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NC State is playing their first game on the road tomorrow against Old Dominion.  Here is a preview of the Monarchs.

Dave Doeren’s Comments on Old Dominion at the Weekly Press Conference

“Old Dominion is 2-0.  Last year they came here, so we are familiar with what they do.  They are different offensively.  Their tailback, Ray Lawry, is leading the nation in rushing.  Last year they really featured their quarterback, who was a great player.  I believe he made the Vikings roster.  Their defense is active up front.  Their Defensive Line has gotten better.  They’re playing active and using their hands well.  They’ve tackled well defensively in the first two games.  They have 4 takeaways and 4 sacks.” (PI)

Strengths

Sophomore Ray Lawry leads the FBS in rushing though two weeks, rushing for 438 yards and 6 touchdowns.  He’s averaging a ridiculous 7.4 yards per carry.  You might be tempted to say that Lawry has produced at this level because of the level of his competition in the first two weeks, Eastern Michigan and Norfolk State, but he averaged 7.1 yards per carry last season on 134 carries.

As a team, Old Dominion is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and averaging 283.5 rushing yards per game.

Unknown

The Old Dominion offense is producing 436.5 yards per game, but they are producing it in a much different way than they did last year.  In 2014, the Monarch’s passing attack (3,510) had almost double the yards of the ground game (1,793).  Taylor Heinicke was the signal caller last season, passing for 3,476 yards and throwing for 30 touchdowns.  Heinicke is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

Redshirt Freshman Shuler Bentley is the Monarch’s signal caller now, and through two games he hasn’t blown the paint off of the wall.  He has completed 30 of 54 (55.6%) for 306 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.   That all adds up to a passing efficiency rating of 105.6.   With that being said, don’t write Bentley off.  He was a 3-star prospect, once rated as a 4-star prospect by 247, and was an honorable mention for the USAToday Parade All-American Team.  He only has two starts under his belt, and has a dangerous target to throw to if they can get in sync.

Junior Wide Receiver Zach Pascal was named to the preseason 1st Team All-Conference USA team.  Last season Heinicke and Pascal were a dangerous tandem.  He had 59 receptions for 743 yards and 7 touchdowns.  If they can get in sync, the Monarch’s offense wouldn’t be so one dimensional.

Weaknesses

The Old Dominion defense has given up  an average of 355 yards of total offense in their first two games, and their two opponents, Eastern Michigan and Norfolk State, you could argue are worse than Troy and Eastern Kentucky.  The Wolfpack’s average of 417 yards of total offense don’t look very encouraging for the Old Dominion defense.

 

 

Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

WATCH QB Grayson McCall’s Tape from the 2024 NC State Spring Game

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NC State will have a new Quarterback in 2024 in Coastal Carolina Transfer Grayson McCall. A few weeks back, McCall looked sharp in the 2024 Spring Game, completing 16 of his 20 pass attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown. McCall was accuracy and composure were evident in his first time playing in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Check out McCall’s tape from the Spring Game.

 

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NC State Football

NC State Legend QB Roman Gabriel Passes Away at the Age of 83

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NC State legend Quarterback Roman Gabriel has passed away at the age of 83.

Gabriel’s Accolades

  • 2 time ACC Player of the Year (1960 & 1961)
  • 2 time 1st Team All-American (1960 & 1961)
  • 2 time 1st Team All-ACC (1960 & 1961)
  • 1st ACC QB to throw for 1,000 yards in a season
  • Left NC State with 22 school records and 9 ACC records
  • #1 pick in the AFL and #2 pick in the NFL
  • 16-year NFL career with the Rams & Eagles
  • 4 time Pro Bowler
  • NFL MVP in 1969
  • Led the NFL in Passing Yards in 1973
  • Led the NFL in Touchdown Passes in 1969 & 1973
  • Inaugural member of the NC State Hall of Fame
  • Ranks 1st all-time in Rams history in Touchdown Passes & 3rd in Passing Yards
  • First player to have their jersey number retired at NC State, on January 20, 1962.

Praying for the Gabriel family!

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NC State Baseball

NC State has Dominated UNC in Athletics in 2023-24

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After NC State clinched a series victory over UNC last night in Baseball, I thought it would be a good time to relish in how the Wolfpack has dominated the Tar Heels Athletic Program as a whole in 2023-24.

The Wolfpack Baseball team has won the first two games in the series against the Tar Heels, clinching a series victory over UNC for the first time since 2021. It marks the first time NC State has won a series against the Tar Heels in Raleigh since 2016.

NC State defeated UNC in Volleyball 3-1, winning in Chapel Hill for the first time in 25 years. The Tar Heels had won the last 5 matches against the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels 39-20 in Football in Carter-Finley Stadium. It marked the 3rd consecutive win over UNC.

NC State lost both regular season games to UNC in Men’s Basketball, but when it mattered most, the Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels in the ACC Championship Game 84-76, winning their first title since 1987.

The Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team lost to their rival in Chapel Hill, but defeated UNC 63-59 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 5 of the last 7 against UNC.

In Gymnastics, NC State defeated UNC 196.725-194.925 in Raleigh. This marked the 3rd straight victory for the Wolfpack over the Tar Heels.

NC State’s Men & Women’s Swimming & Diving teams both beat UNC. The Men won 258-93, and the Women won 196-157.

The Wolfpack Wrestling team defeated UNC 33-6 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 11 straight Duals against the Tar Heels.

The NC State Men’s Tennis team defeated UNC 4-0, winning against their rival in back-to-back years.

The Wolfpack Women’s Tennis team has defeated the Tar Heels 4-3 on two occasions thus far this season, and will face their rival again today.

The Cross Country teams didn’t have individual meets against UNC, but the Women obviously beat them, because they won the ACC Championship. The Men didn’t, finishing 8th in the Conference, with the Tar Heels finishing 1st.

The only other NC State athletic team that didn’t taste victory against UNC this year was the Women’s Soccer team, losing 0-4 in Raleigh.

Of course, each of these NC State athletic teams has much higher goals than just beating their rival, but there’s no denying how sweet it is to beat the Tar Heels.

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NC State Football

WATCH: Hollywood Smothers Leads NC State in Rushing at the Spring Game

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Redshirt Freshman Hollywood Smothers seemingly was the 3rd string Running Back in NC State’s 2024 Spring Game a few weeks back, but at the end of the game, he had more rushing yards than any other back.

Smothers rushed the ball 8 times for 75 yards. He possesses explosive speed, as well as excellent vision.

Check out Pack Insider’s Tape of Smothers from the Spring Game.





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