North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Offense Continues to Pile up Points
10/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 3, 2003
By The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Georgia Tech's defense embarrassed Florida State for a half three weeks ago. The Yellow Jackets will find out Saturday if they have matured enough to stop one of the nation's most explosive units for an entire game.
NC State heads to Atlanta this weekend third in the nation in scoring (43.4) and passing yardage (366.2). The Wolfpack ranks fifth in total offense (486.0) as it tries to inch back into the top 25 after early-season losses at Wake Forest and Ohio State.
Coach Chan Gailey said it is too elementary to characterize his game plan for Saturday as one of keep-away.
"I don't think it favors us to get in a shoot-out," Gailey said. "But we're not going to go out there and be 3 yards and a cloud of dust. That's not what this is about. This is probably about which team can allow the fewest big plays."
Like most opponents of the Wolfpack (3-2, 1-1 ACC), the focus will be on trying break the rhythm of quarterback Philip Rivers. The senior has thrown for 1,748 yards and completed an astounding 77 percent of his passes.
In 41 career starts, Rivers has 73 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions.
"He reminds me so much, with his mannerisms, of (Dan) Marino standing back there in the pocket," Gailey said. "He always has that ball cocked or semi-cocked ready to throw the football.
"He can whip it out there to anybody and everybody on the field. And he's so big and strong, you've got to hit him just right to knock him down. If you just get an arm or shoulder on him, he'll just shrug that off and make the play."
While NC State's offense has been rolling, the Wolfpack's young defense has been struggling, allowing 681 and 550 yards in its last two wins.
"They have got an 18-year-old freshman (quarterback Reggie Ball) playing, so we can't use that excuse this week," coach Chuck Amato said. "We're going to have to get ourselves in a frenzy."
