NC State bent but it didn’t break. What we learned as the Wolfpack overcame Louisville
Devin Leary threw three fourth quarter touchdowns and the N.C. State defense, battered and bruised, got one key stop after another to get back in the win column.
The Wolfpack bounced back from last weekend’s tough road loss and defended the home turf, knocking off Louisville, 28-13.
Leary hit Trent Pennix for a 29-yard score to put N.C. State up by four and threw a game-clinching touchdown pass to Devin Carter with 5:53 remaining. For good measure, he hit C.J. Riley for a 10-yard score with 2:21 remaining.
That left it up to the Wolfpack defense to stop Malik Cunningham and company.
No problem.
On fourth-and-2, N.C. State dropped Cunningham 1 yard short of the sticks. Louisville was 0-2 on fourth down versus the Wolfpack defense.
N.C. State (6-2, 3-1 ACC) and Louisville (4-4, 2-3) didn’t have many highlights after the first quarter. Tied at seven after the opening 15 minutes of play, the two teams exchanged one punt after another in the second quarter and went into the locker room tied at 7.
Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Emezie on N.C. State’s final play of the first quarter to give it a 7-0 lead. Louisville covered 76 yards on its final play of the quarter when Malik Cunningham hit Jordan Watkins.
Louisville kicked a third-quarter field goal to go up 10-7, but the Pack offense finally came alive in the fourth quarter. On first-and-10 from the 29, Leary found Trent Pennix all alone running up the seam. Pennix easily walked in for the score. The N.C. State defense held the Cardinals to a field goal (31 yards from James Turner) and led by one, 14-13, with 9:51 remaining.
With the win, N.C. State becomes bowl eligible.
Here’s what we learned:
Drake Thomas is a certified baller
Missing two guys at linebacker who started the season beside him, N.C. State linebacker Drake Thomas stepped up in their absence. The sophomore was all over the field, finishing the game with 15 tackles, including seven solo and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Devin Carter bounce-back game
After dropping a pair of easy passes last week against Miami, N.C. State wide receiver Devin Carter was sure-handed on Saturday. Carter, a sophomore from Clayton, caught four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Devin Leary: Mr. Fourth Quarter
When the game mattered most, the fourth quarter, N.C. State quarterback Leary rose to the occasion. Leary, who went cold in the third, went 7 of 8 for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth.
Trent Pennix is a weapon
Pennix, the former running back, came alive in the fourth quarter. Now playing a tight end, fullback hybrid, Pennix had all three of his catches in the fourth quarter and also carried the ball one time for 8 yards.
Did N.C. State get predictable?
N.C. State’s offense fell into two areas of predictability. At one point bridging the first and second quarters, Wolfpack offensive coordinator Tim Beck called a pass play on second down six straight times. On second down, State passed the ball eight out of 11 times. Also, when the Wolfpack ran the ball, it showed a tendency of running to the left behind Ikem Ekwonu. Louisville watched the film and noticed.
Running QBs are an issue
With a depleted defense, N.C. State knew coming into the game that Louisville’s Malik Cunningham would be a handful. Quarterbacks who can hurt the Pack with their arm and legs have caused problems all year. Cunningham, the Cardinals; leading rusher this season, was solid in the passing game, and that opened up running lanes.
Too much of Gill is not a good thing
For the fourth consecutive game, punter Trenton Gill was the first-half MVP for N.C. State. That’s not a good sign. Six straight Wolfpack drives ended in punts, meaning, again, Gill was keeping the team in the game while the offense struggled.
This story was originally published October 30, 2021 at 10:55 PM.
