Skip to main content
NC State

NC State coach Dave Doeren on DE Sabastian Harsh’s targeting ejection: ‘That doesn’t make sense to me’

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman7 hours agofleischman_noah
Dave Doeren
Sep 11, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren walks his team out on the field against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Luke Jamroz-Imagn Images

NC State coach Dave Doeren isn’t one that likes the current interpretation of the NCAA’s targeting rule. He shared his displeasure with how it was deployed against Wolfpack graduate defensive end Sabsatian Harsh in the fourth quarter of the team’s 34-24 win at Wake Forest on Thursday night. 

The Wyoming transfer pass rusher pursued Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford, who tucked the ball to take off as a runner. He was tripped up from behind, causing his body to fall towards the ground as Harsh tried to finish the tackle. 

As he went to wrap up the signal-caller with both hands, his helmet made contact with Ashford’s, leading to the penalty being called and upheld by replay review. Instead of it being a turnover on downs, the penalty allowed Wake Forest to earn just its second first down of the game, though Ashford threw an interception to redshirt freshman safety Ronnie Royal III on the next snap.

For Doeren, it wasn’t what he believed the rule was implemented to stop. The play, which appeared to be bang-bang as Harsh didn’t seem to look to hit Ashford in the head or neck area, didn’t fit what the 13th-year coach thought targeting is. 

“I was really disappointed in the targeting call,” Doeren said postgame. “I thought that was not a good call. Last year, we lost Grayson McCall to a play that wasn’t targeting, but that was today? I’d love an explanation on that.”

As Doeren alluded to, NC State quarterback Grayson McCall was in a similar situation last season against the same Wake Forest squad. He, too, was a running quarterback, but as he went to absorb a hit by multiple defenders, McCall appeared to be hit by three Demon Deacons in the upper body/head area. 

McCall lost his helmet on the hit, which caused him to lay motionless on the field. The result was his second concussion of the 2024 season, which later ended his football playing career, and no penalty on the play. 

Doeren wasn’t pleased with the final verdict on Harsh, the team’s top pass rusher coming off the edge with 14 total tackles (three for a loss), who will now have to miss the first half of NC State’s (3-0, 1-0 ACC) road game at Duke next Saturday (4 p.m., ESPN2).

“I thought that was about as clean to do what he did when the guy was running the football,” Doeren said. “And now we lose Sabastian for the first half of next game. I got to stick up for my guys. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

You may also like