at the Rock, UNC could use a game where the outcome is NOT dependent on special plays by special teams.