Thursday Football Notebook
10/22/2015 8:49:00 AM | Football
RSN Affiliates | Game Day Central
Game 7: NC State Wolfpack (4-2, 0-2) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-4, 1-3)
October 24, 2015 • 12 p.m. • RSN/ESPN3
Winston-Salem, N.C. • BB&T Field (31,500)
WOLFPACK VS. DEACONS
In the history of NC State football, the Wolfpack has played the Wake Forest Demon Deacons more than any other team. Saturday's game will mark the 109th meeting between the two squads, with NC State holding a 64-38-6 advantage. The Pack has won 14 of the last 15 meetings with Wake at Carter-Finley Stadium, with the only home loss since 1984 coming in 2006. Overall at home, State has posted a 43-21-5 mark.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Ever since the Wolfpack reeled off nine straight wins in the series against Wake Forest from 1988-96, both teams have held serve on their home fields over the last 18 years. Dating back to the 1997 season, the home team in the series is 16-2.
The Pack has lost the last five games played on the Deacons' home field, with the last victory a 17-14 win in 2001.
RUNAWAY DAYES
In the past 45 years (dating back to the 1970 season) only four NC State running backs have compiled more than 500 yards rushing through the first six games of a season. One of those is Matt Dayes, who checks in with 588 yards midway through his junior campaign.
Dayes is attempting to became the Pack's first 1,000 yard rusher since T.A. McLendon accomplished the feat in 2002. If he were to break that mark, it would mark only the fourth time NC State has had a 1,000 yard rusher since 1984.
Here is a list of the top NC State rushers after six games in a season:
GOOD BYE
During Dave Doeren's three seasons as head coach at NC State, the Pack has posted a record of 7-2 in games when his staff has had more than a week to prepare. Those games include season openers, bye weeks, a bowl game and a Thursday night contest.
In addition to winning each of the last five such contests (1-0 this season and 4-0 last year), NC State won a pair of road ACC contests last season after both of its bye weeks - at Syracuse (24-17) and at North Carolina (35-7). The only two losses under Doeren with more than seven days to prepare have been to teams ranked in the top 3 in the national polls. Here is a list of all the games during Doeren's tenure where the Pack had more than a week to prepare:
STRIKING A BALANCE, SEASON 2
NC State fielded the most balance offense in the FBS last season, rushing for 204.5 yards per game and gaining 204.0 passing yards per contest. With 5,311 yards of total offense, the difference between the rush and the pass was just seven yards (2,659 rushing, 2,652 passing).
This season, the Wolfpack is once again one of the most balanced squads in the FBS, averaging 206.3 rushing yards and 195.7 passing yards per game.
OH BROTHER
The third name down on the Wolfpack's defensive stat sheet is "B.Chubb." The first name listed on Wake Forest's defensive stats is also "B. Chubb." The Wolfpack's version of "B. Chubb" is sophomore Bradley, who spent last season at linebacker, playing mostly special teams, before earning a starter's job at defensive end. The Demon Deacons' version is Brandon - a redshirt senior linebacker who has served as team captain each of the past two seasons.
Their father, Aaron, played defensive end and outside linebacker at Georgia in the 80s, finishing his career ranked in the top 20 in school history in career tackles. He went on to play for the New England Patriots.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
It is no secret that NC State likes to spread the ball around in the aerial game, as a total of 14 players have caught a pass this season. But the majority of the Wolfpack's throws are not connecting with wide receivers. Instead, 61-of-110 passes (55.6 percent) have been caught by the tight ends, fullbacks and running backs.
FB/TE Jaylen Samuels currently leads the Pack in receptions with 27, followed by running back Matthew Dayes' total of 21. The top ranking wideout is Jumichael Ramos with 17 catches.
The last time a non-WR led the Pack in receptions was Anthony Hill (TE) in 2006, and the last time the Pack's top two receiving targets for a season were not wide receivers was in 1995 when tight ends Mike Guffie and Jimmy Grisett were tops in receptions.
FOURTH-QUARTER DEFENSE
In six games this season, the Wolfpack defense has allowed just one fourth-quarter score: a touchdown at Virginia Tech. The defense has been particularly tough in the final frame this season, allowing an average of just 3.2 first downs in the 4th.
Here's a look at the Pack's fourth quarter defense in 2015:
FIRST & GOAL = TD, WOLFPACK!
If the Wolfpack gets into a 1st & goal situation, chances are the squad is coming away with a touchdown.
Thus far in 2015, the Pack has had 18 1st & goal possessions, and has come away with a TD 16 of those times (88.9 percent).
By contrast, the Pack defense has only faced six 1st & goal possessions, allowing just three resulting touchdowns.
CONSISTENT LINE-UPS
Consistancy in the trenches has been a strong point for the Wolfpack this season, as the all but one position on each line has been held by the same starter each game.
On the offensive line, Joe Thuney (LT), Quinton Schooley (C), Tony Adams (RG) and Will Richardson (RT) have each started all six games and have played a combined 1,578 of a possible 1,728 snaps.
The only turnover on the OL has been at left guard, where Alex Barr started the first two games, then missed three with a leg injury, before retuning at Virginia Tech and playing all 70 snaps. Bryce Kennedy started game 3, while Tyler Jones started games 4 & 5.
Much like their counterparts, the Pack's defensive line has been consistant with its starting four. DEs Mike Rose and Bradley Chubb along with DT B.J. Hill have started all six games. The other DT postion has been manned by sophomores Kentavious Street (four starts) and Justin Jones (two).
Game 7: NC State Wolfpack (4-2, 0-2) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-4, 1-3)
October 24, 2015 • 12 p.m. • RSN/ESPN3
Winston-Salem, N.C. • BB&T Field (31,500)
WOLFPACK VS. DEACONS
In the history of NC State football, the Wolfpack has played the Wake Forest Demon Deacons more than any other team. Saturday's game will mark the 109th meeting between the two squads, with NC State holding a 64-38-6 advantage. The Pack has won 14 of the last 15 meetings with Wake at Carter-Finley Stadium, with the only home loss since 1984 coming in 2006. Overall at home, State has posted a 43-21-5 mark.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Ever since the Wolfpack reeled off nine straight wins in the series against Wake Forest from 1988-96, both teams have held serve on their home fields over the last 18 years. Dating back to the 1997 season, the home team in the series is 16-2.
The Pack has lost the last five games played on the Deacons' home field, with the last victory a 17-14 win in 2001.
RUNAWAY DAYES
In the past 45 years (dating back to the 1970 season) only four NC State running backs have compiled more than 500 yards rushing through the first six games of a season. One of those is Matt Dayes, who checks in with 588 yards midway through his junior campaign.
Dayes is attempting to became the Pack's first 1,000 yard rusher since T.A. McLendon accomplished the feat in 2002. If he were to break that mark, it would mark only the fourth time NC State has had a 1,000 yard rusher since 1984.
Here is a list of the top NC State rushers after six games in a season:
| Rk. | Player | Yards | Year |
| 1. | Ted Brown | 883 | 1978 |
| 2. | Joe McIntosh | 751 | 1981 |
| 3. | Stan Fritts | 644 | 1974 |
| 4. | Mtthew Dayes | 588 | 2015 |
| 5. | Ted Brown | 574 | 1977 |
| 6. | Joe McIntosh | 566 | 1983 |
GOOD BYE
During Dave Doeren's three seasons as head coach at NC State, the Pack has posted a record of 7-2 in games when his staff has had more than a week to prepare. Those games include season openers, bye weeks, a bowl game and a Thursday night contest.
In addition to winning each of the last five such contests (1-0 this season and 4-0 last year), NC State won a pair of road ACC contests last season after both of its bye weeks - at Syracuse (24-17) and at North Carolina (35-7). The only two losses under Doeren with more than seven days to prepare have been to teams ranked in the top 3 in the national polls. Here is a list of all the games during Doeren's tenure where the Pack had more than a week to prepare:
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| 8/31/13 | Louisiana Tech | W, 40-14 |
| 9/19/13 | No. 3 Clemson | L, 14-26 |
| 9/28/13 | Central Michigan | W, 48-14 |
| 10/26/13 | @ No. 2 Florida State | L, 17-49 |
| 8/30/14 | Georgia Southern | W, 24-23 |
| 11/1/14 | @ Syracuse | W, 24-17 |
| 11/29/14 | @ North Carolina | W, 35-7 |
| 12/26/14 | vs. UCF | W, 34-27 |
| 9/5/15 | Troy | W, 49-21 |
STRIKING A BALANCE, SEASON 2
NC State fielded the most balance offense in the FBS last season, rushing for 204.5 yards per game and gaining 204.0 passing yards per contest. With 5,311 yards of total offense, the difference between the rush and the pass was just seven yards (2,659 rushing, 2,652 passing).
This season, the Wolfpack is once again one of the most balanced squads in the FBS, averaging 206.3 rushing yards and 195.7 passing yards per game.
OH BROTHER
The third name down on the Wolfpack's defensive stat sheet is "B.Chubb." The first name listed on Wake Forest's defensive stats is also "B. Chubb." The Wolfpack's version of "B. Chubb" is sophomore Bradley, who spent last season at linebacker, playing mostly special teams, before earning a starter's job at defensive end. The Demon Deacons' version is Brandon - a redshirt senior linebacker who has served as team captain each of the past two seasons.
Their father, Aaron, played defensive end and outside linebacker at Georgia in the 80s, finishing his career ranked in the top 20 in school history in career tackles. He went on to play for the New England Patriots.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
It is no secret that NC State likes to spread the ball around in the aerial game, as a total of 14 players have caught a pass this season. But the majority of the Wolfpack's throws are not connecting with wide receivers. Instead, 61-of-110 passes (55.6 percent) have been caught by the tight ends, fullbacks and running backs.
FB/TE Jaylen Samuels currently leads the Pack in receptions with 27, followed by running back Matthew Dayes' total of 21. The top ranking wideout is Jumichael Ramos with 17 catches.
The last time a non-WR led the Pack in receptions was Anthony Hill (TE) in 2006, and the last time the Pack's top two receiving targets for a season were not wide receivers was in 1995 when tight ends Mike Guffie and Jimmy Grisett were tops in receptions.
FOURTH-QUARTER DEFENSE
In six games this season, the Wolfpack defense has allowed just one fourth-quarter score: a touchdown at Virginia Tech. The defense has been particularly tough in the final frame this season, allowing an average of just 3.2 first downs in the 4th.
Here's a look at the Pack's fourth quarter defense in 2015:
| Opponent | 1st Downs | Rush Yds | Pass Yds | Points |
| Troy | 8 | 2 | 35 | 0 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 0 | 12 | -2 | 0 |
| Old Dominion | 6 | 51 | 29 | 0 |
| South Alabama | 1 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| Louisville | 3 | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| Virginia Tech | 4 | 113 | 26 | 7 |
| Average | 3.7 | 34.8 | 12.8 | 1.2 |
FIRST & GOAL = TD, WOLFPACK!
If the Wolfpack gets into a 1st & goal situation, chances are the squad is coming away with a touchdown.
Thus far in 2015, the Pack has had 18 1st & goal possessions, and has come away with a TD 16 of those times (88.9 percent).
By contrast, the Pack defense has only faced six 1st & goal possessions, allowing just three resulting touchdowns.
CONSISTENT LINE-UPS
Consistancy in the trenches has been a strong point for the Wolfpack this season, as the all but one position on each line has been held by the same starter each game.
On the offensive line, Joe Thuney (LT), Quinton Schooley (C), Tony Adams (RG) and Will Richardson (RT) have each started all six games and have played a combined 1,578 of a possible 1,728 snaps.
The only turnover on the OL has been at left guard, where Alex Barr started the first two games, then missed three with a leg injury, before retuning at Virginia Tech and playing all 70 snaps. Bryce Kennedy started game 3, while Tyler Jones started games 4 & 5.
Much like their counterparts, the Pack's defensive line has been consistant with its starting four. DEs Mike Rose and Bradley Chubb along with DT B.J. Hill have started all six games. The other DT postion has been manned by sophomores Kentavious Street (four starts) and Justin Jones (two).
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballCoach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 10)
Monday, November 10
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs Georgia Tech
Sunday, November 02
FB Players Postgame Presser vs Georgia Tech
Sunday, November 02
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Oct. 27))
Monday, October 27