NC State Football Looking to Correct Woes Down in Greenville

NC State might hold an 18-13 edge over East Carolina in the series between the two in-state rivals, but the Pirates have had their way against the Wolfpack down in Greenville.

NC State has only won 1 of the 4 matchups against East Carolina down East.

The lone Wolfpack victory came in 2007, when Daniel Evans led the Wolfpack past the Pirates 34-20 on October 20th, 2007.

Evans had himself a day, throwing the ball for 335 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading NC State to pull off the upset, entering the game as 4-point underdogs.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can watch the whole game here.

That’s the only bright spot when it comes to this rivalry game being hosted in Greenville.

In 1999, the Pirates were 8-point favorites, and they easily covered the spread, defeating the Wolfpack 23-6. ECU was ranked 23rd in the AP Poll (21st in the Coaches Poll), and NC State didn’t have any numbers by their name. It was a big day in Greenville. Head Coach Steve Logan became the winningest coach in program history, Quarterback David Garrard rushed for 3 touchdowns, and Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium had record attendance (50,092).

The Pirates fans rushed the field after the victory, not because it was an upset, but because it was their first time hosting their in-state rival, and they brought home the W.

After being favored in the first two matchups in Dowdy-Ficklen, the Pirates pulled off the upset over the Wolfpack in 2010. ECU entered the game as 7.5-point underdogs. Russell Wilson had led the Wolfpack to average an impressive 37.5 points per game through the first 6 games of the season, but found themselves down 21-0 after the 1st Quarter. NC State found a way to come back, and took a 27-24 lead with 3 minutes left in regulation, but it wouldn’t be enough. First year East Carolina Head Coach Ruffin McNeill (now Special Assistant to NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren) led the Pirates to a 37-24 victory over the Wolfpack.

Do you know how many wins NC State finished with in 2010? 9. You know how many 10-win seasons NC State has ever had? 1. If only…

In 2016, a Ryan Finley led NC State team went down to Greenville as 6-point favorites, and left as 3-point losers. In the final seconds, Finley threw a ball across the middle to Stephen Louis, putting NC State in field goal range to tie the game, but the clock expired.

Dave Doeren was the Head Coach for the Wolfpack in 2016, and knows what it tastes like to lose in Dowdy-Ficklen. In 2022, Doeren has the opportunity to get that taste out of his mouth.