First look, NC State vs Virginia Tech football: How will Wolfpack fans respond?
N.C. State fans should pack Carter-Finley Stadium for Thursday night’s game against Virginia Tech, showcased before a national audience on ESPN.
And the mood of those fans?
Most expect the place to be loud and rowdy. It usually is, especially under the lights. Or will some Pack fans be more reserved and subdued after the Wolfpack’s losses to Clemson and Syracuse, compounded by the loss of injured quarterback Devin Leary for the season?
Leary was hurt against Florida State on Oct. 8 and had to be helped from the field with what then appeared to be a right shoulder injury. Pack coaches kept information about Leary’s status tightly held, coach Dave Doeren saying the Monday before the Syracuse game that the ACC preseason player of the year might return “this week or it could be six weeks.”
That coaching gamesmanship, with the intent of keeping Syracuse’s coaches in the dark, also kept Wolfpack fans in the dark — and hopeful. It wasn’t until about two hours before the game with the Orange that the announcement came from NCSU: Leary has a pectoral tear and needs surgery, his season at an end.
For the Wolfpack faithful, it was a gutpunch, a worst-case scenario. The Pack, with graduate transfer Jack Chambers starting, was beaten 24-9 by the Orange as N.C. State tumbled out of contention for the Atlantic Division title and a shot at an ACC title.
A bit of good news for the Pack: Leary’s mother, Lorie, tweeted Tuesday that the surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews, had been successful. The tweet also said: “The doctors were thorough and amazing.”
Five games remain, three at Carter-Finley, where the No. 24 Pack (5-2, 1-2 ACC) has a 14-game win streak. Doeren has indicated Chambers and freshman M.J. Morris both will be used at QB and the Pack, with an open date this past week, has had some extra time to prepare and tweak while giving some players time to recover from injuries.
“With the off week we could reevaluate everything we’ve done up to this point in the season,” linebacker Isaiah Moore said after the Syracuse game. “We’ve got five more games. The season isn’t over.”
Tight end Trent Pennix, injured in the opener against East Carolina, should be back in the lineup this week. As for others such as running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, who was held out of the Syracuse game, and receiver Devin Carter, it might be more of a wait-and-see situation leading up to Thursday with their injuries.
The Hokies beat the Pack 45-24 at home in 2020, the pandemic season, even with a host of players held out because of COVID-19 issues. Two years later, Brent Pry is in his first season as head coach at Virginia Tech and the Hokies are 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the ACC.
It’s a season that began with a loss at Old Dominion, that has had Virginia Tech beaten soundly on the road by North Carolina and Pitt. The Hokies were competitive in their last game, losing 20-14 to Miami in Blacksburg, VIrginia, and also having an open date this week to change some things up.
Game key
Turnovers could decide it. Wolfpack is plus-5 in turnover margin this season, tied for 22nd nationally in FBS, and the Hokies’ minus-5 and tied for 113th. The Pack is tied for third nationally with 11 interceptions after Tanner Ingle and Aydan White had picks in the Syracuse game.
The Pack did not have a turnover in the game as Chambers made his first start.
The Hokies have three fumble recoveries and two picks this season.
The line
Some Vegas oddsmakers have made the Pack a 13.5-point favorite in the Thursday night game.
NC State vs Virginia Tech
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh.
How to watch: ESPN and ESPN app.
This story was originally published October 24, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
