North Carolina State University Athletics
Comeback Pack Adds Another Program First
10/9/2022 2:17:00 PM | Football
To win its 14th straight game at Carter-Finley Stadium, NC State had to overcome a 14-point halftime deficit. It would take a flip of the script offensively and defensively from the first half to the second.Â
Some of it was schematic, some of it soul-searching.Â
"It was just looking them in the eye and saying 'this is a gut check, men,'" Dave Doeren said about their halftime approach. "'You're going to be tested as competitors. This is your stadium, so how do you want to look in it?' It was more about the attitude change and the execution."
The offense immediately responded on the opening possession of the second half with a 10-play, 84-yard scoring drive. It was a balanced attack with 33 yards on the ground and 55 through the air. Devin Leary completed all four of his passes with the final one, a touchdown to Darryl Jones.Â
That drive energized the entire team.Â
Defensively, the Wolfpack shut down and shut out the Seminoles in the second half. At one point in the 4th quarter, Florida State had only 28 yards of total offense and they would never add to their halftime point total.Â
NC State's defensive mindset had changed. "We said 'we're going to win this game and shut them out in the second half,'" Drake Thomas said. "We spoke it into existence, and we went out there and got the job done."
Thomas led the Wolfpack with a season-high 14 tackles. His fellow linebackers Payton Wilson and Isaiah Moore each tallied 10 tackles.Â
Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis had only thrown one interception the entire year. The Pack would pick a pair in the second half, one by Shyheim Battle and one by Devan Boykin to preserve the win.
Late in the third quarter, the offensive game plan had to be modified with the injury to Devin Leary. Doeren said after the game that X-rays were negative but Leary would have an MRI to see the severity of the injury.
Stay ready. It's a phrase that the Wolfpack lives by.Â
Enter transfer quarterback Jack Chambers. With savvy scrambles and designed quarterback runs, Chambers had 7 carries for 47 yards. His running ability set up three of Christopher Dunn's four field goals. (And what a year Dunn is having, converting all 11 field goal attempts and all 20 extra points!).
Maybe the last thing Chambers was thinking about before the game was fielding questions in the postgame press conference. But there he was, with a wide smile of gratitude after playing a major role in the Wolfpack's win.
"Best feeling I've experienced in my college football career," Chambers said.Â
The experience of playing four years at Charleston Southern was evident as Chambers entered a chaotic situation. "The guys already know I've played a lot of football. They came up to me and were like 'hey, we got you.' It's definitely a surreal moment just being able to be there for this team, do my job, and come out with the victory."
Before leaving the field after the game, Dave Doeren tracked down Chambers to give him a big, bear hug. "I'm proud of Jack Chambers coming in and leading the team the way that he did," Doeren said.
They don't beat Florida State without him.Â
The 19-17 comeback marks the third straight win over the Seminoles and that's a first for the Wolfpack program.Â
By Jeff Gravley
Some of it was schematic, some of it soul-searching.Â
"It was just looking them in the eye and saying 'this is a gut check, men,'" Dave Doeren said about their halftime approach. "'You're going to be tested as competitors. This is your stadium, so how do you want to look in it?' It was more about the attitude change and the execution."
The offense immediately responded on the opening possession of the second half with a 10-play, 84-yard scoring drive. It was a balanced attack with 33 yards on the ground and 55 through the air. Devin Leary completed all four of his passes with the final one, a touchdown to Darryl Jones.Â
That drive energized the entire team.Â
Defensively, the Wolfpack shut down and shut out the Seminoles in the second half. At one point in the 4th quarter, Florida State had only 28 yards of total offense and they would never add to their halftime point total.Â
NC State's defensive mindset had changed. "We said 'we're going to win this game and shut them out in the second half,'" Drake Thomas said. "We spoke it into existence, and we went out there and got the job done."
Thomas led the Wolfpack with a season-high 14 tackles. His fellow linebackers Payton Wilson and Isaiah Moore each tallied 10 tackles.Â
Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis had only thrown one interception the entire year. The Pack would pick a pair in the second half, one by Shyheim Battle and one by Devan Boykin to preserve the win.
Late in the third quarter, the offensive game plan had to be modified with the injury to Devin Leary. Doeren said after the game that X-rays were negative but Leary would have an MRI to see the severity of the injury.
Stay ready. It's a phrase that the Wolfpack lives by.Â
Enter transfer quarterback Jack Chambers. With savvy scrambles and designed quarterback runs, Chambers had 7 carries for 47 yards. His running ability set up three of Christopher Dunn's four field goals. (And what a year Dunn is having, converting all 11 field goal attempts and all 20 extra points!).
Maybe the last thing Chambers was thinking about before the game was fielding questions in the postgame press conference. But there he was, with a wide smile of gratitude after playing a major role in the Wolfpack's win.
"Best feeling I've experienced in my college football career," Chambers said.Â
The experience of playing four years at Charleston Southern was evident as Chambers entered a chaotic situation. "The guys already know I've played a lot of football. They came up to me and were like 'hey, we got you.' It's definitely a surreal moment just being able to be there for this team, do my job, and come out with the victory."
Before leaving the field after the game, Dave Doeren tracked down Chambers to give him a big, bear hug. "I'm proud of Jack Chambers coming in and leading the team the way that he did," Doeren said.
They don't beat Florida State without him.Â
The 19-17 comeback marks the third straight win over the Seminoles and that's a first for the Wolfpack program.Â
By Jeff Gravley
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballCoach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24