Renewed Rushing Attack for Wolfpack

RALEIGH, N.C. – The game of football can be such a simple concept sometimes.

To stop a high-scoring offense, you keep the ball yourself and don't give the opponent the chance.

When NC State hosts Boston College this weekend, the Wolfpack will be doing its best to not only keep the ball away from the Eagles' offense, but to continue its production from the ground attack.

The Pack's passing game has garnered many headlines early. As it should, as NC State leads the ACC and ranks 9^th in the FBS in passing offense with 342.3 yards per game and the ACC's leading passer and No. 2 wide receiver.

But the NC State rushing attack has improved its numbers each week this season.

The Pack had a season-best performance from the ground game in the win over Virginia – 39 rushes for 176 yards. On first down plays, the Pack ran the ball 19 times and gained 98 yards.

That performance came after the Pack managed just 107.7 yards per game in the first three contests of the season, with the leading rusher going over 70 yards just once.

"Our backs ran hard and obviously Ricky Person, Jr. created some explosive runs, which we needed," said NC State head coach Dave Doeren. "To be able to run the football effectively against a very good defense was great. I thought Ricky really sparked us and Brady (Bodine) and Reggie (Gallaspy) did some good things."

Hampered by injuries both during spring practice and fall camp, Person had his breakout game in the ACC opener.

He led the team in rushing with 108 yards on 14 carriers, in just 22 snaps. He is the lone freshman (both true and redshirt) running back in the ACC to post a 100+ rushing game this season.

Person is the first true freshman running back to have 100+ yards in a game since Shadrach Thornton did so four times in 2012. With a 100-yard performance in just his second career game, he reached that goal faster than any Wolfpack freshman RB since Joe McIntosh did it in his first collegiate game in 1981.

Seven of Person's 14 rushes against Virginia came on first downs, accounting for 71 of his 108 total yards. In the second quarter, he had three straight rushes to start a TD drive that all went for a first down and totaled 55 yards. In the fourth quarter, he added a 38-yard rush that led to the Pack's final TD.

"He's still not a 100 percent, but that's as good as he's felt, and he really wanted to be on the field," said Doeren. "That kid is a warrior, I gave him the game ball and I thought he battled. He's a change of pace back and makes people miss and we've been missing that.

"You want that guy that can put his foot in the ground and change direction and he can do that."

Leading the charge in the Pack backfield is senior Reggie Gallaspy, Jr.

Gallaspy has found the end zone with at least one rushing TD in each of the first four games of the season – and five overall. Gallaspy is one of only three NC State running backs since 2010 to reach the end zone in each of the first four games of the season (Matthew Dayes – 5 games in 2015 and Mustafa Greene – 4 games in 2010).

The Pack has also gotten a spark from fellow senior Brady Bodine, who has averaged 6.9 yards a carry this season.

Throw in the return of tight ends Cary Angeline and Dylan Autenrieth, Doeren is pleased with the improvement of the rushing attack.

"I thought the line and the tight ends did a nice job for all the backs," said Doeren. "There were a lot of yards after contact.

"For two straight weeks now we've had the same tight ends with the same offensive line and now the backs. I think the consistency is the biggest part that's been hard on that side of the ball."

Saturday's opponent, Boston College, knows exactly what a phenom at running back can do to a team.

Last season as a true freshman, A.J. Dillon was inserted into the lineup for the final seven games of the season. He went on to be named the ACC Rookie of the Year after totaling 1,589 yards on the ground.

In 12 games since Dillon has been the starter at running back on Oct. 14, 2017 at Louisville, Boston College is 9-3 overall and has averaged: 37.7 points per game 261.1 rushing yards per game.

"He's super talented. He's big. He's fast. He's patient. I think he runs with an attitude," said Doeren. "His linemen, tight ends and receivers create run lanes for him. They feed him. He gets the ball a lot, so he gets a lot of opportunities."

The Wolfpack's defense will be charged with slowing down Dillon and a BC offense that has scored 216 points through five games, the most in program history in the first five games of a season, and currently ranks third in the ACC and 19^th nationally averaging 43.2 points per game.

"Boston College will be the best team we've played, there's no doubt," said Doeren. "Statistically they're a very impressive team. They have great players and they're very experienced. They have the nation's best running back."

The NC State defense leads the ACC and ranks third in the NCAA in only giving up two rushing touchdowns this season. In terms of rushing yards per game, NC State ranks fourth in the ACC and 19th nationally in giving up 104.3 yards per game.

"(The) rushing defense since the opener has gotten better the last two games. I think the tackling has gotten better," said Doeren."

With both teams sitting at 1-0 in ACC action this season, and NC State being ranked for the first time at No. 23 in the AP poll, Saturday's game at Carter-Finley Stadium is a pivotal October matchup.

"It's going to be a great game with two really good football teams that are hungry and playing well," said Doeren. "There's a lot on the line for both teams, so that's what college football is all about.

"We're looking forward to the opportunity with our guys against theirs and a home game."

Players Mentioned

Cary Angeline

Dylan Autenrieth

Brady Bodine

Reggie Gallaspy, Jr.

Ricky Person, Jr.

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