Evans clearly the difference

RALEIGH -- In many of the preseason football forecasts, Florida State's Drew Weatherford was picked as the top quarterback in the ACC.

In Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday night, Weatherford played a slow second fiddle to N.C. State's Daniel Evans, a quarterback who wasn't really on the Wolfpack's preseason radar, much less on anyone's watch list for stardom.

Making his second start, the redshirt sophomore from Broughton High put on a remarkably poised performance that allowed the Wolfpack to extend its mastery against one of the country's most celebrated programs.

The 24-20 win was State's fourth in the series since Chuck Amato became head coach in 2000.

These Seminoles are no longer the menacing ACC rulers that they were in the 1990s and early in this century. At 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference, Bobby Bowden's team likely will fall out of the national rankings next week. They came in at No. 17 in The Associated Press poll and were a 10-point favorite over a Wolfpack team (3-2, 2-0) that lost earlier to Southern Mississippi and Akron.

But there is a world of difference between State, then and now, and most of that difference is the direct result of Evans' emergence as play-making quarterback.

In his first start against Boston College on Sept. 23, Evans was solid but unspectacular until the waning moments of the game when he delivered a game-winning touchdown pass.

Against Florida State, Evans looked a lot more like a redshirt senior than a new starter.

He completed 13 of 22 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns and never once seemed rattled by Florida State's defensive front.

There was ample support for Evans. He didn't do it alone, of course. Andre Brown rushed for 113 yards, and Evans got lots of help from a fast-improving group of young receivers. The offensive line did its job, keeping Florida State's defense off Evans most of the game. The defense shut down Weatherford and the Seminoles' offense often enough. The Pack's kicking game was productive throughout.

And if the game was important for Evans, it was more important for his team. Suddenly, the Wolfpack has the lead in the ACC's Atlantic Division and will be the division's only undefeated team in league play should Clemson (4-1, 2-1) win Saturday at Wake Forest (5-0, 1-0).

"I think they probably found themselves last week [against Boston College], darn it," Bowden said. "I was afraid they did, and it sure looks that way -- right before we have to play them. They just killed us in the second half. We couldn't stop them, and that quarterback did a nice job. He really did."

Amato credited the attitude of his players and the crowd.

"They fed off each other," Amato said. "It was a great atmosphere for us to play in. These kids, adversity doesn't bother them. They fight back."

But Amato deserves just as much credit as his players. After the early losses, this season easily could have gotten away from him and his staff. He didn't allow it to happen, and it took some coaching courage to change quarterbacks in the midst of trouble.

Now that decision is looking smarter by the moment.

"The youngster just has something about him," Amato said of Evans.

No doubt.