North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes
11/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2001
#9 MARYLAND ( 9-1, 6-1) at NC STATE (6-3, 4-3)
DATE: Saturday, November 17, 2001
TIME: Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. (EST) at Carter-Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 7:00 p.m. (EST) (Click for list of stations carrying game )
TELEVISION: ESPN (National)
A WIN -- Would give NC State at least seven victories for the second straight season and extend its winning streak to four consecutive games, including two in-a-row over teams ranked in the nation's Top-10. The Pack would earn its fifth ACC win of the season, fourth straight over Maryland at Carter-Finley Stadium, and dramatically improve its standing for a significant bowl bid. The Wolfpack's home record under Chuck Amato would improve to 8-3 overall and 5-3 in ACC play. NC State's all-time record vs. Maryland would stand at 29-25-4 with victories in nine of the last eleven meetings.
A LOSS --Would end a three-game winning streak and mark the second straight loss to Maryland in the series. The losing streak to the Terps would be the longest since NC State dropped six games in-a-row from 1980 through 1985. The Wolfpack would finish the ACC season at 4-4 with three of the losses coming at home. NC State will get a chance to get its seventh victory and tie last year's regular season win total when it hosts Ohio University next Saturday. Maryland would win its first ACC championship since 1985 and represent the ACC in the Bowl Championship Series.
OFFENSE JELLING -- During NC State's three game winning streak, the Wolfpack offense has averaged 419 yards of total offense, including a season-high 463 in last week's upset win at Florida State. For the season, NC is 6th in the ACC in total offense (356 ypg.), 4th in passing offense (243), and 4th in scoring offense (28.2 ppg.). Maryland is 3rd in total offense (444 ypg.), 8th in passing offense (211), but leads the ACC in rushing offense (232) and is second in scoring (36.7 ppg.) behind Florida State (36.9 ppg.).
RIVERS IS PACK'S OFFENSIVE OASIS -- Quarterback, Philip Rivers, the 2000 ACC Rookie of the Year, is having a solid sophomore campaign. Following a 245 yard passing performance at Florida State, Rivers is third in the ACC in passing (232 ypg.) and tied for third in TD passes (14). This season Rivers became only the fourth NC State quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 career yards and first to compile six career 300-yard passing games. His next touchdown pass will move him into second place in NC State career passing touchdowns. Forty-six (46) more passing attempts and 15 more completions will move Rivers into second place in both those school career record categories. A total of 155 passing yards against Maryland will move Rivers past Shane Montgomery and into third place in career passing yards.
RALLY ON... -- NC State has come from behind to win in 10 of its 14 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 -- Only four times in the Chuck Amato era has an NC State team been held below 20 points (three times this season vs. UNC, WFU and GT). Since 1997, the Wolfpack is 31-9 (including bowl games) when scoring more than 20 points in a game.
RUNNING AND WINNING-- During the Pack's three game winning streak, NC State has averaged 192 yards rushing (576), it's best three game total of the season. Tailback, Ray Robinson, has carried the ball for more than 100 yards in each of the last three games and has scored 5 rushing touchdowns. He's 6th in the ACC in rushing (73 ypg.) and is tied for No. 2 in rushing TD's with 9. However, for the season, NC State is 96th nationally in rushing offense (113.6 ypg.). At No. 8 nationally, Maryland is the ACC's best rushing team (232.5 ypg.) and is 3rd in the nation in rushing touchdowns (32). The Terps, Bruce Perry, leads the ACC in rushing (115 ypg.) Maryland has rushed for 200 or more yards in four straight games.
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 semi-finalist for the Butkus Award and preseason candidate for the Lombardi Award, leads the ACC in tackles (13.9 per game) and has a team high 125 stops. Fisher, who led the nation in tackles last season (15.1 tpg.), set the NC State all-time record for tackles vs. Duke on November 3rd and now has 469 for his career. 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 Football News and the Football Writers Association.
BETTER VS. RUN--During its three game winning streak, NC State has allowed an average of 105 yards rushing, its best three game total of the season. NC State is now 6th in the ACC in rushing defense (147 ypg.) That's an improvement from last season when the Pack finished 98th nationally against the run (191.0 ypg.). The Pack has allowed only 8 rushing touchdowns which is second in the ACC behind Maryland's five. Maryland leads the ACC and is 12th nationally in rushing defense (96 ypg.)
GETTING UP FOR THIRD DOWN- The Pack had some problems converting on third down earlier this year, but lately there has been improvement. During the current three game winning streak, NC State is converting on nearly 49 percent of its third down opportunities (19-39). For the season, the Pack is 40 percent on third down. Maryland is 46 percent on third down conversions, good enough for fourth in the ACC.
TAKE-A-WAY, BUT NO GIVE-A-WAY -- The Wolfpack is 11th nationally in turnover margin this week at +1.00 per game and has turned the ball over only 11 times this season. Last year, the Pack's 20 turnovers marked a school record for fewest in one season. Maryland is second in the nation in turnover margin (+1.70) and leads the nation with 23 interceptions.
HARD TO SACK 'EM-- NC State is one of the ACC's best teams in protecting the passer, allowing only 15 sacks by opposing defenses. Maryland has allowed 17 quarterback sacks. Defensively, the Pack has sacked opposing QBs 22 times. Maryland leads the ACC with 36 quarterback sacks.
BLOCKED! --The Pack has blocked seven (7) kicks this season ( 3 punts and 4 field goals). The last Wolfpack blocks were against Virginia by Terrance Holt and Brian Williams. NC State has blocked 27 kicks since 1998 (17 punts and 9 field goals). Last season, the Pack blocked a school-record four field goals and three punts. Holt has blocked 6 field goals and two punts in his career. Williams has 5 career punt blocks.
THE LEG AND THE TOE-- Although he's been slowed by an ankle injury for most of the season, punter Austin Herbert has been steady. He's fourth in the ACC with a 40.7 average in 46 attempts. Against Duke on November 3rd, Herbert broke Johnny Evans single game punting average record of 53.7 yards set in 1975, by averaging 55 yards in four punts. In the field goal department, Herbert is 3-3 with a long of 28 yards. A 37-yard attempt against Indiana was blocked. For most of the season, Adam Kiker has handled all place-kicking for NC State. He has made 20 of 23 extra point kicks and is 7-8 in the field goal department with a long of 32 yards.
THE COMEBACK PACK -- Since 1993, State has rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to win 6 times.
RED HOT IN RED ZONE --The Pack is 30 or 31 inside the opponents 20-yard line this season (21 touchdowns, 9 field goals). Maryland is 45 of 55 in the red zone with 35 touchdowns..
UNSUNG RECEIVER-- 5-11 junior, Bryan Peterson, is the Pack's No. 2 receiver with 40 catches for 567 yards and two touchdowns. He's No. 7 in the ACC in receptions per game (4.44), right behind teammate Ray Robinson who leads the Pack with 41 catches (4.56 per game).
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: CB Brian Williams (hip)-probable, WR Andy Bertrand (shoulder) -out for season, DB Rod Johnson (broken arm)-out, DE Shawn Price (ankle)-probable. Maryland: CB Tony Okanlawon (undisclosed)-doubtful.
NEXT GAME -- The Wolfpack will host Ohio University on Saturday, November 24th. This game was originally scheduled on September 13th and postponed due to terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th. Airtime will be 12:15 p.m. on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. The game will not be televised.
