Boston College hands NC State its 11th straight ACC loss, 30-14

N.C. State's latest ACC loss, its 11th straight, served as a truth serum for some Wolfpack players.

The Wolfpack’s 30-14 home loss to Boston College on Saturday tested more than just skill.

The Eagles’ 310 rushing yards left N.C. State’s defense demoralized and fed up with all the losing, junior defensive end Mike Rose said.

"We don't have a lot of heart on defense," Rose said. "We don't have enough people that are willing to put it all on the line."

Boston College's Tyler Murphy, who ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns, won a unique reunion of Florida transfer quarterbacks.

N.C. State (4-3, 0-3 ACC) quarterback Jacoby Brissett struggled after the first quarter and finished with three turnovers and 174 passing yards with one touchdown.

Brissett, who was Murphy's teammate at Florida in 2011 and '12, shouldered much of the blame for the Wolfpack's third straight loss this season after a 4-0 start.

"It all comes down to me playing better, which I have to come back next week and do," Brissett said.

But N.C. State's defense had no solutions for Boston College's ground game. N.C. State coach Dave Doeren pointed out the Eagles (4-2, 1-1) start five graduate seniors on the offensive line and that was a difficult advantage for his young team to over come.

N.C. State hasn't won a conference game since former coach Tom O'Brien last game, a home win over Boston College on Nov. 24, 2012. Doeren said he understands the frustration outside the program.

"It's a challenge every day building this program," Doeren said. "It's going to take time. We all want microwaved results, me included, I know our fans do, I get it."

Rose, who had eight tackles and recovered a fumble, said the Wolfpack has to improve on defense to end the longest conference losing streak in history. Florida State had 531 yards of offense in a 56-41 win on Sept. 27, Clemson had 493 last week in a 41-0 win and the Eagles finished with 411 on Saturday.

Rose was blunt when he responded to a question about the problems on defense. He pointed out the current losing streak is starting to make this season feel like last year's 3-9 disappointment.

"Looking at this team from last year where we were, it's either going to spiral down to the same thing," Rose said. "Or people are going to man up and say, 'We're going to stop losing.' "

Lightning delayed the game for 56 minutes after the second half kickoff and two plays from N.C. State's offense. Brissett threw an interception, on a screen attempt, that defensive lineman Brian Mihalik returned down to the BC 10-yard line. It was Brissett's first interception since the season opener. He went 187 attempts without throwing one.

The Eagles could only turn the Wolfpack's mistake into three points but their defense held N.C. State's offense off the scoreboard in the last three quarters.

Brissett, who led touchdown drives on the first two possessions of the game, fumbled twice in the second half and threw an interception. N.C. State managed only 56 yards of total offense in the second half.

"We had two real good drives and then I just started playing bad," Brissett said.

"I just have to go back and be smarter and take what they give me and not try to be greedy."

While Brissett struggled, Murphy shone. He had a 47-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and then sealed the game with a 26-yard touchdown run with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

While Rose worried about the will of the defense and the direction of the season, Brissett said he's still confident the team would be fine.

"It won't be the same as last year," Brissett said. There's nothing that we can't get through."

This story was originally published October 11, 2014 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Boston College hands NC State its 11th straight ACC loss, 30-14."