Home > Jessie Nunery > Archives > 2008 > October > 04 > Entry
N.C. State/Boston College observations
N.C. State showed a ton of fight Saturday, but there is only such a thing as a win-loss record. No ties and no almosts.
The Wolfpack allowed Boston College to march right down the field for the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in an Eagles 38-31 victory Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Minus the final drive, N.C. State should feel good about the way it competed.
Boston College spread the ball all over the field early Saturday. It looked as if N.C. State would never stop the Eagles’ offense. The Wolfpack played from behind all day. 7-0. 14-7, 17-7 … and so on. The Wolfpack’s 31-17 halftime deficit looked almost insurmountable. But two touchdowns in the next 10 minutes of action made it a tied game before Boston College’s winning drive.
What went well for the Wolfpack on Saturday?
T.J. Graham’s kick returns. The speedster returned a kick for a 100-yard touchdown to end the first quarter and had a number of other successful returns.
Quarterback Russell Wilson. If the redshirt freshman stays healthy - and that’s a BIG if so far this season - he will definitely be the Wolfpack’s best choice for the position. He eludes pass rushers very well and has a strong arm. Most of all, he competes hard.
What didn’t go so well for the Wolfpack?
Defense. No matter what late-game heroics the offense produced, the defense allowed more than 500 yards for the second consecutive game. Yes, there are injuries across the board. The team misses linebacker Nate Irving, but the Wolfpack’s performance has to be better.
N.C. State heads into its bye week with a 2-4 record, including a 0-2 mark in ACC play. Few are surprised by the start, but a win Saturday could have put the Wolfpack at .500, which would have been a huge accomplishment considering the circumstances.
The Wolfpack play host to Florida State on Oct. 16 in the final contest of a four-game homestand. N.C. State needs to at least win at home. If the Wolfpack can dig a little deeper in future games, ALMOST, might not become a part of the team’s vocabulary.
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