North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report
9/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 25, 2002
#17 (AP) #15 (ESPN) NC STATE (5-0, 1-0) vs. MASSACHUSETTS (2-1, 0-1)
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 2002
TIME: Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: None
OPPONENT--Northeastern scored 28 points in the third quarter to defeat Massachusetts 42-17 in Saturday's Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. While the Huskies couldn't stop quarterback Jeff Krohn (33 of 52, 401 yards, 2 touchdowns), they did contain him. UMass's transfer from Arizona State put on a show, setting a school record for completions in a game. However, Northeastern's blitzing defense put constant pressure on Krohn and forced him to throw three interceptions. Two of the picks were returned for touchdowns.
Anthony Nolen stepped in front of a Krohn pass and ran 60 yards to give the Huskies a 28-3 advantage midway through the third quarter. But the play that put the game out of reach was a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kurt Abrams off a deflection that gave Northeastern a 35-10 command.
UMass's nonexistent running game was also a factor. Fourteen times UMass runners were tackled for a loss, totaling minus-86 yards. The Minutemen totaled 34 rushes for only 26 yards..
Northeastern scored on its first possession, by driving 86 yards with Anthony Riley running 18 yards for the touchdown. Riley led all rushers with 67 yards on 14 carries. Doug White's 44-yard field goal, the longest of his career, cut the deficit to 7-3 at the half. The Huskies got a quick touchdown from Tim Gale on a 1-yard run and another on a 16-yard pass from Shawn Brady to Quintin Mitchell to start the third quarter. Brady completed 10 of 19 passes for 225 yards for Northeastern.
Sandwiched in between the Huskies two touchdowns via interceptions, Krohn hit Adrian Zullo with a 35-yard touchdown pass for Massachusetts. UMass also found the end zone on a 12-yard Krohn pass to Neal Brown, but Northeastern answered with Brady's 8-yard pass to Cody Thompson to round out the scoring.
Sophomore Joe Bruce led UMass receivers with 8 catches for 65 yards. Seniors DeShon Hardy (6 for 95), Brown (5 for 77), and Zullo (4 for 75) were also effective targets for Krohn.
The Huskies (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic 10), snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Minutemen The 42 points were the most Northeastern scored on Massachusetts in 32 meetings. Northeastern entered the game leading all Division 1-AA schools in total defense (125 yards per game) and had yet to be scored upon.
For the season, Krohn has completed 68 of 115 passes for 892 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. The junior came to the Minutemen in January after leading the Pacific-10 Conference in passing efficiency last season. He started nine games for the Sun Devils in 2001, completing 115 of 213 passes for 1,942 yards and 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Krohn also started nine games for Arizona State during the 2000 season, completing 125 of 254 passes for 1,751 yards and 12 touchdowns with six interceptions. Over the course of his Arizona State career, Krohn completed 240 of 467 passes for 3,693 yards and 31 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.
Zullo, who missed part of the 2000 and all of the 2001 seasons due to injury, is Krohn's favorite target. The former Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year has caught a team leading 17 passes this season for 264 yards and two touchdowns and has at least one reception in each of his last 22 games. Zullo holds a number of UMass records, including career marks for both receptions and receiving yards. Hardy led the team in receiving last season with 47 catches. Brown is a University of Kentucky transfer who has caught 9 passes this season including two for touchdowns.
True freshman tailback Raunny Rosario (5-9, 191) is the Minutemen's leading rusher with 232 yards on 37 carries (6.2 ypc) while redshirt freshman R. J. Cobbs is next with 199 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns. Four starters return on an offensive line with average size. The anchor is senior center Maikel Miret (6-3, 285).
The Minutemen appear to be pretty balanced offensively with 108 rushing attempts and 118 passing attempts. They are averaging 497 yards of total offense, including 191 yards on the ground.
Defensively, UMass has been good against the run, allowing only 77 yards a game, but that may be deceiving due to lop-sided victories over Central Connecticut (52-3) and American International (42-13). Opponents have averaged 265 yards passing against Massachusetts, which implemented a new defensive system this season with multiple looks.
Buck Buchannon Award Candidate, Valdamar Brower, leads the UMass defense. The senior tackle was a third-team AP All-America selection last season and has a chance to become the school's all-time leader in sacks before his career ends. He's the top pass rusher this season with 8 quarterback pressures. Junior outside linebacker, Jeremy Cain, is the leading tackler (33) including a team-best 8 stops for loss. True freshman free safety Shannon James (5-10, 190) leads the Minutemen with two interceptions and is the team's No. 2 tackler (30). Mike Ziccardi (6-0, 222), a junior outside linebacker, tops the squad with five sacks.
The kicking game is strong. Zullo is a dangerous kick returner who is averaging 33.7 per attempt this season. Hardy has returned seven punts for nearly a 12-yard average and holds the school record for career punt return attempts. UMass returns both starting kickers from last year's squad. Senior All-America candidate, David Sanger, is punting for a 40-yard average, slightly less than his 40.6 average over the previous three seasons. White owns the all-time UMass career record for field goal percentage (.786), hitting on 22 of 28 attempts. He's 3 of 3 this season with a long of 44-yards.
UMass was 3-8 last season, its first losing record since 1997. The Minutemen won the Division 1-AA national championship in 1998 and the Atlantic 10 title in 1999. Saturday's game in Raleigh will be the first for the Minutemen against an ACC team and their first trip to the Tar Heel State. Head coach Mark Whipple is in his fifth season leading the Minutemen program and has a 33-20 record.
INJURIES--NC State: CB A.J Davis-Out; Fractured fibula; C Jed Paulsen-out; sprained ACL; OLB Avery Gibson-Out; high ankle sprain; MLB Dantonio Burnette-Out;broken thumb; MLB Oliver Hoyte-Questionable; left thigh contusion; MLB Corrie Dawson-Questionable; left AC separation; FS Terrence Holt-Probable; knee strain.UMass: Athletic Department does not report injuries due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
