NC State Can’t Handle Notre Dame, Falls 35-14

NC State ran into a monster today.

Notre Dame is the real deal, and the Wolfpack hasn’t faced a team close to their caliber thus far this season.

Louisville and Florida St. have shown their true colors since NC State beat them, and they aren’t pretty.

The Wolfpack made things very interesting in the first half. Reserve Defensive End James Smith-Williams blocked Notre Dame’s punt, and  Linebacker Germaine Pratt recovered it in the endzone for a touchdown.

Notre Dame responded with a two play 60-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Brandon Wimbush to Tight End Durham Smythe.

In the second quarter NC State continued to control the game, going up 14-7 on a insane one-hand 15-yard touchdown catch by Kelvin Harmon.

But the Irish did the same thing they did before. They responded with a 3-yard touchdown keeper by quarterback Brandon Wimbush.

That was the end of any semblance of a competitive football game. Notre Dame went on to score 28 unanswered points.

The Wolfpack came in as the #6 rush defense in the country, but they hadn’t played Notre Dame running back Josh Adams yet. He rushed for 202 yards and a touchdown.

With NC State running back Nyheim Hines leaving the game early with a turned ankle, the Wolfpack offense was thrown off-kilter. Jaylen Samuels was forced to the backfield, removing him from where he is most dangerous in the passing game. Reggie Gallaspy wasn’t able to reproduce the production of Hines.

Thus the weight of the game fell upon the shoulders of Wolfpack Quarterback Ryan Finley, who could never get anything going. He finally threw his first interception of the season, which was returned for a touchdown. He entered the game completing nearly 70% of his passes on the season, but only completed 47% against the Irish. Countless passes were deflected and broken up. The Wolfpack offensive line was unable to stop the Irish pass rush, and the NC State receivers were unable to get separation.

The Wolfpack also committed an audaicous 12 penalties. Notre Dame made two miracle catches that were inches away from being out of bounds.

It wasn’t NC State’s day.

Well, I would be remiss to not mention that it was Wolfpack Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon’s day. He had 7 receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown.

As deflating as this loss is for NC State and their fans, this loss did zero to hurt their pursuit of an ACC championship. Dave Doeren has been preaching a philosophy of focusing on one game at a time, and that will be imperative this week.

Clemson is on the horizon.