Irving makes an impact for Pack

Linebacker back after injury

DURHAM -- Nate Irving made it look so easy.

Back from missing three of the past four games because of an ankle injury, the N.C. State linebacker didn't get fooled and chase Duke's underneath receiver.

Irving dropped back in a zone against the deeper dig route over the middle.

Irving's third-down deflection forced a punt Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium in a 27-17 win that was N.C. State's best defensive performance of the season.

For the first time all season, an opponent scored less than 24 points against the Wolfpack (3-6, 1-4 ACC), which ended a six-game ACC losing streak dating back to last season. Two crucial fourth-down stops might have been the most important plays of the game.

On fourth-and-1 at N.C. State's 10 in the second quarter, Willie Young and Alan-Michael Cash stuffed Duke running back Jay Hollingsworth for no gain. A Wolfpack goal-line stand in the third quarter ended with Thaddeus Lewis throwing incomplete on fourth-and-goal from the 1 under pressure from Young and Leroy Burgess.

Ray Michel and Robbie Leonard had stopped running back Clifford Harris for no gain on the two previous plays.

"Our backs were to the cliff (on the goal line), and they were trying to push us off the edge," Young said. "You just try to sit back and hold your ground. We're on all fours. All we know is to go straight ahead."

Irving's impact wasn't immediately obvious on the stat sheet. He was given credit for nine tackles with a forced fumble and the one pass broken up.

But he almost always was in the right place against the running game. Coach Tom O'Brien went into last week's open date vowing that the defense would get better against the run.

With Irving back, N.C. State held Duke to 94 rushing yards, a season low for a Wolfpack opponent. And unlike the less experienced linebackers who have played in his absence, Irving didn't get burned for big plays in the passing game by jumping the underneath routes instead of disrupting the deeper routes.

"He was our best player on defense," O'Brien said. "We missed him. We haven't played as well without him. So I think everybody understands that when he's back, there's a certain amount of comfort for our guys."

Irving maintained an upbeat attitude when he was hurt. When he watched other ACC games and saw other players suffering season-ending injuries, he considered himself fortunate to have a chance to return.

When he did, he -- and the N.C. State defense -- made the best of it. And Irving vowed to get even better.

"First game back after a while, I'm knocking off a little bit of rust," he said. "It will come back."