NC State football quick hits and notes from Florida State win

Here are quick hits and notes from NC State football’s 19-17 win over Florida State. The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 56,919 fans at Carter-Finley Stadium on a chilly, fall evening in Raleigh.

Column: Another strange NC State-Florida State game

Health Issues

Obviously, NC State football fans will anxiously await word on the status of fifth-year redshirt junior quarterback Devin Leary, who hurt his throwing shoulder in the second half. For more on the status of Leary, click here.

Leary was not the only injured NC State player, however. Sophomore running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and fifth-year redshirt junior receiver Devin Carter each left the game and did not return.

NC State already played the game without super senior nickel Tyler Baker-Williams, although super senior safety Cyrus Fagan was able to go despite not practicing this week.

The Pack will also have to play a half next Saturday at Syracuse without fourth-year redshirt sophomore corner Shyheim Battle, who was ejected for targeting on Florida State’s final drive.

A Tale Of Bad Halves Of Offense For Each Team

The resemblance in inefficiency on offense both teams had for an entire half is striking.

In the first half, NC State had just 133 total yards and was averaging 4.4 yards per play. Leary had completed just 5 of 14 passes for 75 yards and an interception, and the Pack had just 6 total first downs.

In the second half, Florida State had just 93 yards total offense and averaged 4.0 yards per play. Quarterback Jordan Travis was 5-of-13 passing for 64 yards and 2 interceptions, and FSU had just 5 first downs.

What’s Looming

The combination of a sputtering offense potentially having to go without QB1 will be a challenge, especially next Saturday at Syracuse. The Orange are coming off essentially a two-week bye. Syracuse cruised past Wagner from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) on Oct. 1 and then had an official bye this week.

Syracuse is undefeated and No. 22 nationally in the polls after a 5-0 start, including 2 ACC wins. The Orange rank 12th in the country in total defense and have held all but one opponent under 335 total yards.

Spotted At The Game

Former NC State All-American and NFL star Bradley Chubb took advantage of his team the Denver Broncos playing on Thursday night to catch a Wolfpack game. Chubb watched from the sideline and was spotted in the press box at halftime.

NFL scouts from the Panthers, Rams, Cardinals and Titans were in attendance.

The NC State women’s swimming and diving team were honored, and individually two-time national champion Katharine Berkoff was recognized.

NC State also paid tribute to former golf coach Richard Sykes, who recently passed away.

For a rundown of recruits at the game, click here.

NC State Football Freshman Watch

We will keep track of this list throughout the season to see who burns their redshirt from the 2022 recruiting class, although early indications are there may not be many, if any.

Players can play up to 4 games to preserve a redshirt.

• Running back Michael Allen — 1 game (Connecticut)

• Defensive lineman Nick Campbell — 1 game (Connecticut)

• Defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland — 1 game (Connecticut)

• Quarterback MJ Morris — 1 game (Charleston Southern)

• Wide receiver Terrell Timmons Jr. — 1 game (Connecticut)

What The Win Means

NC State football is 5-1 at the halfway point of the year and improves to 1-1 in the ACC. Florida State falls to 4-2 and 2-2.

Since stunning the second-ranked Seminoles in 1998, NC State has gone 12-13 over the last 25 games vs. former national powerhouse Florida State. The Pack has won three straight in the series for the first time in history and 5 of 6.

Head coach Dave Doeren improved to 5-5 all-time vs. Florida State since coming to NC State before the 2013 season.

NC State’s winning streak at Carter-Finley Stadium stretches to 14 straight games, the fifth-longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).