NC State Wolfpack rips Trojans

By A. Zach Williams | Sep 6, 2015

From Thursday night in Charlotte: South Carolina 17 – North Carolina 13

Ahhh….that felt good to say.

Okay, on with Wolfpack business. Saturday night fans at Carter-Finley Stadium who came to see NC State kickoff the 2015 season against Troy witnessed exciting offensive football on both sides. However, defensively much was left to be desired. In the end the Pack moved to 1-0 by defeating the Troy, Alabama team 49-21.

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Defensively NC State has a lot of work to do. There is no reason the Troy Trojans should have dropped 21 points on the Pack in Raleigh. Not if this team is to actually challenge for the Atlantic Division crown.

The game started well enough defensively with a quick 3 and out for the Pack. From there NC State senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett took over. Brissett and company carved out an 8 play 62-yard drive that ended with Jaylen Samuels scoring on a 14 yard run around the left side.

Surprisingly, the Trojans answered promptly on their second drive. It was as if their first possession had not even existed. Troy confidently drove the ball down the field (without much opposition) to score on a 4 yard run by Jordan Chunn. With 6:50 remaining in the 1^st quarter the score was tied 7 -7.

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Equally up to the task, the Wolfpack offense answered with an 8 play 75-yard drive of their own that culminated when junior running back Matt Dayes powered over the left tackle into the end zone. NC State 14 – Troy 7

NC State would hold defensively and score minutes later on another long drive. This drive was a 12 play-70 yard drive that concluded when Jaylen Samuels scored for a second time on a jaunt around the left side….again. NC State 21 – Troy 7

With :28 seconds left in the 1^st half Brissett connected with junior wide receiver Jumichael Ramos on what was his first career touchdown reception. The offense was on fire.

Unfortunately, with the offense rolling, the Wolfpack defense had to even things out with a major breakdown.

Likely expecting to run out the clock, Troy running back Brandon Burks burst through the defensive line for a 31 gain. Another 15 yards was tacked for a 15 yard facemask penalty. Troy head coach Neal Brown realizing they were now in business, dialed up a pass play and it worked to perfection. On the next play QB Brandon Silvers hit Bryan Holmes at the right pylon for a two play 80-yard touchdown drive in just :20 seconds

Halftime: NC State 28 – Troy 14

Midway through the 3^rd quarter, Matt Dayes scored his second TD of the evening as be bolted 30 yards up the middle for a 35-14 lead.

Once again the Wolfpack defense had a massive breakdown as Brandon Burks pranced untouched around the right side for a 57 yard touchdown run. NC State 35 – Troy 21

Later in the half, a monstrous hit by Wolfpack DB Dravious Wright caused Troy quarterback Silvers to fumble the football and his helmet to fly off. Wright also recovered the fumble to seize back lost momentum for the Pack.

See the hit.

See the interview.

After the recovery, the Pack went on to score its sixth touchdown of the night on another Jaylen Samuels run. Brissett would throw for another score early in the fourth quarter to Benson Browne.

Offensively the Wolfpack was clicking on all cylinders. Brissett completed passes to 8 different receivers with only one incompletion in the first half. They amassed 405 yards of total offense while committing no turnovers.

FINAL: NC State 49 – Troy 21

Quick Stats: Jacoby Brissett–21-23 for 196 yds and 2 TD’s

Matt Dayes –24 carries for 126 yards (2 TD’s) and 5 catches for 65 yards

Jaylen Samuels– 4 carries for 37 yards and 3 TD’s

Reggie Gallaspy II–13 carries for 50 yards

Attendance: 57,451
Next Up:

Eastern Kentucky 9/12/15

Carter-Finley Stadium

at 6 p.m.

ESPN3

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