North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report
10/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 30, 2002
#10 (AP) #8 (ESPN) NC STATE (9-0, 4-0) vs. GEORGIA TECH (5-3, 2-3)
DATE: Saturday, November 1, 2002
TIME: Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 2:30 p.m.. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ABC (Regional).
OPPONENT--A week ago, Virginia came from 21 points down to beat North Carolina. However, Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Georgia Tech managed to hold off a Virginia second-half charge. A.J. Suggs completed 26-of-41 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown and freshman P.J. Daniels carried 21 times for 98 yards and a score as Georgia Tech posted a 23-15 victory over the Cavaliers.
Matt Schaub started Virginia's rally, capping a seven-play, 72-yard drive with a 12-yard TD pass to freshman fullback Jason Snelling about 3 1/2 minutes into the second half. Schaub added an eight-yard touchdown run and the ensuing two-point conversion to pull Virginia within 23-15 with 2:58 left. Schaub had 257 of his 372 passing yards in the second half.
With a last shot at possibly forcing overtime, Virginia (6-3, 4-2 ACC) moved from its 14 to the Tech 49 on six short completions. Then, the Cavaliers appeared to get greedy. Jeremy Muyres leaped to intercept Matt Schaub's long pass for Billy McMullen along the sideline at the Tech 14 with 1:25 left to seal the victory and snap a two-game losing skid.
Tech looked anything like a team with an inconsistent offense, scoring on five of its first six possessions (including three Luke Manget field goals) to take a 23-0 halftime lead. After Daniels scored on a 1-yard run on Tech's opening drive, the Jackets went to a no-huddle, shotgun offense. Suggs, throwing in rhythm, took Tech to two scores: the 12-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Watkins, one of seven receptions for the ACC's leading receiver; and Manget's third field goal.
Tech practiced the more fast-paced, no huddle, spread offense all week in an attempt to ignite its struggling offense and it paid off. The Yellow Jackets achieved almost perfect offensive balance between the run (211 yards) and the pass (220) while tiring out the Virginia defense. Suggs called about 30 percent of the plays at the line of scrimmage and spread his passes around. Watkins caught seven balls for 70 yards and was among seven Yellow Jackets with at least two receptions.
The spread offense was first unveiled in the second half of Tech's loss to Maryland. Against UVA, the Jackets used it almost exclusively from the second quarter on, lining up in four-and five-receiver sets out of a shotgun formation. It showed immediate results when Suggs handed the ball off to tailback Gordon Clinkscale for a 37-yard gain on Tech's first play from scrimmage. In the spread formation, the running back has the opportunity to read the defense while lining up before deciding where to run. Clinkscale finished with 74 yards on 10 carries.
The tailback position has been decimated by injuries with Tony Hollings gone for the year, Sidney Ford out and Ajenavi Eziemefe limited by an ankle injury the last two weeks. Hollings was the nation's leading rusher when he hurt his knee in the fourth game.
Daniels and Clinkscale have carried the bulk of the rushing load in the last two games. Eziemefe, the team's leading active ball carrier (236 yards on 59 attempts), appears ready to play against NC State. The Yellow Jackets offensive line, which has allowed one sack in its last four games is big and led by a pair of all-star candidates in sophomore left tackle Nat Dorsey (6-6, 330) and junior center Hugh Reilly (6-4, 285).
While the Yellow Jackets appear to be back on track offensively, their strength is on defense. In the Virginia game, Tech surrendered 425 yards, but held the Cavaliers on downs three times inside the Tech 25-yard line. In the defensive statistic that counts the most, the Jackets are No. 3 in the ACC in scoring defense (18.2 ppg.) and 19th nationally in that category. They're also 4th in the ACC in total defense (350.1 ypg.), rushing defense (124.9 ypg.), and pass defense (225.2 ypg.).
The leading tacklers for Tech are all linebackers: Daryl Smith (6-2, 230 Jr.), 51 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and one interception; Ricardo Wimbush (6-2, 218, Sr.), 42 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries; and Keyaron Fox, 50 tackles and 8 tackles for loss. Fox is suffering from an ankle sprain, so Ather Brown (6-3, 230, Jr.) moves into the starting lineup at outside linebacker vs. NC State. All-America defensive end Greg Gathers, one of the nation's top pass rushers, is out for the year after being sidelined with a kidney ailment.
The secondary is a veteran unit led by All-ACC free safety Jeremy Muyres (6-3, 205, Sr.) with 45 tackles and 3 interceptions. Cornerback Marvious Hester (5-11, 185 Sr.) is also solid. Tech is young on the defensive front. Alfred Malone, a redshirt sophomore (6-4, 290) has the most time in the program of any starter. However, three of the four second-string defensive linemen are upper classmen
Tech's special teams have been solid. The Jackets rank No. 2 in the ACC in net punting (37.1) and lead the ACC in kickoff coverage (17.8). All-ACC placekicker Luke Manget has converted on 152 consecutive extra point attempts and is 6-10 in the field goal department with a long of 41 yards. Manget needs four points to become Tech's all-time scoring leader. At punter, the Yellow Jackets use a combination of seniors Dan Dyke who is averaging 40.5 yards on 25 punts and Chris Morehouse with a 44.4-yard average on 17 attempts.
Recently, the Yellow Jackets have dominated the series with NC State winning six of the last seven meetings. The Wolfpack won the last match-up in Raleigh 30-23 in overtime in 2000.
Tech needs one victory to become bowl eligible for a sixth consecutive year. Following NC State, the Jackets have home games against Florida State and Duke before winding up the regular season at Georgia.
INJURIES--NC State: CB A.J Davis-Out, Fractured fibula; OLB Avery Gibson-Probable, High ankle sprain; LB Corrie Dawson-Out, Sprained PCL.Georgia Tech:TB Tony Hollings-Out, Knee; DE Greg Gathers-Out, Kidney; OG Gavin Tarquinio-Out, Shoulder; LB Keyaron Fox-Doubtful, Ankle; TB Sidney Ford, Out, Concussion.
