Rapid growth of NC State’s defensive players clear in win over Virginia
It was a good day at the office for the Wolfpack defenders on Saturday. So good that head coach Dave Doeren could joke about dropped interceptions.
N.C. State’s defense picked off three passes in a 38-21 win over Virginia and it could have had at least three more. Two slipped right through the hands of sophomore safety Jakeen Harris.
Doeren quipped that Harris needed to spend more time on the jugs machine or get “his eyes checked.” It was all for a good laugh, but the serious matter is how Doeren’s defense, with no seniors in the lineup (Daniel Joseph didn’t make the trip) is growing up.
That 45-24 loss to Virginia Tech earlier this season, when the Wolfpack gave up more than 300 yards on the ground, seems like it was centuries ago. N.C. State gave up 87 points in the first two games of the season.
It almost pitched a first-half shutout in Charlottesville on Saturday.
The defense played with a confidence, more like a swagger, not seen from an N.C. State defense in quite some time. Four takeaways and a goal-line stand from the one-yard-line will do that. But Doeren pointed out that this group is growing up right in front of everyone.
“Coach (Tony) Gibson and the defensive staff are dealing with a lot of young guys,” Doeren said. “We’re going to be a defense that grows and improves as the season goes along. They do have a lot of confidence.”
Shyheim Battle, the redshirt freshman corner from Rocky Mount, set the tone. Battle picked off a Brennan Armstrong pass on Virginia’s second drive of the day. It was the first interception of the season for the Wolfpack, who only picked off four passes in 2019. In the second quarter another rookie, this time true freshman Joshua Pierre-Louis picked off Armstrong. It was the first time since 2014 that two freshmen intercepted a pass in a game for the Wolfpack.
Those two plays introduced State fans to the turnover bone, a red bone that players get to hoist on the sidelines after a turnover. When the players get an interception, or a fumble recovery like Isaiah Moore in the third quarter, they get to sign it. It seems minor, but it was part of the motivation for the defense on Saturday.
“Guys were fired up about it,” Doeren said. “Whatever it takes to get turnovers we are willing to do it. It’s definitely some blood in the water.”
Three of State’s four forced turnovers were direct results of plays made by freshmen. Moore’s fumble recovery came thanks to a forced fumble by redshirt freshman Terrell Dawkins. Pierre-Louis was joined in the backend of the secondary by classmate Devan Boykin after junior Tanner Ingle was ejected in the first half after a targeting call. The Wolfpack defense got younger as the game went on.
N.C. State’s offense got a lot of credit, mainly Devin Leary, for the win over Pittsburgh. But when the offense went scoreless most of the second half, the defense was able to lift the team more times than not.
Virginia (1-2, 1-2) was forced to punt six times. Looking for a chance to rally, N.C. State held the Cavaliers to four yards on six plays with 57 seconds left. The biggest play for the Wolfpack in the second half — Alim McNeill’s interception for a touchdown with 11:10 remaining in the game.
“That was a great play by him, and we needed a play,” Doeren said. “It was awesome to see him get a touchdown, it’s a lineman’s dream for sure.”
McNeill’s score brought much needed life to the sideline in a moment when it looked like Virginia was making a push.
“That was exciting, it’s always exciting when a defensive lineman catches a pick,” Harris said. “He changed the game right there.”
The offense started fast, jumping out to a 24-7 halftime lead, but went flat in the second half, going scoreless in the third. But two of Virginia’s possessions in the third ended with punts and one was a turnover. The defense picked up the team where the offense stalled.
“We got off to a bad start to start the second half,” running back Bam Knight admitted. “So that was extremely big for us (defensive stops). Especially that play from Alim.”
McNeill’s interception return for a touchdown was the first pick-six for N.C. State since the 2018 season. It was the first time they intercepted three passes or more since the Sun Bowl game versus Arizona State in 2017. They also forced four turnovers in that game. That defense was veteran led, with four future NFL players on the defensive line. This defense isn’t at that level just yet, but they could get there with more game reps and success like they had versus the Wahoos.
“As each week goes, we are growing together better and better,” McNeill said about the defense. “Once we reached our peak and where we want to be, it’s going to be scary.”
This story was originally published October 10, 2020 at 11:43 AM.
