North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony's Take: `Noles Get Edge in Defensive War
11/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2004
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - Just as he had done for 51 straight games during his magnificent career, Philip Rivers was roaming the NC State sideline on Thursday night. But this time, wearing only street clothes, the ACC's all-time leading passer was nothing more than a cheerleader. And even had he been awarded one more game of college eligibility for old time's sake, it's doubtful that even Rivers would have had much luck moving the football against Florida State's stout defense. Thanks to a Wolfpack defense that was equally as dominant, fans witnessed a game unlike any that have been seen at Carter-Finley Stadium in many years.
Gaining only 121 yards of total offense, the Seminoles walked away with a hard-fought 17-10 victory over the Pack. The loss proved to be the final nail in NC State's postseason coffin. With a 4-6 record overall, the Wolfpack is now assured of its first losing season in five years under head coach Chuck Amato and its first campaign without a bowl game as well.
The sight of Rivers on Thursday brought to mind his very first game against Florida State back in 2000. Playing behind a banged up offensive line that was trying to block a star-studded defensive front, Rivers was lucky he was able to emerge in one piece. The renowned Norm Chow was calling the plays that night, but it really didn't matter. One thing never changes with offense: if your offensive line can't open holes for running backs and can't protect the quarterback, there's no play-calling mastery in the universe that will produce positive results.
On Thursday, the NC State offense of 2004 encountered such a problem. Needing only four people to apply suffocating pressure on Pack quarterbacks Jay Davis and Marcus Stone, the Seminoles were then comfortably able to cover with seven.
"The interior of their defensive line just created havoc," Amato said. "We just couldn't get any offense going in the third and fourth quarter."
On most nights, FSU's dominating defensive effort would have been good enough for an easy victory.
Not so fast big fella.
The other defense, the one wearing red, was also spectacular. Tallying 23 tackles for loss, the Wolfpack's speedy defenders often looked like a red blur as they swarmed to the football with a vengeance.
Ends Manny Lawson and Mario Williams played the game of their lives, spending most of the evening on Florida State's side of the line of scrimmage. Williams finished with eight tackles, five for losses and three sacks. Lawson was also all over the place on both defense and special teams. Sacked five times, Florida State quarterback Wyatt Sexton completed only 5-of-18 passes for 73 yards.
The combined yardage between the two teams totaled 244 yards.
"It's a game that will be remembered in this stadium for a long time," Amato said.
Said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden: "This was an old fashioned defensive battle. It was a defensive war from the very beginning. Anytime two great defensive teams play, usually the kicking game is the difference. They nearly beat us with the kicking game, then I felt like our punt returns as a total outdid their one. I haven't seen a defensive battle like that in a long time."
That comment coming from a 75-year old gentleman who has been a head coach in 452 games during his illustrious career.
With both offenses rendered virtually useless, big punt returns and field position ultimately made the difference. Leading at halftime 10-0, NC State's average starting field position was its own 44-yard line. The Wolfpack's big play came on freshman Darrell Blackman's 87-yard punt return for a touchdown.
But in the second half, the field position flipped and so did the score. FSU punt returner Willie Reid, who returned six kicks for 108 yards, set the `Noles up for their only two touchdowns of the night by repeatedly bringing the ball into NC State territory. In fact, Florida State's average starting position in the second half was the Wolfpack 47-yard line.
"I've never been involved with one like this," Amato said. "The first half we [had field position], they didn't. The second half they had it, we didn't. The kicking game is what created field position, plus our score with the punt return. Their punt returns put them on the plus side of the 50 in the second half."
NC State's John Deraney punted a total of 11 times and so did Florida State's Chris Hall. Both teams had more punts than first downs. The three signal callers who played, Davis and Stone for the Wolfpack and Sexton for FSU, were a combined 14-of-43 passing for 173 yards.
It would have been a bad night to be a quarterback, even if your name is Philip Rivers.
