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Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Wake Forest

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8 hours ago

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In just a bit, NC State will play Wake Forest for the 118th time in the history of the series. Before the two teams take the field, here’s a preview of the Demon Deacons.

Wake Forest enters today’s game with a 1-3 record. After defeating North Carolina A&T 45-13 in Week 1, the Deacs have lost the last three games:

UVA – 30-31

Ole Miss – 6-40

Louisiana – 38-41

Today’s game will be Wake’s first road game of the season.

Truthfully, the Demon Deacons’ offense has not been their problem. It’s averaging 460 yards of Total Offense per game, which ranks 5th in the ACC. They are throwing for 310.5 yards per game, which ranks 4th in the conference.

Redshirt Senior Hank Bachmeier’s stats won’t blow your mind, but he’s been solid, throwing for 1,159 yards, completing 66.7% of his passes, while throwing 5 touchdowns and only 1 interception. His Passing Efficiency Rating is 144.3. According to PFF, he has been elite, with a PFF grade of 91.4, which ranks 2nd in the ACC behind Miami’s Cam Ward.

Junior Running Back Desmond Claiborne has been impressive to start the year, rushing for 335 yards and 4 touchdowns, while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Redshirt Sophomore Tate Carney also has 4 rushing touchdowns.

Redshirt Senior Wide Receiver Taylor Morin leads the team with 24 receptions for 325 yards. Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver Donavon Greene has 16 receptions for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns. Redshirt Freshman Receiver Deuce Alexander has 15 receptions for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns.

For perspective, NC State has two players with 170+ receiving yards (Kevin Concepcion and Justin Joly). Wake Forest has 4.

The Demon Deacons’ O-Line has been formidable, ranking 6th in both Run Blocking and Pass Blocking according to PFF.

Wake Forest’s problem lies on the defensive side of the ball. They are giving up 470.5 yards per game, which ranks dead last in the ACC. The Demon Deacons struggles are holistic, ranking last in Run Defense (184.8) and second-to-last in Pass Defense (285.8).

Wake only has 2 defenders on their roster with a PFF grade of 70+. Redshirt Senior Defensive Tackle Kevin Pointer boasts a grade of 82.8, which ranks 5th in the ACC out of all Interior Defensive Linemen. Pointer has 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 interception.

Senior Defensive End Jasheen Davis has a grade of 80.5. He has only played in 2 games, but has 1 sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.

 

 

 

 

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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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Howler
Howler
6 hours ago

Team must be shaken. Prayers for Grayson.

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Howler
Howler
7 hours ago

Please don’t tell me this can be Morris all over again.

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NC State Football

Wake Forest 34 NC State 30: BOX SCORE

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3 hours ago

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October 5, 2024

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NC State fell to 3-3 today, losing to in-state rival Wake Forest 34-30. Below is the Box Score.

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NC State Football

NC State QB Grayson McCall Leaves Game on Cart After Scary Injury vs. Wake Forest

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6 hours ago

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October 5, 2024

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NC State Redshirt Senior Quarterback Grayson McCall was carted off the field after a scary injury in the Wolfpack’s game vs. Wake Forest this afternoon.

McCall scrambled, attempting to pick up the first down, but was met with 3 Demon Deacon defenders running at full speed from three different directions. His helmet popped off, and the ball flew out of his hand, with Wake Forest returning the ball to the Wolfpack 2-yard line.

I’ll admit, I might have a misunderstanding of the targeting rule, but I’m not sure how this play was not reviewed. Maybe it was because McCall tucked his head down slightly and leaned/ducked as he ran into the mob of players. Nonetheless, the Wake Forest defenders were launching forward with their heads at McCall towards his head and neck.

While I am no doctor, and would never want to speculate on all things medical, it looked as if McCall was initially knocked unconscious.

McCall had just missed the past two games due to an undisclosed injury. Considering the fact that he was knocked out of the final 5 games last year due to another scary hit that resulted in a severe concussion, this injury is even scarier.

Praying for Grayson McCall!

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NC State Football

NC State WR Wesley Grimes Set to Play the Demon Deacons After Transferring from Wake Forest

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12 hours ago

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October 5, 2024

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NC State Junior Wide Receiver Wesley Grimes will be playing against his former teammates when the Wolfpack take the field against the Demon Deacons today. Grimes spent his first two seasons at Wake Forest, before transferring back home to Raleigh this offseason.

Over two seasons, Grimes played in 19 games for the Deacs, starting in 3. As a Sophomore last year, Grimes had 20 receptions for 339 yards, and a team high 4 touchdown receptions.

Raleigh is home to Grimes, playing high school ball at Millbrook right down the road, where he was a 4-star prospect that ON3 ranked as the #36 overall player nationally in the 2022 recruiting class, the #4 Wide Receiver and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

As a Freshman, Grimes didn’t play against the Wolfpack when he was with Wake Forest, but he did have 1 reception for 9 yards in last years game in Winston-Salem.

Through 5 games this season, Grimes has 7 receptions for 72 yards.

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NC State Football

NC State vs. Wake Forest: A Historical Perspective

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12 hours ago

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October 5, 2024

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UNC might be NC State’s biggest rival, but the Wolfpack have played the Demon Deacons more than any other team in the history of the program.

Today’s contest between NC State and Wake Forest marks the 118th time the two teams have played one another in Football. The Wolfpack hold a 69-42-6 advantage in the series.

The Wolfpack and the Demon Deacons have played on another every single year since 1910, which is the longest continuous rivalry in the ACC, and the 2nd longest in the FBS. The longest continuous rivalry in the FBS is Wisconsin and Minnesota, who have played on another every year since 1906.

Heading into today, NC State has won 3 of the last 4. The Wolfpack are 4-1 against the Deacs in Carter-Finley Stadium under Dave Doeren. In fact, NC State has won 7 of the last 8 games against Wake Forest at home.

When these two teams get together, it’s rarely boring. Five of the last seven games have been decided by 10 points or less, with 4 of them being decided by 6 points or less.

 

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