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NC State Football

Relishing in NC State’s Beat Down of UNC

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5 months ago

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NC State checked off every possible box tonight in their 39-20 beat down of UNC tonight. The 19-point margin of victory, is the largest over the Tar Heels since 2014, when the Wolfpack beat their rivals 35-7 in Chapel Hill in Doeren’s 2nd year on the job.

The UNC defense was advertised to be terrible, and terrible they were. NC State dropped 504 yards of Total Offense on the Heels, which is the 2nd most yards they have allowed all season. The 504 yards of offense is the most by the Wolfpack this season, and the most since they accumulated 538 yards of offense against Charleston Southern in Week 2 of last season. If you’re wondering when was the last time NC State had 500+ yards of Total Offense against an ACC opponent, that would be when they had 518 yards against Louisville in 2018.

NC State needed their stars to shine tonight, which meant Quarterback Brennan Armstrong and Wide Receiver Kevin Concepcion needed to show up on offense, and Linebacker Payton Wilson needed to shut things down on defense.

Check. Check. Check.

Armstrong, who due to a rib injury, didn’t throw all week long, played like the warrior he is. It was clear early on that he wasn’t able to run with the level of ferocity that we are used to seeing, sliding on runs in order to protect himself. If it hurt him to throw the ball, you wouldn’t have known it. Armstrong was 22 of 31 for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns (0 interceptions), with a Passing Efficiency Rating of 193.4, which is his highest rating ever against an ACC opponent, and the third best overall.

Concepcion led NC State in receiving with 7 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he also led the Wolfpack in rushing, with 11 carries for 55 yards. He was dinged up all night long, going into the injury tent on two separate occasions, but nothing could seemingly keep him off the field. I agree with Brennan Armstrong, who in a postgame interview said “I’ve never seen a True Freshman like him before.”

NC State absolutely dominated the time of possession battle, possessing the ball for an insane 40:00, compared to UNC’s 19:54.

The Wolfpack offense also took care of the football, failing to commit a turnover.

On the other hand, the Wolfpack defense forced the Tar Heels to commit 3 turnovers, with two of those being interceptions by Drake Maye.

When you win the time of possession battle by double and boast a +3 turnover margin, you are dominating your opponent.

Speaking of domination, Linebacker Payton Wilson might have forced the hand of the voters for the Nagurski, Butkus and Bednarik Awards. There is no better defensive player in college football. Wilson finished the night with 15 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception. Absolutely absurd.

The Wolfpack defense held UNC to 384 yards of total offense, which is their 2nd lowest offensive production of the season.

Tar Heel Running Back Omarion Hampton was the nations leading rusher heading into this week, but NC State rendered him useless, rushing 9 times for 28 yards. Of course, that’s a season low for Hampton.

Drake Maye’s Passing Efficiency Rating was 120.9, which is his 2nd lowest of the season. Maye more than likely is leaving UNC having never beat NC State, which brings a huge grin to my face, after he ran his mouth last year. Two of his three worst performances in 2 seasons came at the hands of the Wolfpack defense. Priceless.

Wide Receiver Tez Walker has seemed unstoppable this season after being cleared to play, that is, until he faced Cornerback Aydan White. Walker was targeted 11 times, and finished with only 2 receptions for 29 yards.

NC State finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, a 6-2 ACC record, and a 3rd place finish in the conference. Payton Wilson should be Defensive Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year. Kevin Concepcion should be the ACC Rookie of the Year. Dave Doeren should be heavily considered as the ACC Coach of the Year.

There’s nothing better than ending the regular season with a good old fashion beat down of UNC.

 

 

 

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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wolfpack74
wolfpack74
5 months ago

Use this game as a spring board for recruiting better players overall. We have decent stars but need to raise the bar to the next level. I have nothing to complain about the last five games. The best stretch I can remember. Get well and win the bowl game and beat Tennessee next year. I happen to live in Knoxville now.

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NC State Football

NC State Offers FCS DT Brandon Lane

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7 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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NC State offered Stephen F. Austin (FCS) Transfer Defensive Tackle Brandon Lane (6’3″/300) yesterday.

Lane started in 6 of the 11 games he played in for Stephen F. Austin this past season. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 74.6, which ranked 4th on the Lumberjacks Defense. His 79.9 Run Defense Grade ranked 3rd on the team. In 2022, Lane played 7 games as a reserve for Stephen F. Austin, recording 11 tackles 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Lane spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State (2000-21). In 2000, he played in 1 game. In 2021, he played in 3 games as a reserve for the Jackrabbits. The 2000 season was the Covid Year, and the 2021 season was his redshirt year. As a result, Lane still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Around a week-and-a-half ago, Lane committed to Michigan St., but then he decommitted from the Spartans on May 2nd.

I don’t think Michigan St. is necessarily off the table, and he has visited Washington and West Virginia.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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3 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

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2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

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NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

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3 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

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NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

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4 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. (6’1″/195) confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next week beginning on May 7th.

After receiving an offer from NC State yesterday, it didn’t take him long to set up the visit.

Martin Jr. is familiar with NC State, because he was recruited by Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson before he left West Virginia to come to Raleigh. Even though he never coached him, a relationship was established.

Martin Jr.’s connections to NC State are deeper than that. Former NC State Cornerback Derrek Pitts, who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is his cousin.

This past year, Martin Jr. recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for Akron, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. His PFF Grade was 68.9.

In 2022, he had 53 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. Martin Jr.’s PFF Grade was 60.9.

In 2019, as a Freshman for West Virginia, Martin Jr. earned PFF Freshman All-American honors, recording a grade of 70.6, with 50 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

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