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NC State Football

Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Marshall

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6 years ago

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NC State and Marshall will kickoff tonight up in West Virginia at 7pm, but before they do, let’s get to know the Thundering Herd.

Marshall is coming off of a 8-5 record in 2017, which ended in a 31-28 victory over Colorado State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. The Thundering Herd is off to a 2-0 start in 2018, with victories over Miami(OH) (35-28) and Eastern Kentucky (32-16).

Like the Wolfpack, the Herd had their Week 3 (South Carolina) game cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.

Wide Receiver Tyre Brady (6’3″) had a huge season last year as a Junior, with 62 catches for 945 yards and 8 touchdowns. All he did last season against NC State was set a single-game record for most receiving yards by an opponent in Carter-Finley Stadium, with 11 receptions for 248 yards and a touchdown. He’s off to a hot start again, posting 15 receptions for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns through 2 games. Wolfpack Junior Cornerback Nick McCloud will be given the task of chasing Brady all over the field tonight, as he has done with the opposing teams best receiver through the first two games (with much success).

Wolfpack Head Coach Dave Doeren mentioned this week that Marshall had more weapons this year than last year on offense, and one of the weapons he mentioned was Junior Wide Receiver Obi Obialo on the other side of Brady. Through 2 games, Obialo has 8 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Last season Marshall’s Quarterback was Chase Litton, and he threw for 350 yards and 2 touchdowns (1 interception) against the Wolfpack in Carter-Finley Stadium. Litton decided to leave Marshall after his Junior season, and while he went undrafted, he is on the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now the reins have been handed over to Freshman Isaiah Green who has an impressive passing efficiency rating of 141.7 through 2 games. He’s completed 62 percent of his passes, and has 5 touchdown passes to 1 interception.

The Thundering Herd’s rushing attack hasn’t been noteworthy over the first two games, rushing for 260 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Marshall’s running game is really a two-headed monster of Senior Keion Davis and Sophomore Tyler King. Both running backs rushed for over 800+ yards in 2017. Davis was very efficient against the Wolfpack in Raleigh last year, rushing for 74 yards and averaging 9.3 yards per carry. Had the Herd not had to come from behind, he likely would have crossed the century mark. Davis has 28 carries through two games, compared to King’s 21, but King has averaged 4.7 yards per carry, compared to Davis’ 3.3.

The Offensive side of the ball has been Marshall’s strength through two games, averaging 33.5 points per game. They haven’t played a defense as good as NC State’s, but the Wolfpack haven’t played an offense like the Herd either. While the passing attack has been Marshall’s mojo thus far, expect them to try to establish the run, and keep the ball out of Ryan Finley’s hands.

The Marshall defense hasn’t been nearly as stingy as NC State, with the Herd giving up 22 points per game, compared to the Wolfpack’s 10.

The Miami (OH) quarterback put 357 yards on Marshall through the air in Week 1, accompanied by 3 passing touchdowns. This is the first week with NC State’s receiving corps is fully intact, and that doesn’t bode well for the Herd secondary. Stephen Louis is out of concussion protocol, Jakobi Meyers is back from an ankle injury, and Tight End Cary Angeline is eligible for the first time.

With that being said, the Wolfpack’s Band of Brothers will need to protect Finley, because Marshall is averaging 3.5 sacks per game. They will especially need pay close attention to Junior  Linebacker Chase Hancock who has 23 tackles and 2 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 sack through 2 games.

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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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21 hours ago

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April 24, 2024

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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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4 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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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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5 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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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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7 days ago

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April 18, 2024

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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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