North Carolina State University Athletics
'In the Thick of It' with Gary Hahn
10/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 21, 2004
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NC STATE (4-2, 3-1) vs. No. 4/3 MIAMI (5-0, 2-0)
DATE: Saturday, October 23, 2004
TIME: Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. (EDT) Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (55,600)
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network: 6:30 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ESPN (National)
OPPONENT---- Miami kept its national title dreams alive with a huge second half rally at home to beat No. 17 Louisville 41-38 last Thursday night. Frank Gore's one-yard touchdown run with 49 seconds remaining capped a 34-point second half as the Hurricanes scored on six straight possessions in the final 30-minutes.
Following Lionel Gates' one-yard touchdown run with 4:35 remaining that gave the Cardinals (4-1) a 38-34 lead, Devin Hester returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards to set up the winning 10-play, 56-yard drive. Brock Berlin completed four passes during the final series for 36 yards - including one on 4th-and-4 inside the Louisville 10-yard line.
Berlin, a senior who was booed in the first half by the Orange Bowl crowd, completed 25-of-37 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns to win ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors. Gore finished with 19 carries for 70-yards
Louisville sprinted to a surprising 24-7 lead at the half after Gates rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter and Stefan LeFors threw a pair of second-quarter touchdown passes, including one to Gates. However, Berlin came alive in the third quarter by connecting on 12-of-14 passes for 181 yards and a pair of scores. His 11-yard TD pass to Akieem Jolla with 4:14 left in the period cut Miami's deficit to 31-21.
Jon Peattie kicked field goals on consecutive possessions that surrounded a Louisville fumble before Hester returned a punt up the middle 78 yards untouched to give Miami a 34-31 lead with 8:27 remaining. Hester also took the opening kickoff of the second half the distance too, but a penalty nullified the touchdown.
On Louisville's next drive, freshman quarterback Brian Brohm replaced an ailing LeFors and directed a nine-play, 80-yard drive, which Gates capped with a touchdown run. Before leaving the game with a head injury, LeFors was 17-of-23 for a season-high 242 yards and three touchdowns.
Louisville produced 507 yards of total offense with 214 coming on the ground. Gates led the Cardinals by carrying 13 times for 109 yards and a pair of scores. He also caught a 17-yard screen pass for a touchdown just before halftime.
Miami was only 4 of 12 on third down and was held to 123 rushing yards, but the Hurricanes returned 7 kicks for 142 yards and 4 punts for 94.
Make no mistake, Miami is the premier team in the ACC and is No. 2 in the latest BCS standings. The 'Canes have been ranked in the Top 5 in 59 of the last 70 AP polls. They are also very experienced. Only 10 players on the 'Canes depth chart for Saturday's game have not been redshirted.
Although they surrendered 38 points to Louisville, the Hurricanes strengths are defense and a potent kicking game. Miami's defense could be the fastest in the league and even better than last year's edition that boasted six NFL first-round draft picks. The Hurricanes are No. 2 in the ACC in scoring defense, allowing opponents only 12.8 points a game. Louisville scored 5 of the 6 touchdowns Miami's defense has surrendered this season.
The 'Canes are usually able to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks with four linemen, allowing other defenders to make plays. Anchoring the line is redshirt senior tackle Santonio Thomas (6-4, 308) while redshirt sophomore end Baraka Atkins (6-4, 263) has caused two fumbles and returned another 52-yards for a touchdown.
Linebackers Roger McIntosh (6-3, 237, Jr.) and Tavares Gooden (6-1, 220, So.) are big hitters. McIntosh and redshirt junior strong safety, Greg Threat, rank among the ACC leaders in tackles (8.8 per game) and Threat leads the team with two interceptions.
Anchoring the secondary is a special player. Cornerback, Antrel Rolle (6-1, 202) is a frontrunner for the Thorpe Award and is even getting some mention for the Heisman Trophy. Rolle is widely considered college football's best defensive back. The redshirt senior is excellent in pass coverage with exceptional closing speed and also ranks second on the team in tackles for loss this season (4.5). With opponents scheming to throw away from Rolle, Miami has allowed him to blitz from different angles and make more plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Overall, the Hurricanes are second behind NC State in pass defense (151 ypg.) and they lead the league in turnover margin (+8). The Wolfpack is near the bottom of the ACC in that important category (-8). Against the run, the 'Canes are surrendering 123 yards a game. Only four teams (including Louisville) since 2001 have rushed for 200 or more yards against Miami.
Although he's taken a lot of heat, Brock Berlin (6-1, 215) is a winner. The redshirt senior is 15-2 as Miami's starting quarterback and has engineered five fourth-quarter career comeback victories. This year, Berlin is completing 60 percent of his passes for 197 yards a game and 8 touchdowns. He's been intercepted 3 times.
Berlin's favorite targets are wide receivers Roscoe Parrish (5-9, 172, Jr.), Darnell Jenkins (5-10, 183, So.) and tight end Kevin Everett (6-6, 251, Sr.). That trio has combined for nearly half of Miami's total receptions. Parrish leads the team with 14 catches and 3 touchdowns, but Jenkins, in his first career start against Louisville, caught a Miami season-high 7 passes.
Redshirt junior tailback, Frank Gore (5-10, 220), who has battled back from major knee surgery for two straight years, is the Hurricanes leading rusher with 349 yards (5.0 ypc.). Gore and sophomore Tyrone Moss (5.6 ypc.) have accounted for all 8 of Miami's rushing touchdowns. Clearing a path for that duo is an offensive line dominated by redshirt juniors and seniors that averages 6-5, 303 pounds.
However, no Miami unit has suffered more injuries than the offensive line. The 'Canes lost their best lineman, Eric Winston, to a knee injury earlier this season. Their second-best returning starter, Chris Myers, is playing out of position at right tackle and three starters are nicked-up but are expected to play Saturday.
Left guard Tony Tella and left tackle Rashad Butler were hurt against Louisville. Tella has a sprained wrist. Rashad Butler, who replaced Winston at left tackle, suffered a dislocated finger. Meanwhile, center Joel Rodriguez continues to fight a hamstring injury. The Hurricanes have given up 16 sacks in five games and they're concerned about the Wolfpack's pass rush that has recorded 22 sacks.
Miami's kicking game is a real weapon. Devin Hester (5-11, 185 So.) leads the nation in punt returns with a 32.3 yard average and 3 touchdowns, including a 92-yarder against Louisiana Tech. Meanwhile, opponents have returned only 12 of sophomore Brian Monroe's 27 punts this season for a paltry 2.8-yard average. Redshirt sophomore Jon Peattie (6-3, 207) has converted 8 of 13 field goal attempts with a long of 49-yards, but is only 2-of-6 from beyond the 40-yard line. Miami has blocked one punt for a touchdown this season.
It's not healthy to play catch-up ball against the Hurricanes. Since 1983 they are 173-15 when scoring first and have lost only two regular season games in the last 19 years when leading after three-quarters. Saturday's game will mark Miami's first appearance against the Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium since 1981. The Hurricanes hold a 6-3-1 series lead over NC State and won the last meeting 46-23 in the 1998 Micron PC Bowl.
INJURIES--NC State: C Jed Paulsen-Out, ankle surgery; DE James Martin-Out, knee surgery; OT Merci Falaise-Out, knee; SS Andre Maddox-Probable, hamstring; TB T.A. McLendon-Probable, hamstring strain; OT Chris Colmer, Probable, shoulder sprain; CB Dovonte Edwards-Probable, knee sprain; DT Tank Tyler-Questionable, knee sprain; TE T.J. Williams-Probable, groin. Miami:OT Rashad Butler-Probable, finger; OG Tony Tella-Probable, wrist; C Joel Rodriguez-Probable, hamstring; WR Sinorice Moss-Probable, hamstring; LB Leon Williams-Probable, hand.
