What to watch for as NC State hosts Boston College and honors its seniors on Saturday
N.C. State linebacker Isaiah Moore laughed this week when asked why he’s called the “Alpha Wolf” of the team.
“Maybe because I’m the old guy,” he joked.
Or maybe it’s because he wears No. 1 for the Pack and has the past few seasons. That’s symbolic of his stature within the program and the respect he has from his teammates and coaches as a fifth-year starter who has been a team captain the past three seasons.
“It’s really an honor to be thought of that way,” Moore told The N&O this week. “I don’t take it for granted, man. Every opportunity I get to step on the field with those guys it’s a blessing. And they know they’re going to get my best every time I step on the field and that I want it from them.”
The last time Moore stepped on the field was a week ago against Wake Forest at Carter-Finley Stadium. The No. 17 Wolfpack had many who played hard and well in the 30-21 victory, including freshman quarterback MJ Morris, but Moore and the defense picked off three passes and made quarterback Sam Hartman uncomfortable all night.
In the first quarter, the Demon Deacons had first-and-goal at the 1 and came away empty-handed. Moore didn’t let it happen, closing up the middle, getting in on three tackles and charging in to sack Hartman on third down before the Deacons missed the field-goal try.
“Just phenomenal,” NCSU coach Dave Doeren said this week. “It was tackle for a loss, tackle for a loss and a sack. It was like, ‘Not on my watch, you’re not getting in the end zone.’
“That was an unbelievable three-plays-in-a-row set for Isaiah. He’s a stud.”
Moore may have had a tear in his eye after the sack. He pointed to the sky with both hands, remembering his grandmother, his “Nana,” who passed away a few days before the game.
“I could hear her in my head saying, ‘That’s my boy!’ ” he said.
Maxine Bell was not able to attend many of his games at N.C. State, Moore said. When she did, she was one proud grandmother, always smiling and supportive, and Moore will be thinking of her again Saturday.
It will be his last time on the field at Carter-Finley as the Pack celebrates Senior Day. Moore’s parents will be there, he said. And his younger brother, Emmanuel, 11, who is more into hoops than football.
And possibly, he said, his grandfather, Robert Bell.
“A very emotional day,” Moore said.
The Wolfpack (7-2, 3-2 ACC) will have 30 upperclassmen “walk” in the pregame ceremony before playing Boston College (2-7, 1-5) and not all will be leaving after this season. Some have decisions to make, including linebacker Drake Thomas and injured quarterback Devin Leary.
It almost seems as if Moore, Thomas and Payton Wilson should be recognized as a group. They have formed an elite linebacking corps, one of the nation’s best threesomes, and Moore and Wilson will be playing their last game for the Pack alongside Thomas.
It has been quite the “journey,” as Doeren often puts it, for Moore and Wilson, who both have fought their way back from injuries in their careers. There will be no ACC championship, which stings, but there has been much success.
The Wolfpack has a 16-game winning streak at Carter-Finley, tying the school record set under former coach Lou Holtz in the 1970s. A win over BC would be a part of the legacy of this class and those who will be leaving the program.
“It’s a huge opportunity that we don’t take lightly,” Moore said. “Coming into the season one of our goals was to win every game at home. We did that last year and have a chance to achieve that again this year. The record would be a big thing for our senior class and a lot of guys who have put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the program.”
Moore, 23, has done that since joining the program in 2017. The middle linebacker has given his all on the field while being a leader with such off-the-field initiatives as NCSU’s #PackUnited movement, dedicated to fighting for social justice. He serves on athletic department’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council and has a degree in communications.
“A true role model,” Doeren said.
“The thing I want everyone to remember about me is I gave this university, not just the program but the university, everything I had to give,” Moore said. “I’ve tried to impact people in a positive way across our campus and the Raleigh community, so if someone spots me Saturday and smiles at me that would be great.”
What to watch for
▪ Zay Flowers. The BC receiver is second in the ACC with 60 receptions and the 5-10 senior has eight TDs. Said BC coach Jeff Hafley: “Zay’s playing harder than he has all year.”
▪ Wolfpack pass rush. The Pack sacked Hartman four times and will seek to pressure BC quarterback Emmett Morehead, a redshirt freshman expected to make his second start. BC has allowed an ACC-high 34 sacks.
▪ Too much emotion? Not all Senior Days end well for the home team because of the divided attention stemming from the pregame ceremony. Said Moore: “Our focus will be on Boston College.”
▪ MJ Morris. Will his second start for the Pack at QB be as good as the first last week? Every freshman has his ups and downs.
How to watch
The 3:30 p.m. game will be televised by the ACC Network. Mike Monaco will handle play-by-play, Roddy Jones will be the analyst and Taylor Davis the sideline reporter.
Latest NC State vs Boston College line
The Wolfpack is favored by 19.0 points, and ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Pack a 90.8% chance of winning.
Pregame reading
- NC State vs Boston College: Pack will have shot at new home win streak against Eagles
- With MJ Morris at QB, here’s what we learned about NC State in win over Wake Forest
- NC State wide receivers step up, help lead Wolfpack to 30-21 win over Wake Forest
- Photo Gallery: NC State football vs Wake Forest
This story was originally published November 11, 2022 at 5:40 AM.
