NC State 19 Miami 16 (OT)

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NC State FINALLY won a football game with fundamental play on Saturday.

NO TURNOVERS and a strong performance in the kicking game from Steven Hauschka provided the (suddenly) hot Wolfpack its third consecutive victory since the mid-season bye week. Hauschka hit four of five field goals on Saturday, including the 42 yard game winner in overtime. (Link to WRAL-TV’s game entry)

The game also served as Coach Tom O’Brien’s first ever win against Miami…providing his ‘Boston College critics’ a stick in the eye for criticizing O’Brien’s inability to beat Miami while in Chestnut Hill. After today, obviously the issue wasn’t the coach.

The Wolfpack’s gameplan and strategy heading into Saturday was simple – stop the run and make the worst quarterback that we will face this year beat us with the throw.

That was easier said than done as Miami controlled State’s defensive line and the Wolfpack’s linebackers failed to make key tackles throughout the day. Down three points with the ball and less than five minutes to go, Miami refused to pass the ball and hammered FIFTEEN CONSECUTIVE RUNS against a seemingly defenseless Wolfpack before needing to pass to manage the clock. Even on a key 3rd and 6 with less than three minutes to go Miami ran for 8 yards and a first down. Behind the run, Miami was able to tie the game on a field goal with 0:19 seconds remaining.

Mike Archer’s defense was able to partially mitigate the Hurricane’s running attack by intercepting Kirby Freeman three times in only fourteen attempts. Freeman managed to complete only ONE pass in regulation. That one pass was a busted play for the Wolfpack’s pass coverage and went for an 84 yard touchdown. For some inexplicable reason, the ESPNU announcers made NO mention or issue of this phenomenal statistic.

With ^this as a backdrop, the world KNEW that Miami was not going to risk throwing the ball in overtime unless the Wolfpack MADE them. Even with 3rd down and 9 yards to go in the first overtime the Hurricanes chose to run up the middle and attempt a field goal that was missed wide to the left.

The half empty Orange Bowl was relatively quiet most of the day, with the roar of “Wolf / Pack” from NC State’s crowd resonating on television as loud as any Miami cheer of the afternoon.

After two consecutive wins, the NC State of the last two seasons returned for most of the first half of the Wolfpack’s visit to the Orange Bowl today. Untimely penalties. Very poor offensive line play. Allowing inexplicable big plays on defense while otherwise containing the opponent. Even Steven Hauschka missed a 30 yard field goal after nailing 10 straight to open the season.

The Wolfpack’s offense found a little stride in the last six minutes of the second quarter. While using the pass more effectively than earlier in the game, State put together two good drives with one resulting in a touchdown and headed to halftime down only 10-7.

In the second half, State managed to keep the Hurricane defense on the field and smartly shifted to a no-huddle offense when Miami showed some fatigue. Additionally, an outbreak of dropped passes and untimely penalties impaired State drives and forced the Wolfpack to resort to kicking. With 6:55 to go in the game, place kicker Steven Hauschka hit a forty-seven yard field goal to give the Wolfpack a 16-13 lead. Hauschka has hit 3 of 4 field goals today and has consistently boomed his kickoffs deep into the end zone.

D’Andre Morgan came up large for the Wolfpack with two big pass break-ups in the end zone in the last 35 seconds of the game.

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79 Responses to NC State 19 Miami 16 (OT)

  1. GAWolf 11/04/2007 at 1:18 AM #

    Just rolled into the house from our honeymoon. Bouncing in and out of airports today and only got to see a few minutes of the Kansas game. Had no clue we won. Not a mention of it on the College Football Final show on ESPN (other than the scrolling bar at the bottom.)

    ESPNU reruns games latenight, I think. I thought we got that on Time Warner in Raleigh now? Can’t find it. Any help out there for an ESPNU channel in Raleigh?

  2. Frank 11/04/2007 at 1:29 AM #

    ESPNU is on digital cable only. They refuse to put it on regular cable. Trying to get customers for digital service probably.

  3. GAWolf 11/04/2007 at 1:30 AM #

    I have digital AND the sports package and can’t find it.

  4. Lunatic Fringe 11/04/2007 at 1:32 AM #

    I am not in Raleigh, but here is what they have on Time Warner page…

    August 30, 2007: ESPNU was added to Digital Cable (Channel 140 in the Triangle and Sandhills and Channel 125 in Murfreesboro/Ahoskie and Elizabeth City). ESPNU features all things college athletics – from college football and basketball to lacrosse and volleyball. It’s the perfect channel for the college sports fanatic. For more information, visit http://www.espnu.com.

  5. GAWolf 11/04/2007 at 1:37 AM #

    Thanks LF. I was looking on their web page and it’s about as easy to read as it is to get any decent customer service from them…

    I’ve got it. Jacksonville St and AAMU is on now. I do, however, see a college game with “no data” starting at 3:30am. I’ve got two hours of jet-lag going on so I might still be up to check it out. At the very least I’ll record it just in case.

    Thanks again for the help.

    Congrats to all the boys. Great win for them and I’m thrilled that there’s something for them to enjoy this year… I was beginning to wonder and they work way too hard to not be rewarded in some way or another.

  6. GAWolf 11/04/2007 at 1:39 AM #

    Another TBA College game tomorrow at Noon. That could be us as well. Just an FYI for those who have Thee U.

  7. Ismael 11/04/2007 at 2:01 AM #

    if u guys want to read some funny, insane stuff for 20 minutes, go read the comments on the miamiheralds website from Canes fans…i hope that NCSU achieves the national prominence that UM once had and that we as fans, never stoop to some of the levels these fans have stooped to.

    http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleges/um/story/294808.html

  8. Ismael 11/04/2007 at 2:17 AM #

    one last question…how did the OL do today..did DE have time to throw, were they opening up holes for running?

  9. MrPlywood 11/04/2007 at 3:18 AM #

    The real funny part is that I keep reading about Miami’s ACC championship hopes… huh? I wonder how exactly they planned to pull that off. Also, I didn’t see the game but I watched the clip on ESPN of the crestfallen Coker and some other schmuck with their postgame “analysis” – could Coker be any more of a Miami homer? First he says that State came into the game as “last in the nation in turnovers” – their turnover stats are bad but not that bad. Then the other guy says “a big win for Miami”… they were totally unprepared for State to win this game. Those guys need to review the impartiality clause in their contracts.

  10. PacknSack 11/04/2007 at 3:46 AM #

    So, would BC’s loss to FSU be a “bad loss in November”? I thought those days were behind them. It’ll be fun to watch the BCers, who gave TOB zero credit for their 8-0 start and Heisman hopeful, blame this on him and his legacy.

  11. PackerInRussia 11/04/2007 at 4:39 AM #

    MrPlywood, I also only was able to watch the ESPN postgame analysis (hopefully someone will (please :)) put up a torrent of the game). I didn’t realize that the big story in this game was Miami holding onto ACC title hopes rather than a team that had been winless in 1-A play for so long suddenly winning three in a row and two in league play. I may be a bit biased, but that seems like the bigger story to me.
    On another note, State is no longer last in their division. That honor belongs to the Twerps.

  12. Dogbreath 11/04/2007 at 8:23 AM #

    Obviously this didn’t make the Pravda(Statefans).com locker room report, but Hauschka said the Miami kicker “looked like an idiot” for missing the OT kick.

    Disappointed that he would make that sort of remark.

  13. jamieinkorea 11/04/2007 at 8:25 AM #

    Three in a row looks like a winning streak to me.

    I hope that it’s a trend, instead.

  14. RabidWolf 11/04/2007 at 8:38 AM #

    Rolling on, Rolling on…..NEXT!!

    How about the Daily Tarhole..errr…the N&O saying that our boys were impressive…and they impressed a couple of mini-bowl scouts…not to gat ahead of myself, but if the ‘Pack ends up making a bowl game, even the fried chicken tire bowl, TOB should be a SHOE-IN FOR COY!! If ANY other coach gets that honor, it will be the most severe case of highway robbery in history.

    TOB and his staff have done a HELL of a job righting this ship, getting these young men to buy in to his system and philosophy, and building confidence within the team. Onward Wolfpack….TRASH THE ‘HOLES!!

  15. vtpackfan 11/04/2007 at 8:56 AM #

    “Disappointed that he would make that sort of remark.”

    I was too when I first read it. Then I got to thinking, isn’t he just speaking the truth? Kickers either split the uprights and look like wizards or miss and look like village idiots. It’s how football culture view these guys, with no perspective.

    Maybe it’s seems strange coming from another kicker, but maybe also these guys a more aware of how they a viewed by many.

  16. vtpackfan 11/04/2007 at 9:04 AM #

    Noah, I listened to the game at work and thought the same as you, that Scott let one slip past him. He was the man closest to Jenkins before he crossed the end-zone. But after hearing Morgan’s comments you realize that blown assignments are not easily identifiable by spectators.

    From the comments I read leading up to now it’s seems the Morgan/Walker combination was the teams surest tackler combination. I think Scott gives you a slight edge in the passing game, which could pay off given UNC’s pass first paly calling.

    Sorry to hear about Walker, hopefully he is on the mend quickly and can see some more action.. (maybe even in Dec.!!!)

  17. Mr O 11/04/2007 at 9:35 AM #

    Maybe I have the TO margin the last three games wrong. Says +4 at Gopack.

  18. packgrad2000 11/04/2007 at 9:40 AM #

    I think Tudor is trying to jinx us because he emphatically states that we beat UNC next week: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/
    He even says that State is “going to be harder to defend than Maryland.”
    Never thought I’d hear those words coming out of ANYONE this season!

  19. Stoner 11/04/2007 at 9:54 AM #

    When we were 1-and whatever, there was some rumbling from NCSU fans that TOB was the wrong hire, basically “Football Herb”, and wanted to replace him.

    Is there anyone out there, who wants to can TOB and not give him a chance?

  20. BJD95 11/04/2007 at 10:02 AM #

    This is the kind of team that I would consider following to Boise. Make no mistake, it will be a serious coaching challenge to help our kids adapt to being the favorite (however slight) in 2 of the last 3.

  21. Astral Rain2 11/04/2007 at 10:06 AM #

    It’s still way too early to judge on a coach after one season. Herb and Chuck did similar if not better their first years- and those two didn’t end up well. Then again, so did Sid. That said, TOB’s doing a great job right now- and we still need time and patience- football programs don’t miraculously rebuild like this. That said, I can see this helping recruiting, which is what is needed at this time. The UNC game next week is huge and a trap game though- honestly, it’s the most important game of the season, perhaps decade for the program right now.

    For all we know, this could be the best TOB ever does- though I don’t think it will be.

    SFN: Astral Rain…the difference between TOB and Chuck/Herb is that TOB has been a head coach for 10 years at the very level he is competing today. “First year” success with Chuck and Herb was truly “first year” success. Big difference.

  22. noah 11/04/2007 at 10:13 AM #

    Javon Walker is going to be big-time. He and Jarvis Williams are examples of why I hope we continue to recruit Florida.

    Two guys who were completely unheralded…but who are going to be outstanding players and win us some games.

  23. Lunatic Fringe 11/04/2007 at 10:22 AM #

    “When we were 1-and whatever, there was some rumbling from NCSU fans that TOB was the wrong hire, basically “Football Herb”, and wanted to replace him.”

    The team actually compares more to last year’s basketball team…team seriously undermanned at times, plagued by injuries in key positions for the majority of the year, and a bit confused by the new system. The team kept working at it, bought into the system by the coaching staff, and played with grit/heart to put together a nice run.

    I guess that would make TOB more like a “Football Sid”. 🙂

  24. CarnifeX 11/04/2007 at 10:53 AM #

    I like the idea of the “break them down, then build them up” mentality that the coaches seem to be using. Put the team in exposed positions where they can thoroughly evaluate the talent and find weaknesses for the first half of the season; then once the team is “broken down” start building them up with play calling that plays to our strengths and conceals our weaknesses.

    I don’t know if that is really the case, but something is working for the pack now, there is a motivation/confidence/strength to what they are doing on the field. The “two halves” of the season are night and day in the product on the field.

  25. TampaPack 11/04/2007 at 10:56 AM #

    Great game – 3-0 since the break is great. Lets make it four in a row next week! Go PACK!

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