North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes, Part II
10/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 11, 2001
# 16/18 Clemson (3-1, 1-1) at NC State (3-1, 1-1)
DATE: Saturday, October 13, 2001
TIME: Kickoff: 12:08 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 11:15 a.m. (EST)
TELEVISION: Jefferson-Pilot ACC Television Network (Regional)
THE OPPOSITION--Clemson has not seen action since its 47-44 upset of Georgia Tech on September 29th. That game was a thriller in Atlanta that featured seven lead changes after halftime. The Tigers won in overtime when Woody Dantzler ran 11 yards for a touchdown. It was one of several big plays for the Clemson quarterback.
Dantzler scrambled 38 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. Then, he pulled his team from the brink of defeat with a 63-yard scoring pass to J.J. McKelvey late in regulation. The graduate student completed 18-of-32 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. He also led Clemson in rushing with 164 yards on 25 carries -- meaning Dantzler had a hand in 418 of his team's 502 yards. Runningback Travis Zachery scored three TDs for the Tigers and threw a great block on the Dantzler's game winning TD.
The Yellow Jackets had the ball first in OT, settling for Luke Manget's 33-yard field goal after Joe Burns was stopped for no gain on third-and-one at the 16. The ball went over to Dantzler, who burned the Yellow Jackets one final time. Facing third-and-6 from the 11, he took one step back, spotted an opening up the middle and went all the way to the end zone without being touched to give the Tigers an important victory on the heels of a last-second loss to Virginia a week earlier.
Quarterback,George Godsey, guided Georgia Tech on an 87-yard, 10-play drive before Manget kicked a field goal of 20 yards with six seconds remaining to force overtime.
Burns rushed 30 times for 126 yards and scored twice, Godsey completed 17-of-27 for 216 yards, with two throws going for touchdowns, and Manget kicked four field goals. It wasn't enough for a Georgia Tech defense that had no answer for Dantzler and Zachery. The Tigers entered the game plagued by injuries -- especially to the receivers corps -- but essentially turned it into a two-man show. Zachery ran 22 times for 79 yards and caught seven passes for 46 yards. He and Dantzler were in on all but 5 yards produced by the offense.
Clemson is averaging 32.5 points and 427.5 yards a game of total offense, including 192 yards rushing per contest. The Tigers are converting a league-leading 55.6 percent of their third down opportunities and are among the least penalized teams in the ACC (30).
Dantzler leads the ACC in total offense (299.5 ypg.) and is among the league's top passers (216.5 ypg.). Zachery is averaging 67 yards rushing a game and nearly five catches a game. The Tigers leading receiver is Derrick Hamilton (23 catches, 10.1 ypc.). Clemson's offensive line has allowed 15 sacks. Only North Carolina has allowed more among ACC teams.
Defensively, Clemson has had some problems. The Tigers are allowing 24.2 points, 361 yards a game of total offense (167 rushing yards) and have sacked opposing quarterbacks only 7 times in 4 games. Leading the defense are safties, John Leake (13.5 tackles per game) and Charles Hafley (11.2 tackles per game). Linebacker, Chad Carson, is also averaging double figures in stops (10.5 tpg.).
Clemson's kicking game is good. The Tigers average 25.2 yards per kickoff return and nearly 13 yards per punt return. Their kickoff coverage is among the best in the ACC (19.7 ypr.). Georgia transfer, Wynn Popp, is averaging nearly 35 yards a punt. Sophomore Aaron Hunt has made 2 of 3 field goal attempts including a 45 yarder.
FANS GET ENERGIZED --"E.B.", the Energizer Bunny, will visit the NC State-Clemson game. "E.B." will be located near gates 11 and 12 on the East side of Carter-Finley Stadium and will be handing out Energizer coupons and other items. So, stop and see "E.B.", the Energizer Bunny, before, during or after the game. Energizer keeps going and going and going.....
NC STATE PLAYER UPDATES
RAY ROBINSON-- Posted his top rushing total of the season last week vs. WFU with 90 yards on 31 carries. One of the leading all-purpose backs in the ACC, Robinson is 7th in the league in rushing (68.0 ypg.), 8th in receptions per game (4.0), 4rd in kick returns (21.8 ypr.), and 4th in all-purpose yardage (117.5 ypg.). He leads the Wolfpack in rushing and scoring (18 points) and is No. 2 in receiving (16 catches). A 2001 preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award for the third straight year, Robinson needs 210 yards to move past Willie Burden and into 6th place on the NC State's career rushing list and 99 yards to jump past Naz Worthen and into 7th place in career all-purpose yards. He is two touchdowns away from taking 4th place in career touchdowns, passing Tremayne Stephens (25). The senior set the school record for rushing attempts in a game (40) vs. Maryland in 2000. He was the Pack's top rusher last year (788 yds.) and No. 2 receiver (41 for 366 yds) and was the '98 ACC Rookie of the Year.
PHILIP RIVERS-- The Pack's sophomore quarterback leads the ACC in passing yards per game (236.0), fewest interceptions thrown (1) and is No. 3 in the league in total offense (230 ypg.) and 6th in passing efficiency. Last week, Rivers was 20 of 32 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown vs. WFU after throwing for 306 yards and a touchdown the week before against UNC. That game marked the fifth 300 yard passing performance of his career, tying him for the school record. Eight of his completions vs. UNC were for 20 or more yards. With two (2) yards passing vs. Clemson, Rivers would become only the sixth NC State quarterback in history to throw for 4,000 career yards. A 289 yard passing day against Clemson would move him to 5th in NC State career passing yardage, passing Dave Buckey. He needs 11 more completions for 4th place in career completions, passing Erik Kramer. He is two TD passes away from taking 3rd place in career passing touchdowns from Shane Montgomery. Rivers had a marvelous season in 2000, earning the ACC Rookie of the Year award and National Rookie of the Year honors from ABC Sports and Football News. He was ACC Rookie of the Week a record eight times and set 10 school or ACC records in his first season at NC State. He holds single-season school records for completions (237), passing attempts (441), touchdown responsibility, and touchdown passes (25). His 3,054 yards passing were an ACC freshman record. Rivers also set ACC freshmen single-season records in passing yards per game (277.6), touchdown passes (25), total offense (2,967) and also set the single-game freshman record for passing yards when he threw for 413 yards against Duke. He is only the second NC State quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season. His five TD passes vs. Indiana tied Terry Harvey's school record set in 1995 vs. Wake Forest.
WILLIE WRIGHT-- The redshirt senior tight end/wide receiver was held to one catch vs. WFU. Ranks as the Wolfpack No. 3 receiver (13 catches) and leads the team in touchdown receptions (2). Wright opened the 2001 season in a big way by catching 5 passes for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns vs. Indiana. Last season, Wright's first as a starter, he caught 31 passes for an average of 12.9 yards per catch and 3 touchdowns. He possesses the best hands of any player on the team and has added weight for the 2001 campaign. The 6-4 Greensboro native tips the scales at 240, 40 pounds more than his freshman season.
BRYAN PETERSON--The junior speedster caught a season-high 9 passes for 86 yards last week at WFU. Peterson is the Pack's leading receiver with 22 catches and is 4th in the ACC this week in receiving yards per game (76.0) as well as 4th in receptions per game (5.50). Peterson's best performance of the season came in the opener vs. Indiana when he caught 6 passes for 115 yards, including a 55-yard TD. Pound-for-pound he is the strongest player on the 2001 Wolfpack squad, ranking as the team's strength index champion. As the most experienced returnee at wide receiver, Peterson has played in 27 career games. The former high school quarterback tossed two touchdown passes last season.
BRIAN WILLIAMS--The Wolfpack's leading pass thief picked off the fifth pass of his career vs. WFU and third in as many games. He is also the secondary's No. 2 tackler (25) behind Terrence Holt. One of the ACC's top special teams players, Williams blocked the fourth kick of his career in NC State's 2001 season opener vs. Indiana when he stopped a punt that set up a second quarter Wolfpack field goal. Last season, Williams started every game and made some big plays after he was switched from free safety to cornerback in preseason. His fourth-quarter tackle for a 9-yard loss on fourth down vs. Arkansas State completed a successful goal-line stand that allowed NC State to regain possession of the ball and send the game into overtime. Williams blocked a punt at Indiana that set up a touchdown and broke up a third-down pass in a game-saving play in the fourth quarter. His third quarter punt block against Minnesota in the MicronPC.com Bowl sparked the Pack to a come-from-behind victory.
LEVAR FISHER-- A candidate for the Butkus and Lombardi Awards, the aggressive senior linebacker has moved his play to an even higher level in the last two games. During that stretch, Fisher has recorded 41 tackles and maintained the ACC lead in stops per game (17.2). His 21 tackles vs. UNC tied the fourth-highest single game tackle total in school history, a mark he tied last year vs. Maryland. Fisher also leads the Pack in quarterback pressures with three. Last season, Fisher was a finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Award as the nation's top defensive player, but voters for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best linebacker, snubbed him. That was strange given the fact that Fisher led the nation in tackles (15.1 tpg.) and was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the Wolfpack in tackles for loss (15) and in pass break-ups (8) last season.
DANTONIO BURNETTE--After notching a season-high 18 tackles and causing a fumble vs. UNC, the hard hitting junior middle linebacker had 6 stops and a fumble recovery last week at WFU. He is currently the team's No. 2 tackler (44).Playing in the shadow of Levar Fisher, Burnette tallied 105 tackles last season, which was third-best on the team. In his first two seasons at NC State, Burnette recorded 218 tackles. No other player in school history compiled as many stops after their freshman and sophomore years. He set a school freshman record with 124 tackles in 1999. Burnette became a starter in just his second collegiate game in '99.
COREY SMITH--A solid pass rusher, Smith is also becoming a ball stripper. He leads the ACC in forced fumbles after notching his sixth of the season vs. WFU. Smith caused two fumbles and recorded a sack to open the 2001 season vs. Indiana. The next week, one of his two forced fumbles against SMU resulted in a Wolfpack touchdown. Last season, no defensive lineman played more snaps (634) for the Pack than Smith. The senior defensive end started every game and led the team in QB pressures (14) and was No. 2 in tackles for loss (12).
TERRENCE HOLT-- Recorded 14 tackles vs. WFU last week as he continues his outstanding play. An aggressive hard hitter, Holt had 11 stops at SMU and blocked a field goal. It was the sixth blocked kick of Holt's career (4 FG, 2 PT). The brother of NFL receiver, Torry Holt, Terrence leads the Pack's secondary with 39 tackles and leads the team with 2 fumble recoveries. Last season, Holt started every game at free safety for the Wolfpack and finished 2000 as the team's No. 4 tackler with 89 stops. One of the top special teams players in the ACC, Holt blocked three field goals last season, including a potential game-tying attempt at Indiana. He was the leader as the Pack set a school record in 2000 with four blocked field goals and three punt blocks. The year before, the Wolfpack set the school mark for blocked punts with six. Holt had two of those punt blocks in an upset victory at Texas.
BRIAN JAMISON--The senior made his presence felt vs. UNC with 10 tackles including 2 sacks. Jamison found a home after he was switched from defensive end to outside linebacker late last season. He's the Pack's No. 4 tackler (23) this season. Against Indiana, Jamison recorded 8 tackles and blocked an Indiana punt in the end zone that Troy Graham recovered for a Wolfpack touchdown. Did not start against SMU, but finished with 5 tackles. Last year, Jamison led the Pack with 5.5 sacks. He forced three fumbles.
TERRANCE CHAPMAN & SHAWN PRICE --These junior college transfers are posting solid numbers as reserve defensive ends for the Wolfpack. They have combined for 9 tackles for losses and 5 sacks. Price leads the Pack in Sacks (3) and tackles for loss (5). Chapman injured his ankle at WFU and is doubtful for the Clemson game.
AUSTIN HERBERT -- Despite an ankle injury that happen in practice prior to the UNC game, Herbert punted eight times for a respectable 38.2 yard average against UNC and followed that by punting for a 37.2 average vs. WFU. His status is day-to-day for the Clemson game. Herbert's best performance of the season came at SMU when he averaged 44 yards on five attempts. That included a 33 yard pooch punt that pinned the Mustangs at their own 13-yard line. On the next play, Corey Smith caused a fumble that George Anderson recovered in the end zone. Herbert began the 2001season handling all the kicking duties, but did not place-kick vs. UNC or WFU due to his ankle injury. He is 3-3 kicking field goals this season with a long of 28 yards. His 37-yarder against Indiana was blocked. At Cary High School, Herbert set the North Carolina high school record for career field goals with 37.
HERBERT (Field Goal kicking 2001) 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-plus TOT LONG 0-0 3-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-3 28
ADAM KIKER (Field Goal kicking 2001) 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-plus TOT LONG 0-0 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 2-2 31
INJURIES--NC State: RB Carlos Doggett (broken foot) -out, WR Andy Bertrand (shoulder) -out for season, DB Rod Johnson (broken arm)-out, P Austin Herbert (ankle)-probable, DE Terrance Chapman (ankle)-doubtful, OG William Brown (ankle)-questionable, WR Jerricho Cotchery (minor concussion)-probable. Clemson: LB Altroy Bodrick (knee) out for season, WR Roscoe Crosby (broken nose)-probable, WR Tony Elliott (broken wrist)-out, SS Marcus Houekin (broken neck)-out for season, CB Brian Mance (knee)-probable, OG T.J. Watkins (knee sprain)-probable, WR Kevin Youngblood (broken leg)-out for season.
NEXT GAME -- The Wolfpack will visit Georgia Tech on Saturday, October 20th. Airtime will be 2:45 p.m. on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised regionally by ABC.
