Wolfpack’s Ben Finley plans to ‘let it fly’ — if the quarterback starts against UNC
N.C. State’s Ben Finley remembers an antsy bus ride to Chapel Hill two years ago, knowing he might play against North Carolina.
Devin Leary was injured. Bailey Hockman would be the Wolfpack starter at quarterback against the Tar Heels, but Finley, then a freshman, had gotten work in practice and was the backup.
“I was nervous as hell, and then I got on the field and everything just slowed down and stopped,” he said Tuesday. “It was kind of a surreal moment.”
Imagine how Finley will feel Friday. While Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren has not ruled out a return by freshman MJ Morris, injured two weeks ago against Boston College, it could be Finley, once fourth on the QB depth chart, making his first college start Friday against the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium.
Not that he seems unnerved by it.
“In the rivalry, on the field … it’s just football,” Finley said. “At the end of the day, we’re just kids playing a game. All you can do is compete, have fun and try to win.”
The 2020 game at Kenan was not much fun for the Wolfpack, which lost 48-21. Finley did go in, entering the game in the second quarter. He hit Emeka Emezie for a 42-yard touchdown for his first college TD pass late in the first half, and had another potential TD pass become an interception when Finley’s pass was dropped by tight end Dylan Parham and the ball intercepted by a diving Don Chapman in the end zone.
The TD pass to Emezie would be Finley’s only one with the Pack until Saturday, when he again was needed — and was ready — at Louisville. The Pack first went with Jack Chambers, but made a move to Finley, who passed for 201 yards and had a 34-yard scoring pass to running back Michael Allen in the 25-10 loss at Cardinal Stadium.
“It was definitely something where I could have done better,” Finley said. “But I just went out there with, ‘I’m going to let it fly.’ I just wanted to go out there and pick a guy and let it fly. Just simplify the game and go out and have fun.
“I think it was important that I wasn’t overthinking stuff and just kind of going out there and doing my thing. I’m going to try and carry that over but I definitely need to correct some things. … That just comes with comfort and I think it helped a lot playing in that game.”
Finley did have an interception against Louisville — the only turnover by either team Saturday — but it came on the final play of the game when he let one fly into the end zone.
“I was really pleased with Ben and the way he played, considering he had been on the scout team since August,” offensive coordinator Tim Beck said Tuesday. “He did a really nice job in there and kind of provided a little spark for us.
“I thought it was a great experience for him to get out there in a meaningful, challenging game against a good football team. I love the way he’s working, I love his practice, I love his demeanor. I’m really pleased with where he’s at right now.”
If Finley is QB1 and starts on Friday, it will be the first time since the ACC was formed that the Pack has started four players at QB in a season.
Beck, a longtime college coordinator, said he has never had to use four quarterbacks, adding, “And I hope it never happens again.”
What to watch for
▪ Running backs Jordan Houston and Michael Allen. The Pack will test the UNC run defense. The Tar Heels are 13th in the ACC, allowing 179.7 rushing yards a game, and N.C. State could lessen the pressure on its quarterback if it can sustain drives running the ball.
▪ Pack pressure. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson likes to be unpredictable and make opposing quarterbacks guess, and will try to do that with UNC’s Drake Maye.
▪ Drake Thomas. The junior linebacker leads the Pack with 80 tackles and has an ACC-best 11 tackles for a loss in conference games. He can be a defensive disruptor.
▪ The weather. With rain possible, it could lead to revised game plans, a wet field and some unexpected plays.
How to watch
The game will be shown on ABC. Dave Pasch will handle play by play, Dusty Dvoracek will be the analyst and Tom Luginbill the sideline reporter.
The latest line
ESPN has UNC as a 6.5-point favorite and 61.2% in the Football Power Index (FPI).
Pregame reading
▪ Gov. Cooper joins N&O college football rivalry week picks for NC schools, other big games
▪ NC State football looks to ease its pain with a rivalry victory over North Carolina
▪ After ‘hardest’ week, NC State football coach Dave Doeren focuses on beating UNC
▪ NC State vs UNC football first look: Pack, Tar Heels look to rebound in rivalry game
