NC State Bullies South Florida in Tampa

Trips to Florida are often fun-filled adventures with excitement, thrills and memories. We think Busch Gardens, the Tampa Zoo, the Devil Rays or buccaneers. But on this day at Raymond James Stadium NC State provided the entertainment. The Pack came ready to play. They executed as well as any NC State football team has performed on the road in a long time. At stake was an undefeated record and continued momentum for a young squad still in search of that elusive comfortable win. They got that today at RJS. A home crowd of 27,269 witnessed the complete dismantling of their football team.

The weather was hot, but a manageable 89 degrees. For a visiting team to the Gulf Coast this was a sign of good things to come.

Decked out in all white, the Wolfpack defense established early momentum for what would become an unexpected one-sided affair. After stopping the Bulls on their first possession, quarterback Jacoby Brissett and company went to work. Not even coach Dave Doeren could have anticipated the precision and workman-like manner that the offense would go about in dissecting the nation’s fourth ranked takeaway defense. Or maybe he did. On the first play of the game running back Tony Creecy had an 11 yard burst. On this drive he would also have 5 and 16 yard jaunts coupled with a 42 yard pass from Brissett to freshman receiver Bo Hines. The drive would culminate with a 17 yard run by Bra’Lon Cherry. Pack 7 – USF 0

Sep 13, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Bra Lon Cherry (13) catches a touchdown pass in the first half against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

The sophomore from New Bern (NC) would go on to have a career day with 2 more touchdowns. The first of which concluded a 12-play 79 yard 1st quarter drive with a 17 yard reception from Brissett. After recovering a fumble by South Florida quarterback Mike White, the Bra’Lon Cherry Show continued with an early second quarter 3 yard rushing touchdown. Pack 21 – USF 7.

On the very next series, perhaps primed by the early offensive successes, the Wolfpack defense exorcised some of their own demons by quickly dispatching the Bulls offense with a 3 and out.

Sep 13, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls react after a second half touchdown for the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

In comes the Brissett Brigade. You could almost hear Limp Bizkit‘s “Rollin” playing as theme music when the `NC State offense retook the field with a swagger reminiscent of a Chuck Amato team. Clicking on all cylinders, Brissett proceeded hit 3 different receivers for consecutive first downs leading the charge for a fourth Wolfpack touchdown by yet another freshman, Jaylen Samuels for a stunning 28-7 lead.

State would end the 1st half with five touchdowns after old reliable Tony Creecy caught an 8 yard pass from Brissett to lead 35-7.

South Florida coach Willie Taggart and Bulls faithful did not know what hit them. No one saw this beatdown coming; especially not the opportunistic South Florida defense that had made a living in their first two games of embarrassing opposing offenses.

Not today.

After taking the opening 3rd quarter drive the Pack continued where they left off. Brissett to Matt Dayes for 39 yards. Then Shadrach Thornton got in a punch with an 8 yard touchdown run. Pack 42- USF 7

Absolutely nothing changed in the second half. It was still a NC State slobberknocker. The Wolfpack finished with 589 yards of total offense and limited South Florida to only 159 yards.

Final: NC State 49- USF 17

NC State Bullies South Florida in Tampa 49-17

By A. Zach Williams | Sep 14, 2014