North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Pat the Playmaker
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Maybe Pat Thomas is just a lucky, a guy who happens to be in the right place at the right time when it counts most. But perhaps it's more than just a coincidence that NC State's junior linebacker has made some of the most important plays in a Wolfpack season that again looks promising. In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that Thomas is one of the biggest reasons the Pack has resurrected itself to win four games in a row, a streak that has brought this team right back into the thick of the ACC race.
If you go back and examine the waning moments of NC State's last four games, you'll find Pat Thomas making timely plays that ultimately produced victories. It all started in a non-conference contest against Connecticut back on the 11th of October. With the game tied at 10-10 early in the third quarter, a blitzing Thomas blindsides Huskies quarter back Dan Orlovsky, forcing a fumble that is returned for a touchdown by Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay. Fast forward to the fourth quarter with the game tied again. Aughtry-Lindsay intercepts Orlovsky and returns the ball 56 yards for the winning points. And who causes the wayward throw? Pat "The Playmaker" Thomas had hit the quarterback just as he released the ball.
Five nights later, Thomas was at it again in a Thursday evening clash against Clemson. In just two plays late in the fourth quarter, he almost single-handedly prevented the Tigers from scoring what would have potentially been the winning points in a game that NC State went on to capture 17-15.
With less than five minutes to play, Thomas snuffed out Clemson's last drive when he sacked the quarterback on second down before tipping a third down pass that was intercepted by cornerback Dovonte Edwards.
The very next week, the Wolfpack was involved in yet another tight battle with Duke when Thomas was Johnny on the spot again. With the Blue Devils trying to mount a late rally, Thomas dumped quarterback Adam Smith, forcing a field goal instead of a touchdown that could have pulled Duke closer. The Pack went on to prevail 28-21.
And finally, there was that classic battle with Virginia back on November first. On a night when neither defense could get key stops, Thomas stepped up and sacked quarterback Matt Schaub with just over two minutes left, a play that would force a Virginia punt that preceded the Wolfpack's game-winning drive.
Now with a huge game against Florida State looming this weekend, the Miami native will be looking to keep his uncanny streak of big, clutch plays alive.
"Coming into this year, I wanted to make the big plays and the big stops," Thomas said. "I wanted to fill up the stat sheet. I don't think I've done everything that I've wanted to do, but I think I've had a great season so far."
He's been especially great at crunch time.
Offensive Explosion: Even though it has been missing several key players most of the season, the 2003 NC State offense led by quarterback Philip Rivers could go down as the most productive unit in school history. Having already scored 365 points in 10 games, the Wolfpack is averaging 36.5 points per game, a figure that is currently ahead of the school mark set by the 1972 squad, which averaged 34.1 points per contest.
Because last year's team played in a total of 14 games, its school record of 5,485 total yards probably won't be eclipsed anytime soon. Interestingly, however, this Wolfpack squad is actually averaging 6.4 yards per play, which, if it holds up, will also be a new school record (the 1998 team averaged 6.0 yards per play).
And depending upon what happens the rest of the way, a new record for total offense is also within reach this season. The 1998 offense, paced by Jamie Barnette and Torry Holt, averaged 442.8 yards per contest, an impressive figure that has held up through the Rivers era. With two and probably three games remaining, the 2003 unit is averaging 435 yards per game, meaning it is certainly within striking distance of the school mark.
With 3,401 passing yards already, this year's team is just 67 yards shy of eclipsing the record set in 14 games last season.
In the latest ACC statistics, the Wolfpack leads the league in total offense, pass offense and scoring offense.
