Thursday Football Notebook

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Game 10: NC State (4-5, 1-4 ACC) at Syracuse (4-5, 2-3 ACC)
November 12, 2016 • 12:30 p.m. • ACC Network/ACC Network Extra
Syracuse, N.Y. • Carrier Dome (49,262)

NC STATE VS. SYRACUSE
Saturday's meeting will mark the fourth time the Pack and the Orange have met as Atlantic Coast Conference foes and the 10th meeting overall in the series. NC State posts a 8-1 record against Syracuse, with the only loss coming in the 2013 game.

The Wolfpack posts a 4-0 mark at Syracuse, 4-1 in Raleigh.

The 1997 contest, played in the Carrier Dome, was literally one for the record book. That year, the unranked Pack took the No. 13 Orange into overtime, eking out a 32-31 victory. That contest was the first overtime game in ACC history.

In 2014, the Wolfpack also had a big win at the Carrier Dome, earning the first ACC victory under Dave Doeren. The Wolfpack won that contest 24-17 with the winning TD a 82-yard pick six by DE Pharoah McKever.

Here's a look at the series history between NC State and Syracuse:

Date	Site	Result	Score
1972	H	W	43-20
1974	A	W	28-22
1977	A	W	38-0
1978	H	W	27-19
1997	A	W	32-31 (OT)
1998	H	W	38-17
2013	H	L	10-24
2014	A	W	24-17
2015	H	W	42-29

CLOSE CALLS FOR WOLFPACK
NC State has suffered its share of heartbreak in 2016. Four of the Wolfpack's five losses have been by seven points or less, two have been by four points or less and one went into overtime.

Since the beginning of ACC play in 1953, only four other Wolfpack squads have suffered more one-score losses:

1.	2006	7
2.	1959	6
	1958	6
4.	1984	5
5.	2016	4

STOPPING THE RUN
NC State has put together one of the most solid run defenses in school history in 2016. If the season ended today, the 107.3 yards allowed on the ground would rank as the fifth-best mark by a Wolfpack squad since 1953.

Here's a look at the top run defenses ever at NC State:

Rk.	Year	Rush Tds. Allowed
1.	1953	98.3
2.	2004	102.4
3.	1988	103.6
4.	2005	107.2
5.	2016	107.3

STOPPING THE RUN, Part 2
The Wolfpack rush defense mark of 107.3 yard allowed per game ranks 9th in the FBS (3rd in the ACC).

Four 2016 opponents have been held to less than 70 rushing yards: William & Mary, Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Florida State.

The 163 rushing yards by Louisville was the most against the Wolfpack all season at that time. However, that mark was 142.7 yards less that what the Cardinals were averaging on the ground heading into the contest (305.7 rushing ypg).

In the past three years combined, NC State has held 13 opponents to less than 70 rushing yards - four this year, four in 2015 and a school-record five in 2014.

RECEIVERS ROLL
In 2015, wide receivers accounted for just 46% of the Wolfpack's total receptions (114/246). This season, the Wolfpack's young wideouts are playing a bigger role in the passing game.

Heading into Game 10, 59% of the team's receptions have had wide receivers as the target. Although the team is still led in receiving by TE/FB Jaylen Samuels (37-356), Nyheim Hines has moved into 2nd place with 31 grabs and wide receivers have caught 111 of 187 passes for the season.

Almost half of the Wolfpack's 114 receptions by wide receivers last season (53) were caught by players who are not seeing action in 2016. Senior Jumichael Ramos was the second-leading receiver on the team last year (leading all WRs) with 34 grabs. He underwent knee surgery this summer and will redshirt this year.

Johnathan Alston had 18 receptions last season before moving to cornerback during spring drills.

DAYES CLOSES IN ON 1,000 YARDS
Heading into Game 10, senior running back Matt Dayes is just 169 yards from becoming the Wolfpack first 1,000 yard rusher since T.A. McClendon in 2002. He would be only the 8th player in school history to reach that goal and it would mark only the 11th time in school history.

Dayes currently ranks 3rd in the ACC in rushing with 92.3 yards per game. He has rushed for over 100 yards in six different contests this season and

An impressive 53% (442 of 831) of his rushing yards have come from yards after contact in 2016.

Dayes played just a quarter of the game at Louisville after getting banged up and had just 45 rushing yards versus BC when the Pack couldn't establish a running game. He hadn't played a game in 306 days before this year's season opener due to a season-ending foot injury suffered last season against Clemson (10/31/15).

KNOCK ON WOOD
NC State has been virtually injury free in 2016, with only two starters missing a total of two games due to injury in the first seven games. RT Will Richardson missed the Louisville contest after being ill, while wide receiver Nyheim Hines missed the Old Dominion game with an injury earlier this year.

Only one season-ending injury has occurred during the season this year: running back Johnny Frasier will have shoulder surgery this week and will not return.

100-YARD CLUB
Only one FBS school has had more individual players turn in 100-yard receiving games than NC State. The Wolfpack has had four different players turn in five 100-yard games in 2016: Stephen Louis (2), Nyheim Hines (1), Bra'Lon Cherry (1), Jaylen Samuels (1).

Here's a look at where the Pack ranks nationally in individual 100-yard receivers this season:

1.	Missouri	6
2.	NC State	4
	Syracuse	4
	Colorado	4
	Troy	4
	Purdue	4
	Florida State	4

This marks only the third time in school history that the Wolfpack has had four different players turn in 100-yard receiving games:

2003: Jerricho Cotchery, Tramain Hall, Sterling Hicks, T.A. McClendon
2012: Tobais Palmer, Quintin Payton, Bryan Underwood, Mario Carter
2016: Stephen Louis, Nyheim Hines, Bra'Lon Cherry, Jaylen Samuels.

HINES ON THE CATCH
Nyheim Hines has caught first in the Wolfpack last two outings, tallying 17 catches for 176 yards in the games versus Boston College and Florida State combined.

His 11 catches versus the Seminoles was the most for a Pack player this season and ties as the fifth-highest total in school history and
his 124 yards was the second-highest for a Pack player this season.

Hines has moved into second on the team in catches with 31 - most for a wide receiver.

Players Mentioned

Johnathan Alston

Bra'Lon Cherry

Johnny Frasier

Nyheim Hines

Stephen Louis

Pharoah McKever

JuMichael Ramos

Will Richardson

Jaylen Samuels