North Carolina State University Athletics
Wednesday Football Notebook
11/27/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2013
Game 12: NC State Wolfpack vs. Maryland Terrapins
November 30, 2013 • 12:30 p.m. • ACC Network/ESPN3
Raleigh, N.C. • Carter-Finley Stadium (57,583)
NC STATE VS. MARYLAND
The Wolfpack stands one game up on Maryland in the overall series record between the two schools, which dates back over 100 years. The teams first met on Oct. 30, 1909 and have played every year since 1956.
The Pack enters the final meeting of the two schools as ACC opponents with a one-game edge in the overall series, 33-32-4. State has won the last two matchups with Maryland and three of the last four.
CLOSE CALLS VS. TERRAPINS
In the 21st century, the games between NC State and Maryland have been close ones. Of the last 13 contests between the two teams, five of which the Wolfpack has won, 11 have been decided by 10 points or fewer. Five of those 13 games have been decided by four or less points and 10 by less than 10 points.
Last season, the Pack went ahead on a Niklas Sade field goal with 32 seconds left in the game, and then watched a Maryland FG attempt hit the upright to hold on to a 20-18 victory. In 2011, State won by 15 points, but had to score 42 unanswered points in the second half to gain the victory in the largest comeback in school history.
SENIORS PLAY FINAL GAME IN RED AND WHITE
The Wolfpack seniors will be honored in pregame ceremonies on Saturday. Here’s a look at the State players who will be playing in their final game:
| No. | Name | Pos. |
| 68 | Evan Bumgarner | OL |
| 76 | Deylan Buntyn | DT |
| 14 | Jarvis Byrd | S |
| 48 | Robert Caldwell | LB |
| 92 | Darryl Cato-Bishop | DE |
| 43 | Ryan Cheek | FB |
| 62 | Duran Christophe | OG |
| 33 | Roderick Cox | LB |
| 34 | Dominic Deshaies | CB |
| 98 | A.J. Ferguson | DT |
| 49 | Zach Gentry | LB |
| 31 | D.J. Green | LB |
| 41 | Milton Hall | RB |
| 25 | Dontae Johnson | CB/S |
| 58 | Jacob Kahut | DL |
| 8 | Brandon Mitchell | QB |
| 88 | Quintin Payton | WR |
| 2 | Rashard Smith | WR |
| 82 | Asa Watson | TE |
| 97 | Forrest West | DE |
PACK IS CLOSE, LATE
One of the most frustrating, yet promising facts about the Wolfpack’s ACC losses in 2013 is that with the exception of one game (vs. No. 2 Florida State), the score was close late in the game.
In the Pack’s other ACC contests, the average difference in the score after the third quarter has been just 7.1 points. In only one game (vs. then No. 3 Clemson) did the Pack trail by more than a touchdown and that was only by 13 points following the third quarter.
The scores have been even closer than that at other points in the second half.
THORNTON BREAKS LOOSE
One of the bright spots for the offense in recent games has been the play of sophomore tailback Shadrach Thornton. Thornton, who missed the first game of the season due to a suspension and did not break into the starting lineup until the fourth game of 2013, rushed for a career-high 173 yards at Florida State, including a career-long 72-yard touchdown scamper. He was also the Pack’s leading receiver in the game with five catches.
That was the most rushing yards for a Pack player since 2006 and the 18th-best mark all-time.
Thornton now averages 76.4 rushing yards per game against ACC opponents this season, the fourth-best mark in the league.
He now boasts 1,300 career rushing yards after only 20 games.
GOING AERIAL
The Pack’s passing attack has performed at a season-high mark in the last two games. Against Boston College and East Carolina, NC State has completed 54-of-84 (64.3%) passes for an average of 318.5 per game, eclipsing 300 yards each time out.
Pete Thomas started the BC game while Brandon Mitchell got the nod versus East Carolina. Mitchell set career highs with 312 yards and four TD strikes versus the Pirates.
For the first time all season, the Pack has not thrown an interception in those two contests. Entering the Boston College game, the Pack had thrown 12 interceptions and four TD passes. But against BC and ECU, NC State has seven touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Also over the past two games, a trio of Pack wide outs have made big plays.
| Player | Rec. | Yds. | TDs |
| Rashard Smith | 15 | 138 | 2 |
| Jumichael Ramos | 10 | 147 | 3 |
| Quintin Payton | 7 | 150 | 1 |
