North Carolina State University Athletics
Rivers on a Roll
9/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 8, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-With six minutes to play in the second quarter of its game at Wake Forest on Saturday, NC State trailed the Deacons 28-3. The deficit grew to 28 points late in the third period when Wake grabbed a 38-10 advantage. But even as that lead continued to expand through the second half, very few people in the crowd of 35,741 actually thought the game was over. The fact that Pack fans still had hope and Wake followers still felt nervous is a tribute to one man: Philip Rivers.
As ACC football fans have seen for three years and two games now, anything is possible as long as NC State's special quarterback is on the field. In a losing cause on Saturday, Rivers still had the most productive game of his career, hitting 38-of-49 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns. Through two games of his senior year, the Athens, Alabama native has connected on a mind-boggling 81 percent of his passes (64-of-79) for 753 yards and six touchdowns. About the only thing that tarnishes his play to date are the two balls he had picked off in 49 attempts against Wake Forest.
"That's a pretty good start," NC State head coach Chuck Amato said with a touch of sarcasm on Monday. "I don't know of many people who get involved [in the Heisman Trophy race] could start off like that. He's the man. He's the guy who makes the team go and he loves to shoulder it. Without T.A. in the lineup last week we really put it all on his shoulders. But what better person could you have to put it on his shoulders than Philip Rivers? If you look at the people involved in the award, his stats are as good as any. We've got to win for that to happen, but if he continues at that pace, he will deserve everything he gets."
One thing he could get this week is the ACC's all-time passing record, currently held by former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke (9,839 career yards). Now NC State's all-time passing leader with 9,746 yards in his career, Rivers needs just 94 yards passing at Ohio State this weekend to pass Weinke on the ACC list. He's also just three touchdowns shy of the league record for touchdown responsibility, having thrown for 67 and rushed for 14 more. Rivers' total of 81 trails all-time league leaders Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech) and Shawn Moore (Virginia).
Another league record on the horizon is the career mark for completions, currently held by former Duke star Ben Bennett (820). Rivers is just 18 away from taking over the No. 1 spot in that category.
Colmer, McLendon Doubtful: If NC State is going to pull off the upset at Ohio State this weekend, it will probably have to do it without two very important offensive mainstays. Senior left tackle Chris Colmer (arm) and tailback T.A. McLendon (knee) are both listed as doubtful.
"I'm going into the game right now thinking that if [McLendon] plays it's a bonus," Amato said. "We'll get another injury report on Friday. As the week progresses, we'll get a better clarification on that. What I'm saying is, I don't think he'll play."
McLendon, last year's ACC Rookie of the Year, missed Saturday's contest at Wake Forest with a strained patella tendon.
As for Colmer, the status quo still applies. The rare brachial plexitis injury that has created numbness in his left arm has not shown any signs of improvement since it first became an issue two weeks into preseason practice.
"Not playing is tearing Chris up," Amato said.
At this time, John McKeon is slated to make his third straight start at left tackle this week in Columbus.
Receivers Sterling Hicks (broken hand) and Andy Bertrand (groin injury) are listed as probable this week.
