By: Joe DupreyThe Runnin' Bulldogs out of Boiling Springs, NC came into last night's game with a decisive game plan: execute their offense mistake free in order to maintain possession, while on defense pin their ears back and keep blitzing. After winning the coin toss and electing to kick off to the Wolfpack, one thing became certain in the early stages of the contest. This was that NC State Offensive Coordinator Dana Bible had prepared expertly and he had the one weapon needed to prove it. Russell Wilson. Make no mistake about the feats the RS Sophomore accomplished last night- BCS vs. FCS, ACC vs. Big South or comparisons otherwise. RW was spectacular. With the timely aid of a supporting cast that stepped up in droves last night in the first half the contest quickly became a one sided affair with the receiving corps running strong routes and catching all the strikes Wilson attempted. Baseball Coach may seriously want to consider putting this young man on the mound come spring time. The OL with its third different starter at LT in as many games continued it's growth towards becoming a menacing unit. Starting RB Toney Baker's production was also a clear indicator that the play calling and execution of this unit was superb as he racked up 107 total yards and two TD's with the 13 touches he received - 7.1 yards per rush and 12.3 per catch brought smiles to the 50,000 + Red and White faithful in attendance as "Touchdown Toney" continues to impress. The scoreboard at halftime read 31 - 0, all snaps taken by Wilson, with five scores on six possessions (4 TD's, 1 FG and a punt). By the end of the night his stat line read an impressive 26 of 36 pass completions for a crowd pleasing 345 yards to go along with 4 TD's. Oh, and I suppose it's worth mentioning that he threw zero interceptions-since it did set a NCAA record for consecutive attempts without throwing a pick. The previous record was 325 by Kentucky QB Andre Woodson (a serious Heisman contender early in the decade) and the streak will be put on the line against a strong Pitt Panthers team next week. Before any talk of next week here are the highlights to mention from last nights contest which was the second game in a row not televised.
1st Quarter
Official attendance was listed at 53,452 and excitement filled the air as usual. The buzz going around was how would Gardner-Webb stack up in comparison to last weeks foe, fellow FCS opponent Murray State. Could a Coach O'Brien team that looked so out of sync just two weeks ago against South Carolina really put up another scoring free for all?
A decisive answer to second question was seen just over four minutes into it when Toney Baker scored the first of two rushing TD's. This one on a second and goal following a loss of six yards from the previous play. The burst through the line of scrimmage timed well with OL block up front and got Baker to about the two yard line when a pair of Bulldog defenders decided to go low for the stop. Baker showed he is not all brute force when he lept forward and vertically sailed over the would-be tacklers. 7-0.
The defense was out to prove that over the week of practice they continue to improve and gel as a unit. A three and out after making a third and one stop shed light on things to come. Gardner-Webb not converting went on as the theme as the Wolfpack D held them to just 1-13 on third down conversion.
The Wolfpack got the ball back after the ensuing punt and it was obvious that the Runnin' Bulldog D were going to go blitz package nearly every time. Wilson countered with the poise and accuracy that would lead to a brilliant performance with strikes of 19 yards to TE George Bryan (career night 6 catches, 89 yards and 2 TD's) and a huge 25 yard gainer on 4th and 7 to Darrell Davis (career night 4 catches for 71 yards). Gardner-Webb brought a safety blitz and Wilson burned them. Bakers two yard TD made it 14-0.
The second drive the Defense got on the field saw the best chance for a turnover narrowly missed. On third down the coverage down field was excellent and as G-W QB Stan Doolittle tried the middle only to have LB Audie Cole and DB Rashard Smith converge. The simultaneously made jumping grabs and the kept one another from getting the INT.
On the third Offensive possession G - W kept sending in extra pass rushers only to have Wilson punish them again. The blocking up front worked and the receivers were making all the plays again. A Jarvis WIlliams 33 yard gain got the ball in position for the first passing TD of the game, this one a 24 yard strike to TJ Grahm (5 catches a career high). Route on, 21-0.
2nd Quarter
A Wolfpack FG for Josh Czajkowski came after a good start to a drive that stalled following a sack and delay of game penalty. 24-0 and thoughts that maybe besting the previous weeks 65 points were rising. The next drive for the Wolfpack resulted in a punt, but the next time out saw Wilson dissect the G - W defense once again. The scoring drive ended with a pinpoint accurate throw to Bryan from 17 yards out. 31-0.
3rd Quarter
Wilson came out with the first team in the second half and after yet another strong stand by the defense it was time to close in on makign his mark on NCAA history. Baker's biggest rush of the night of 23 yards was followed up by another TD pass to Bryan. The 12 yard TD pass was another example of the dangerous combination of Wilson - to - Bryan that many hoped to see this year. 38-0.
The next possession belonged to the Runnin' Bulldogs and it was a memorable one. On a key 4th and 10 and short pass was delivered well short of the marker only to see S Earl Wolff get flagged for throwing the ball carrier when he was already out of bounds. Later on the drive G - W got on the board after a highlight reel dive at the pylon by Marquis Sanders from 18 yards out. The end around run showed this athlete's amazing quickness and his headfirst dive came with him spreading the ball out out and breaking the plane while his body flew out of bounds. Great play, 38-7.
4th Quarter
On a possession that started in the 3rd quarter the QB with the white hot hand became Russell Wilson the record holder. The record of consecutive passes without an INT may count completions and incompletions the same but that wasn't the type of night Wilson was having and this drive epitomized that. Five out six completed with a 16 yard TD fastball to Jarvis WIlliams putting a exclamation point on a fantastic game effort from #16. 45-7.
Gardner-Webb would not lay down and showed that they had come to fight for a full two halves. The first answer of the night in how much more capable of opponent the Bulldogs were then the previous FCS team the Wolfpack played was finally answered. These players competed hard and executed their game to the best of their abilities (some mental lapses involving penalties and dropped balls did come in the 1st half). A thirteen play drive covering 41 yards was capped by a fourth and 1 TD keeper after a first and goal from the four. The third try from the one yard line proved the charm after the Wolfpack D, led by strong play from JR Sweezy and Sterling Lucas, threatened to make the goal line stand hold up. 45-14.
The tune up part of the schedule was now over and the grueling tests coming up for TOB's squad begins in earnest today in the film room. Count on the Offense led by Russell Wilson to put the bloated stats, along with the team and NCAA records, in the rear view mirror. This team knows what they are capable of and that they will have to bust their butts to meet their expectations.
On the flip side you won't have to worry much about the Defense getting a swelled head. The two 2nd half TD's by Gardner-Webb left the remaining onlookers at Carter-Finley with some questions- This was for all 2 deep on the depth chart players? Coach O'Brien's post game comments certainly revealed that he was going to set the tone early for this unit as they prepare for a very skilled Pitt team.
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5 Responses to "GAME RECAP: NC State: 45 - GWU: 14"Not any mystery for my Jose Ole's (giving up on "Game Balls" since I've looked around the house and have zero in my possession).
Offensive Ole's
QB Russell Wilson tops the charts. The home crowd at Carter-Finley got the special honor of being there when history was made. Folks, it just so happens that being the best at something ever in College Sports doesn't happen too frequently in these parts. Phillip was and still is King in Wolfpack lore but Wilson has taken another step towards greatness.
TE George Bryan had a career setting night. The play calling of OC Dana Bible and the precision Wilson displayed made these tandem look toss & Catch. These tune up games shed light that running the ball and getting George Bryan into the swing of things early and often could prove the recipe for success now that the games really matter.
Defensive Ole's
DB Koyal George played the type of solid game we heard the coaching staff speak about in preseason. I was actually surprised to see that the Gardner Webb blocking did a very admirable job Sat night. This unit should hold there head high after resisting the Wolfpack frontline and allowing only 2 sacks. This made the role our defensive back field play all the more important. There could be no missed tackles since this would have caused the Runnin' Dawg more sustained drives and kept the their spirits high. Georges' pursuit angles and open field tackling were the best any of our DB's have produced with consistency to date.
DB Bobby Floyd just kept doing what he does best. Crush the target. He tied for second in solo tackles and second in total tackles for a loss. The RB #40 for Gardner Webb that sat down for awhile in front of the State sideline had just met our former walk on made starting safety.
Special Team Ole's
Has anyone taken note of are nice play on special teams this year? After the block punt vs USC there has been one solid special teams play after another.
For that a big Ole to Coach Petercuskie who is not only a recruiting mastermind but one heck of a Special Teams coach as well. Punters Bradley Pierson and Jeff Ruiz dramatically improved from one season to the next under his direction.
CB Jesse Riley- Who? There is a freshman on our team hailing from Leland NC and played ball at North Brunswick. Let me tell you what, the boy can fly and has that shiftiness required to be a special, special-teamer. 3 tackles and two done solo by swallowing up the kick or punt receiver.
I absolutely love that we are getting some awesome home grown players to walk on at State. You recruit 2 or 3 players at a position one year and they may think it's gonna come down to them fighting for more snaps. TOB and his staff will constantly remind these guys that the shirts belong to the school and anybody wearing one has a shot to prove his worth.
Adios,
Jose
Jose Ole`! Loves it! You missed one or two, though.
Offensive Ole`s
TJ Graham - For stepping up, and into a starting role. He was rewarded with (I think) 2 TD's and a bunch more passes thrown his way.
Donald Bowens - For coming back from his knee surgery way ahead of schedule, and getting back into the flow of things. Just in time, too. With Spencer going down, we need him.
Darrell Davis - for stepping up and making some great blocks for the RB's, and a few good catches, too. When we have a full compliment of receivers, this core will be scary good.
Defensive Ole`s
Bobby Floyd - I know you gave him one, too Jose, but damn. That kid could kill somebody! I'm still waiting for his facemask to shatter, sans the rumor about SIX of them shattering in practices last year! Both of those kids were lucky to have gotten up off the turf after a brain-to-brain hit like that. Bobby popped right up, no problem. Man, this kid must have a stainless steel cranium!
JR Sweezy - (AKA Lattimer) stepped in, to do a great job in AM Cash's noticeable absence.
Audi Cole - For teaching anyone whose QB is going to scramble on his watch, to slide, and slide early! (Ole` to GW's QB for taking that hit like a man, though).
McKeen - for knocking his own helmet off with a crushing tackle. You could see that mane all the way from the North End Zone!
Now, get ready for Pitt! I hope that TOB is right about the Flu being behind this team. We need to be getting players back rather than losing them, at this point. Spencer's injury looked wretched at first. It was pretty close to me (closer with my binoculars). I thought he had broken a rib on that fall, in the beginning. Then, I saw the replay and it looked as if he came down on that shoulder and/or the ball. I could believe that he had the wind knocked out of him, and he reacted like that, because when that happens, it feels like you're drowning. You know, like you're DYING. If you haven't had that happen to you, then the reaction is usually the equivalent. Hopefully he can practice this week and go Saturday. If not, TJ, Jarvis, DBo and DD will fill the void!
Get well soon, Pack! Especially the injured O-line. Eat your Wheaties and take your vitamins, because we need you in order to be successful. It all starts with those big boys up front.
By the way, what's the Anti-Ole` called, Jose?
Go Pack!
"By the way, what's the Anti-Ole` called, Jose?"
Well PP3, since you asked, the Anit-Ole (or what we like to say way south of NC - the Contra Ole's) would stick with in the theme of mental pictures.
A Goring is caused by poor mental decision making or poor execution of fundamentals on a single play from scrimmage (important to note that unlike my Ole's they do not represent judgments of the cumulative performance nature)
Let's take the most unfortunate Goring of the night to Earl Wolff for the hitting (really hog tying) of a Gardner Webb ball carrier when the play was clearly whistled dead and out of bounds. This was one of the plays where teammates shun you a while - not because disapproval but that they don't want to get in any proximity of the the Medusa look TOB has out for the RS Freshman Safety. Ay!
On the flip side we see that 5th year Sr's that have preseason award credentials attached to them are not immune from the depths of Gor-Dom.
Again- repeat- I don't think that highlighting these events are in anyway s swipe at these elite athletes abilities, efforts or dedication. Far from that. Poor Jose would trade his best mule for one chance to get a play from scrimmage at Carter Finley even it (and we can probably assume) results in a Goring.
Center Ted Larsen somehow did the unimaginable. With baited breath everyone in the stands waited anxiously to see the first passing play from scrimmage of "Golden Boy" Glennon. The score was 24-0 and it was the second qtr and there was about 75 yrds to go for pay dirt. Magic was going to happen. We have more confidence in or back up QB then 50 % of top 25 teams have in their starting QB's. Now that's a fact. Would it be over the top with touch on a 40 yard flick of the wrist to Bowens or TJ? Maybe a thunder bolt to Darrell Davis as he continued his dominance over the deep mid field. Man, is having this much fun playing a FCS team allowed?
"Wait, noooo! That really didn't just happen!" thought I.
The shot gun snap sailed five feet over the QB on stilts. Glennon just turns and sprints to gather a football inside our own 10 on a snap that our punter would issues with. Glennons at 6' 7" and the center in his folded hunched down stance put physics to the test. Drafting compasses need accessories to diagram this angle.
Sorry for taking that descriptive account way to far - it was a blow out so besides trying to set the record for most peantuts shelled and eaten inside 30 seconds there was a sense of boredom creeping in me at the time.
I'm sure the Goring has healed for both. TOB might lose track of these petty personal fouls that negate 3rd down stops and in Teddy's case football team mates usually don'tpoke fun at each other. On second thought would you risk igniting the fuse of Ted Larsen? I would actually see this BA taking the "Bull by the Horns".
How's that for an answer PPack?
Ant-astic, Jose! I get that it is a 'negative' to post a bunch of bone-headed plays under the guise of a Gore, but they happen every week, even to the best of us. Teddy and the Wolff, undoubtedly have paid their price and are practicing vigorously how not to do those things again. I'm sure there was support for those guys on the sidelines. No man left behind, right? That doesn't mean, "No man left on latrine duty!"
We should meet up with Red, Truth, Pack Leader and the rest of the fellas and creep onto the field at The Carter for a quick game! I'm sure TOB wouldn't mind.
How about half time. Meet you and some fluorescent jacketed fellas at the 50.
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