North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes, Part I
10/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 9, 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)
A WIN -- Would give NC State its fourth victory overall, second in the ACC this season, third over Clemson in the last four games of the series and second-straight over the Tigers at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack's home record under Chuck Amato would improve to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in ACC play. It would mark the first ACC home victory for NC State since beating Wake Forest on November 25, 2000, and improve the Pack's all-time record vs. Clemson to 26-43-1.
A LOSS --Would be the second in the last three games for NC State and second straight to Clemson in the series, dropping the Wolfpack below .500 in the ACC for the second time this season. Would mark Clemson's first victory at Carter-Finley Stadium since a 19-17 win in 1997and improve the Tigers series record with the Wolfpack to 44-25-1. The Pack's home record under Chuck Amato would drop to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in ACC games.
OFFENSIVE DIP -- NC State's offense has not been as prolific as it was a year ago, but is still putting up solid numbers. This week among 115 Division 1-A teams, the Pack is No. 82 nationally in total offense (337.7 ypg.), No. 39 in passing offense (236.8 ypg.), and 74th in scoring offense (21.7 ppg.). Clemson is No. 23 in total offense (426.7 ypg.), No. 40 in pass offense (234.8 ypg.), and 23rd in scoring offense ( ppg.).
RIVERS KEEP PACK ROLLING ON -- Quarterback, Philip Rivers, the 2000 ACC Rookie of the Year, is having a solid sophomore campaign. After passing for 306 yards against North Carolina, Rivers was 20 of 32 passing for 180 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions last week at Wake Forest. His performance against WFU moved him into 6th place in NC State career passing yardage. In this week's NCAA stats, Rivers is No. 41 in passing efficiency, 38th in total offense (230 ypg.) and 10th in completions per game (21.7). Last season, he became only the second NC State quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season. With two (2) yards passing vs. Clemson, Rivers would become only the 6th NC State quarterback to throw for 4,000 career yards. With 289 yards passing against the Tigers, Rivers would pass Dave Buckey and move to 6th place in NC State career passing yardage. Ten (10) more completions would move Rivers to 5th (333) passing TimEsposito. Two (2) more TD passes would put Rivers into 3rd place, passing Shane Montgomery for NC State career passing touchdowns (31).
SECOND HALF RALLIES --Trailing 14-10 last week at Wake Forest, the Wolfpack scored late in the third quarter to take the lead and win 17-14. Earlier this year, the Pack used a fourth quarter comeback to beat SMU. NC State has come from behind to win in 8 of its 11 victories under Chuck Amato and has either trailed or was tied in the fourth quarter in six of those wins. Last year, six of the Pack's eight wins were of the come-from-behind variety.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS ...20 -- For the second consecutive game and only the third time in the Chuck Amato era, NC State was held to less than 20 points by an opponent when the Pack beat Wake Forest 17-14. Since 1997, the Wolfpack is 28-9 (including bowl games) when scoring more than 20 points in a game.
A CASE OF THE RUNS-- The Wolfpack rushed for a season-high 141 yards vs. WFU after getting 153 yards on the ground in its previous two games. NC State is 99th nationally in rushing offense (96.0 ypg.). Clemson is the nation's 27th best rushing team (192.0 ypg.).
RUSH FOR 200 AND WIN --NC State is 45-3-1 since 1988 when rushing for 200 yards or more in a game. The defeats were: at UVA (211 yds. on 10/24/98) vs. Miami (297 yds. on 12/29/98) and at Maryland (218 yds. on 11/4/00).
FISHER IS A CATCHER OF BALL CARRIERS --Linebacker Levar Fisher, a preseason candidate for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards, leads the ACC in tackles (17.25 per game) and has a team high 69 stops. In his last two games, he's tallied 41 tackles, including 21 vs. UNC. That should not surprise anyone since Fisher led the nation in tackles last season (166) averaging 15.1 stops per game. The aggressive senior won ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2000, the first time in history that a NC State player earned the award. Fisher was named first team All-America by the Football News and the Football Writers Association of America.
BETTER VS. RUN--After four games, NC State is No. 64 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 163 yards per game. That's an improvement from last season when the Pack finished 98th nationally against the run (191.0 ypg.). The Pack has allowed only 3 rushing touchdowns. Clemson is 68th in rushing defense (167 ypg.). The Tigers have surrendered 7 rushing touchdowns.
THIRD DOWN DOWNER- The Pack has had some problems converting on third down this year. However, there may be signs of improvement. NC State was 9 of 19 on third down last week against WFU. That total was better than the two previous games combined. For the season, the Pack has converted 39 percent of its third down opportunities. Clemson leads the ACC in third down percentage (55.6%). On fourth down, NC State is 2-7. Clemson is 5-6.
PACK SECONDARY IS NO FLY ZONE --NC State is 10th in the nation in pass defense this week, allowing an average of 150.5 yards a game through the air and has surrendered 5 passing TDs. That is a carry-over from last season when the Pack was 18th nationally in passing defense and led the ACC (184 ypg.). Over the last 54 regular season quarters, the Pack's defense has yielded 16 touchdown passes.
TAKE-A-WAY, BUT NO GIVE-A-WAY -- The Wolfpack is 4th nationally in turnover margin this week. In four games, NC State has forced opponents into eleven (11) turnovers while turning the ball over itself three times (+2.00). Clemson is 97th in turnover margin, gaining 5 turnover, but losing the ball 9 times. Last year, the Pack's 20 turnovers marked a school record for fewest in one season.
DISRUPTIVE DEFENDERS--Senior cornerback, Brian Williams, has intercepted a pass in each of the Wolfpack's last three (3) games while senior defensive end, Corey Smith, leads the ACC with six (6) caused fumbles. Two of his strips were critical in NC State wins at SMU and WFU.
HARD TO SACK 'EM-- NC State is one of the ACC's best teams in protecting the passer, allowing only 6 sacks by opposing defenses. Clemson has allowed 15 quarterback sacks. Defensively, the Pack has sacked opposing QBs 10 times. Clemson has only 7 sacks.
BLOCKED! --Terrance Holt's block of an SMU field goal gave NC State its third blocked kick of the season and 23rd since 1998. Brian Jamison and Brian Williams blocked punts vs. Indiana on Sept. 6th. Last season, the Pack blocked a school-record four field goals and three punts. Holt has blocked four field goals and two punts in his career. Williams has four career punt blocks.
AN ANKLE AFFECTS THE LEG-- An ankle injury has limited sophomore Austin Herbert to only punting duties in the last two games. Prior to that stretch, Herbert was doing all of NC State kicking. Herbert has punted 25 times for a 37.6 yard average. His best performance of the season was at SMU with 5 punts for a 44 yard average. In the field goal department, Herbert is 3-3 with a long of 28 yards. A 37-yard attempt against Indiana was blocked. The last two weeks, Adam Kiker has handled all place-kicking for NC State. He has made 2 of 3 extra point kicks and is 2 of 2 in the field goal department.
THE COMEBACK PACK -- Since 1993, NC State has rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to win 6 times. During the 2000 regular season, the Pack came from behind to gain victory in six of its eight wins, including three of its first four. This season vs. SMU, the Pack trailed in the fourth quarter and Wake Forest in the third quarter before rallying to victory.
SPREAD THE WEALTH-- Against UNC, ten different receivers made catches, led by Troy Graham and Ray Robinson who each caught four passes. The Pack used six different receivers vs. WFU. Brian Peterson led the Pack with 9 catches for 86 yards.
RED HOT IN RED ZONE --The Pack is 12 of 13 inside the opponents 20-yard line this season (7 touchdowns, 5 field goals. Clemson is 13-15 in red zone opportunities (12 TD, 1 FG).
WOLFCUBS -- There are 104 players on the Wolfpack roster, but 36 are newcomers. That means 35 percent of the squad is made up of new players.
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.
