Written by Erik Slaby
(Raleigh, NC) - a cool, sunny afternoon here in Raleigh, at Carter-Finley Stadium, the North Carolina State University Wolfpack lost 21-14, to the Boston College Eagles. This loss now gives NC State a 4-4 record on the season and a 1-3 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This win by Boston College ends their 12 game losing streak of ACC games. NC State had the lead late into the fourth quarter, when they blew the lead but they still had an opportunity to win the game late and were still unable to close the deal.
With roughly nine minutes left in the game, NC State led Boston College 14-13, when Boston College started their drive. Boston College quarterback Patrick Towles was able to lead the offense down the field in a slow, effective touchdown drive. It was highlighted by two pass plays over 20 yards and the touchdown.
On Boston College’s second play of the drive, Towles completed a 21 yard pass to tight end Tommy Sweeney to move the Eagles to their own 40 yard line. After a few running plays and holding penalty, Boston College was facing a second down, with 20 yards to go on the NC State 39 yard line. Towles stepped and launched a dart to wide receiver Michael Walker for 25 yards to put Boston College in even better field position and moved the chains.
On the very next play, Towles faked a quarterback keeper and handed the ball off to running back Davon Jones who threw the ball to Sweeney in the end zone for a touchdown. Boston College then converted a two-point conversion on a pass from Towles to Sweeney. At this point, Boston College led 21-14. NC State head coach Dave Doeren spoke after the game about the trick play for a touchdown.
“Defensively, I thought we played pretty well until the last halfback pass play where we had a bust in coverage, a guy playing over aggressive in the run game and trying to make a play.” Doeren also added that when “you give up a play on a trick play where our eyes were bad,” there are always areas within the game that the team needs to improve upon.
Even though NC State allowed Boston College to take the lead, they still had a chance to win the game. From the kickoff on, it looked like NC State would be able to drive down the field and get the win. Wide receiver Nyheim Hines returned the kickoff 56 yards to give NC State great field position at the Boston College 42 yard line. On the very next play, quarterback Ryan Finley completed a 32 yard strike to Hines to give the team first and goal on the 10 yard line.
NC State struggled to run the ball for the majority of this game so when they got down to the 10 yard line, on their first two plays, they ran the ball for a total of four yards. Not a bad idea, but given the way the Boston College defense had been playing against the run, a pass may have been a better option. On third down, Finley attempted a pass and it was incomplete but there was pass interference by Boston College, which then moved the ball to their two yard line.
On the next two plays NC State running back Matt Dayes lost a yard and carried the ball for no gain. On third down, from the Boston College three yard line, Finley badly underthrew a pass in the end zone where it was intercepted by defensive back Kamrin Moore. Thereby ending any chance NC State had for a comeback.
Offensively, NC State was led by Finley who completed 23 of 41 passes, for 307 yards, two touchdowns but also two interceptions. For the second game in a row, NC State struggled to run the ball. Last week against Louisville, their net rushing yardage was 14. Against Boston College, their net yardage running the ball was 31. Coach Doeren spoke after the game about the performance of the running game.
“I’m disappointed obviously. I take pride in being able to run the football, and that’s two games in a row where we haven’t been able to do that so we’ve gotta look at what we’re doing first. Why it’s not working out as well as we think it should, and look at some things we can do to block things better, format things to help them in the run game.”
When asked about what kind of effect that this lackluster running game can have on Finley, Doeren stated, “When you can’t run the football, which we haven’t be able to for two weeks, it turns into a pretty one-dimensional offense and it’s hard on a quarterback.”
Boston College was led by Towles, who finished the game completing 18 of 33 passes for 204 yards and an interception. He also had 13 rushing yards. Running back Jon Hillman and wide receiver Jeff Smith combined for 25 carries, for 124 yards and one touchdown. Smith may have had the highlight of the night when he took a wide receiver end-around and sprinted down the field for a 60 yard touchdown. Boston College head coach Steve Addazio spoke after the game about the team.
“I’m proud of our football program. I’m proud of our football players and team. They played with unbelievable resolve and took a step forward in learning how to bring out the best of each other.”
Next week, NC State is back at home, but they face a much tougher opponent then they did today, in Florida State. They have a high powered offense and a much improved defense than how they performed earlier this season. NC State will need to get back on track offensively in being able to run the ball, as well as defensively in being able to stop the run, or they will have a very difficult time against a very talented Florida State team.
With roughly nine minutes left in the game, NC State led Boston College 14-13, when Boston College started their drive. Boston College quarterback Patrick Towles was able to lead the offense down the field in a slow, effective touchdown drive. It was highlighted by two pass plays over 20 yards and the touchdown.
On Boston College’s second play of the drive, Towles completed a 21 yard pass to tight end Tommy Sweeney to move the Eagles to their own 40 yard line. After a few running plays and holding penalty, Boston College was facing a second down, with 20 yards to go on the NC State 39 yard line. Towles stepped and launched a dart to wide receiver Michael Walker for 25 yards to put Boston College in even better field position and moved the chains.
On the very next play, Towles faked a quarterback keeper and handed the ball off to running back Davon Jones who threw the ball to Sweeney in the end zone for a touchdown. Boston College then converted a two-point conversion on a pass from Towles to Sweeney. At this point, Boston College led 21-14. NC State head coach Dave Doeren spoke after the game about the trick play for a touchdown.
“Defensively, I thought we played pretty well until the last halfback pass play where we had a bust in coverage, a guy playing over aggressive in the run game and trying to make a play.” Doeren also added that when “you give up a play on a trick play where our eyes were bad,” there are always areas within the game that the team needs to improve upon.
Even though NC State allowed Boston College to take the lead, they still had a chance to win the game. From the kickoff on, it looked like NC State would be able to drive down the field and get the win. Wide receiver Nyheim Hines returned the kickoff 56 yards to give NC State great field position at the Boston College 42 yard line. On the very next play, quarterback Ryan Finley completed a 32 yard strike to Hines to give the team first and goal on the 10 yard line.
NC State struggled to run the ball for the majority of this game so when they got down to the 10 yard line, on their first two plays, they ran the ball for a total of four yards. Not a bad idea, but given the way the Boston College defense had been playing against the run, a pass may have been a better option. On third down, Finley attempted a pass and it was incomplete but there was pass interference by Boston College, which then moved the ball to their two yard line.
On the next two plays NC State running back Matt Dayes lost a yard and carried the ball for no gain. On third down, from the Boston College three yard line, Finley badly underthrew a pass in the end zone where it was intercepted by defensive back Kamrin Moore. Thereby ending any chance NC State had for a comeback.
Offensively, NC State was led by Finley who completed 23 of 41 passes, for 307 yards, two touchdowns but also two interceptions. For the second game in a row, NC State struggled to run the ball. Last week against Louisville, their net rushing yardage was 14. Against Boston College, their net yardage running the ball was 31. Coach Doeren spoke after the game about the performance of the running game.
“I’m disappointed obviously. I take pride in being able to run the football, and that’s two games in a row where we haven’t been able to do that so we’ve gotta look at what we’re doing first. Why it’s not working out as well as we think it should, and look at some things we can do to block things better, format things to help them in the run game.”
When asked about what kind of effect that this lackluster running game can have on Finley, Doeren stated, “When you can’t run the football, which we haven’t be able to for two weeks, it turns into a pretty one-dimensional offense and it’s hard on a quarterback.”
Boston College was led by Towles, who finished the game completing 18 of 33 passes for 204 yards and an interception. He also had 13 rushing yards. Running back Jon Hillman and wide receiver Jeff Smith combined for 25 carries, for 124 yards and one touchdown. Smith may have had the highlight of the night when he took a wide receiver end-around and sprinted down the field for a 60 yard touchdown. Boston College head coach Steve Addazio spoke after the game about the team.
“I’m proud of our football program. I’m proud of our football players and team. They played with unbelievable resolve and took a step forward in learning how to bring out the best of each other.”
Next week, NC State is back at home, but they face a much tougher opponent then they did today, in Florida State. They have a high powered offense and a much improved defense than how they performed earlier this season. NC State will need to get back on track offensively in being able to run the ball, as well as defensively in being able to stop the run, or they will have a very difficult time against a very talented Florida State team.