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Evaluating NC State football at the bye week
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PAGE 12 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018
Evaluating NC State football at the bye week
Andrew Schnittker
Sports Editor
With no game to play this week, the players and coaches on the NC State football team have to be feeling pretty good about themselves. The team has won all five of the games it’s played, is 2-0 to start ACC play and has played strong on both sides of the ball.
That sets the table for NC State to put itself in the driver’s seat to win the ACC Atlantic Division with a trip to take on No. 4 Clemson next week. That’s a tall task, but the Pack has played Clemson tough both of the last times it played the Tigers.
In order to give itself a chance, the Wolfpack will need to continue to do what it has done in two phases of the game and clean up one other. Let’s take a look at one strength, one surprise and one area that needs to improve going into one of the biggest games of the Dave Doeren era.
Strength: Offense – No surprise here. The prevailing thought coming into the season was that NC State would field the best passing attack in the ACC, and the first five games did nothing to dispute that notion. Finley leads the ACC in passing yards with 1621, is second in completion percentage at 69.5 and has 10 touchdown passes to go with just three picks.
Finley has spread the ball around to his plethora of weapons. Junior Kelvin Harmon is second in the ACC with 534 receiving yards and tied for second with 33 catches. Redshirt junior Jakobi Meyers is fourth with 30 catches. Graduate Stephen Louis, sophomore Emeka Emezie, redshirt sophomore C.J. Riley, redshirt freshman Thayer Thomas and redshirt sophomore tight end Cary Angeline have also made their mark.
Through nonconference play, the run game minus NFLer Nyheim Hines was a concern. Enter healthy freshman Ricky Person Jr., and that’s no longer the case. Person had 108 yards on 14 carries in the ACC play-opening win over Virginia, and had 92 yards on 17 carries against Boston College. Senior Reggie Gallaspy Jr. joined the fun against Boston College with 104 yards and two scores on 25 carries.
A balanced, full-strength Wolfpack offense is a scary prospect for opposing defenses.
“I think it’s definitely challenging [for defenses],” Doeren said after the Virginia win. “You can’t look at one guy and say, ‘We’re going to take [Harmon] out of the game.’ You can do that, but you’re going to suffer on the other side.”
Surprise: Defense – The Wolfpack definitely has the pieces on defense to overcome the losses from last year and not experience a huge drop-off. Through the first five games, it’s been better than last year. The Pack currently ranks 15th in the country in scoring defense, as the team is allowing an average of just 16.8 points per game.
“I really don’t feel a drop-off,” senior defensive tackle Eurndraus Bryant said after the win against the Eagles. “A lot of people think it’s a drop-off between all those good players last year and now, but the way we’re playing right now, I’m loving it. It feels the same, honestly, if not better.”
That was on display against Boston College, where the team only allowed the Eagles to cash in 10 points on four turnovers, and held them to three points until late in the third quarter. Graduate linebacker Germaine Pratt leads the way, and he leads the ACC with 49 tackles.
The Pack’s secondary is better than it’s been in years, and the front seven is steady, if less flashy than last year’s NFL-laden unit, currently sitting at 15th in the country in run defense. The team will need its defense to take it to another level against Clemson and Syracuse, but it’s certainly capable of doing so.
“Tough as nails,” Doeren said. “[Defensive Coordinator Dave Huxtable] and his staff have those guys right where they want them. The kids are playing hard, they believe in what they’re doing and they’re playing together. They don’t care who makes the play or who gets the credit; they just play hard.”
Concern: Special teams – This is actually an area where the Pack has improved in one regard, with freshman Christopher Dunn giving the team a reliable kicker for the first time in years. However, mistakes on special teams have kept what should have been comfortable wins closer than they needed to be.
The Pack gave up a touchdown on a kickoff return fumble against Marshall, allowed Virginia to recover an onside kick, and muffed a punt, had a field goal blocked and gave up a blocked punt touchdown against Boston College. The team also needs to improve its coverage on kick and punt returns.
So far, these self-inflicted wounds have not cost the Pack a win, but the team would do well to avoid pushing its luck on special teams in the remaining games, especially against Clemson.
NICK FAULKNER/TECHNICIAN Graduate linebacker Germaine Pratt celebrates after a sack on Saturday, Oct. 6 in CarterFinley Stadium. Pratt led had team highs of 13 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble that he also recovered during the 28-23 win over Boston College.
Men’s soccer set for showdown with UNC-CH
Jason Bacherman
Staff Writer NC State men’s soccer team will face No. 1 UNC-Chapel Hill Friday at Dail Soccer Stadium.
The Wolfpack owns an overall record of 7-3-2 but has gone just 1-3-1 in conference after a four-match winless streak prior to cruising past Longwood 2-0 Tuesday.
To the Pack’s credit, the lone conference win did come after a 10-day layoff, due to Hurricane Florence, against a formidable Virginia Tech squad that was ranked No. 14 at the time. The team also played to a draw against then-No. 6 Louisville during
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PAGE 13 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018
Wolfpack volleyball looks to bounce back against Virginia
Kailee Jurnak
Staff Writer
NC State volleyball returns from being on the road for the past four games to play against Virginia this Friday at Reynolds Coliseum.
The road was rough on the Wolfpack (8-8, 2-4 ACC) as it only managed one win against Virginia Tech and lost to UNC-Chapel Hill 1-3, Florida State 0-3 and Miami 1-3.
The Pack is looking to resume its strong performance on its home court after having won its last home match 3-1 against Notre Dame.
Last season, the Pack defeated Virginia 3-0 for its seventh ACC win during its undefeated run. Senior middle blocker Teni Sopitan had nine kills of her 10 points. Senior setter Kylie Pickrell had an ace, two blocks and three kills.
The Pack played better each set against Virginia, holding the Cavaliers to fewer and fewer points. In the first set Virginia had hit its peak with 20 points but was then held to 25-19 and finally 25-17 in the third and final set.
The Pack managed to keep Virginia’s top scorer to 11 points. Notably, the Pack out-blocked Virginia 10-5 but both had 42 kills throughout the entire match. Blocking has been a weaker part of the Pack’s game this season and, if the game is anything like last season, Virginia could give the Pack a hard time, as both teams focus on offensive play.
It could be a similar game if the Pack plays to its potential. Last season, the Pack had been 7-0 while the Cavaliers were 0-7. This season, the Pack has been struggling in the early part of the ACC season with a 2-4 record. The Cavaliers are having even more troubles with a 1-5 current ACC record.
The Cavaliers have lost to Florida State 0-3, Miami 1-3 and Virginia Tech 0-3.
The Wolfpack should watch out for Virginia’s sophomore Sarah Billiard and junior Jelena Novakovic who are the Cavaliers’ top hitters. Billiard’s season high was against Mason with 25 kills out of her 27 points. Novakovic’s best game was against Boston College with 17 points, 15 of her points being kills.
The Wolfpack has a few more days of rest and time to prepare for its upcoming match with the first serve at 6 p.m.
NICK FAULKNER/TECHNICIAN Senior setter Kylie Pickrell makes a pass on Friday, Aug. 24 in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack defeated Virgina Commonwealth University 3-2.
SOCCER
continued from page 12
the four-match winless stretch.
The winless streak did cause the Pack to fall out of the polls, though it is still receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
The Tar Heels have turned in another stellar season thus far, going 9-1-1 overall with perfect ACC record of 4-0-0 while accumulating impressive wins against UNCWilmington and Notre Dame. The team’s only loss came at the hands of Indiana, which currently sits at No. 4 in the polls.
Like the Wolfpack, the Heels traveled to a Virginia school for a match Tuesday night, but only managed to draw Old Dominion 1-1, ending a streak of eight straight wins.
NC State will continue to depend on the play of sophomore goalkeeper Leon Krapf. The Germany native has recorded five shutouts and 35 saves and ranks fourth in the ACC with a 0.87 goals-against average.
In goal for UNC-CH is James Pyle, who has had a fine year of his own, notching four shutouts and a 0.76 goals-against average.
Junior midfielder Gabriel Machado hasn’t put a ball in the back of the net for the Wolfpack since playing Louisville on Sept 28, but his presence will be needed if NC State is to pull the upset. In his first year with the team after transferring from Monroe College, Machado has proved to be a valuable addition, leading the team with 10 points and four goals.
The Heels will depend on Nils Bruening and Giovanni Montesdeoca, who have 13 and 12 points this season, respectively. Both players have been standouts on the team, adding five goals apiece.
If NC State were to come away with the upset, it would be the first win over the rival Tar Heels since 2013, as UNC has taken the past two matches in 2014 and 2017. The Wolfpack owns an all-time record of 21-52-12 against the Heels.
A win would be incredibly beneficial for NC State’s NCAA Tournament hopes and for its place in the ACC standings with just three regular season games remaining.
The match is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at Dail Soccer Stadium and can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
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PAGE 14 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018
Pack swimming set for strong campaign despite loss of Held, Ipsen
Alec Sawyer
Assistant Sports Editor
A new season is upon the NC State swimming and diving team, as the Wolfpack will look to continue on its recent trend of domination. The season begins this Friday night at South Carolina.
The Wolfpack men open the season at No. 4 in the country, after finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships for the third year in a row last season. The NC State women will start the year at No. 11, coming off of five straight top-20 national finishes.
While continued national success is on the table yet again for the Pack, the domination of the ACC will also be on the forefront for the Wolfpack heading into this 2018-19 season.
NC State has won the ACC men’s title four years in a row, and is the heavy favorite to make it five this year. After winning the ACC in the 2016-17 season, the Wolfpack women fell back to third last season, but have the roster to compete for the conference title once again.
On the men’s side, the Pack will have to replace two of the program’s greatest all-time swimmers in Ryan Held and Anton Ipsen. Together, Held and Ipsen hold 7 of 14 individual NC State records. Add departed senior Hennessey Stuart’s school record in the 200-yard backstroke, and that is more than half of the school’s individual men’s records departing in one offseason.
Additionally, Held is on every school-record relay. With Held, Ipsen and Stuart departing, the Pack has a ton to replace. However, there’s no reason to believe that NC State will regress this season without those superstars, as the talent behind them is maybe just as good.
Leading the returning Wolfpack men are seniors Justin Ress, Andreas Vazaios and Jacob Molacek, as well as junior Coleman Stewart and sophomores Jack McIntyre and Eric Knowles. Vazaios is the star of this group. He holds school records in the 200-yard freestyle, individual medley and butterfly, and captured an NCAA title in the 200 fly last season.
Vazaios was named the ACC Men’s Swimmer of the Year last season, and capped off the year with his 200 fly national title as well as his second straight 800-yard freestyle relay NCAA title. Molacek and Ress were also on that 800 free relay team, and are both vital individual swimmers as well.
While Held dominated the 50-yard freestyle during his time at NC State, Ress has the school’s third-fastest time in the event and should fill into Held’s role as the main freestyle sprint man seamlessly.
To go along with Vazaios’ 200 fly NCAA title, Ipsen won the national championship in the 1,650-yard freestyle and Stewart won in the 100-yard backstroke. Stewart will return to NC State with a chance to defend that title, and will anchor a strong backstroke group for the Pack.
It will be McIntyre and Knowles taking over in the distance events, which they have excelled in already at NC State. Knowles holds the school’s third-fastest time in the 500-yard freestyle, while McIntyre is third-fastest in the 1,650 free.
With all of its returning talent, including the likes of guys who have had smaller roles in the past like sophomore Giovanni Izzo and senior Cobe Garcia, there is no reason to believe the Wolfpack men’s team will have any fall-off. An ACC title is likely for the Wolfpack men, and so is another top-five NCAA finish.
The Wolfpack women finished 18th at NCAAs last year, but return most of their talent back to the pool. The most significant departure for the NC State women is Hannah Moore, who ended her career with the Pack with a third-place finish in the 1,650 free at NCAAs. She leaves the school holding four individual records.
However, apart from Moore, most of the Wolfpack’s talent is back. Junior Ky-Lee Perry and senior Elise Haan lead the charge. Perry holds the school record in the 50-yard freestyle, and is one of the nation’s premiere sprint specialists. Haan finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke at NCAAs, and holds the school record in the event.
To go along with Perry and Haan, sophomores Kate Moore and Tamila Holub return to help lead the Pack. Moore burst on the scene as a dangerous middle-distance swimmer last year, and should continue to build on that. Holub had success in the distance events in her freshman season, and sits second in school history in the 1,650 free and third in the 500 free.
The Wolfpack women should compete for an ACC title, along with the ever-talented Virginia Cavaliers. Another top-20 NCAA finish is also likely to come for the Wolfpack.
On the diving side of things, juniors Madeline Kline and James Brady are the names to watch. Kline and Brady had strong seasons last year, bringing up a diving team that has been average over the past few seasons. Brady qualified for the NCAA Championships in 3-meter and platform diving, while Kline qualified in platform.
NICK FAULKNER/TECHNICIAN Members of the men’s swimming team jump off the starting blocks for the hypoxic challenge, a 50-yard underwater kick on Friday, Sept. 28 In the Casey Aquatic Center. This was one of many events held at the fourth annual Wolfpack Games.
PIGSKIN PICKS
Arizona vs. Utah Duke vs. Georgia Tech Louisville vs. Boston College No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 13 LSU
No. 7 Washington vs. No. 17 Oregon No. 16 Miami vs. Virginia VA Tech vs. UNC-Chapel Hill
Tom Stafford
Former NC State Vice Chancellor Record: 38-22 Rank: T-8
Wes Moore Women’s head basketball coach Record: 42-18 Rank: T-4
Utah GA Tech BC Georgia Washington Miami VA Tech Michigan Penn State Colorado
Utah GA Tech BC Georgia Washington Miami VA Tech Michigan Penn State USC
Elliott Avent
Head baseball coach Record: 42-18 Rank: T-4
Utah GA Tech BC Georgia Washington Miami VA Tech Wisconsin Penn State Colorado
Jess Errico
Student Body President Record: 40-20 Rank: 7
Jonathan Carter
Editor-in-Chief of Technician Record: 38-22 Rank: T-8
Connor Bolinder
Managing Editor of Technician Record: 44-16 Rank: T-1
Andrew Schnittker
Sports Editor of Technician Record: 45-15 Rank: T-1
Alec Sawyer
Assistant Sports Editor of Technician Record: 37-23 Rank: 10
Camden Speight
Assistant Sports Editor of Technician Record: 42-18 Rank: T-4
Mary Dare Martin
News Editor of Technician Record: 44-16 Rank: T-2
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Utah GA Tech BC Georgia Washington Miami VA Tech Wisconsin Penn State Colorado
Utah GA Tech BC Georgia Washington Miami VA Tech Michigan Penn State Colorado
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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS
1 Moment of remorse 5 Portrayer of a big scaredy-cat 9 One thing on top of another 14 Saucony rival 15 Resort town near
Santa Barbara 16 Buffalo hockey player 17 *They’re for the dogs 19 French clerics 20 Make rough 22 __ tick: disease carrier 23 Open, as toothpaste 26 By any means 28 It may be proper 29 Start to mature? 32 Poll gathering 33 Lancelot and
Mix-a-Lot 34 “La Cage __
Folles” 35 Bleak 38 Linguistic suffix 39 *Enter on the sly 41 Word before and after “oh” 42 Freshwater minnow 44 Chaps 45 2002-’03 viral outbreak, briefly 46 Together, so to speak 47 Droop 48 Plasm prefix 49 Followers of shots 52 Taj __ 53 Put the brakes on 54 Phantom 58 “Mental Illness”
Grammy winner
Mann 60 Jiffy Lube service, and a hint to the start of the answers to starred clues 64 Engagement ring centerpiece 65 Lackluster 66 Like some U.S. mail 67 Belarus capital 68 Start of a decisionLevel 1making rhyme 69 Actor Miller of 2 3 4
“Justice League”
DOWN
1 Bud 2 Park in NYC, e.g. 3 Long of “NCIS: Los Angeles” 4 Garage containers 5 “Copacabana” showgirl 6 Open a bit 7 Verbal hesitations 8 Reacts to yeast 9 ID issuer 10 Laptop alternatives 11 *Two-time women’s soccer Olympic gold medalist 12 Espresso foam 13 “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” novelist 18 Short trip 21 Dropping (off) 23 Indy racing family name 24 Din 25 *Gravlax 27 Key 29 They go for the gold 30 Feel remorse for 31 Finals, say 36 Major artery 37 Germ-killing brand 39 Triangle ratio 40 Hawaii’s
Mauna __ 43 Buckles, as a seat belt 45 Yachting event, e.g. 49 Great divide 50 French-speaking
Western
Hemisphere country
By Susan Gelfand
51 Fine English china 52 “So-so” 55 Kerry locale 56 Extended family 57 Frozen dessert chain 59 “Yikes!” 61 Pince-__ glasses 62 Watchdog’s warning 63 ORD posting
