The NC State recap is brought to you by Section 103, home of the exclusive Mini 500 Homecoming themed shirt, which can still be yours for 10% using code FTRS.
A week after #8 Georgia Tech’s resounding homecoming
win, they traveled to NC State only to walk into their homecoming trap, losing 48-36 to move to 8-1 (4-1 ACC).
We knew going in that NC State had minimal defense to speak of after allowing 53 points to Pitt the week prior, but little did we know our defense was going to be more pourous than the leakiest ship ever built. Tech allowed 583 total yards and 196 rushing yards to Duke Scott, the Wolfpack’s backup back.
“They lined up and physically kicked our ass in a lot of ways, and I take responsibility for it,” said Tech head coach Brent Key after the game.
Of NC State’s 9 non-garbage time drives, they scored on eight of them. Clayton Powell-Lee after the game noted that they didn’t necessarily bring looks they weren’t expecting, they just didn’t execute.
Despite the loss, Haynes King had a historic night, throwing for 408 yards and rushing for 103. His 4 touchdowns accounted for put him above Joe Hamilton’s program record of 83.
After Georgia Tech lost their 9th consecutive opening coin toss of the season (aka, all of them), NC State took the ball to start rammed it down Tech’s throat with a 10 play, 75 yard drive where the only negative play was an offensive pass interference (they converted a 2nd & 16 on the next play).
Tech responded immediately with a 50 yard completion to Jordan Allen followed by two Haynes King runs to score in 2:00 flat and tie it at 7-7. Since Jamal Haynes had a -2 yard run to start the drive, King accounted for 77 yards on what officially was a 75 yard drive.
NC State once again had no issue getting down the field with another 10 play drive, the only negative again being a penalty (a false start with goal to go), which quarterback C.J. Bailey turned into an 11 yard touchdown run on the next play to put the Pack up 14-7 with under two minutes left in the first quarter.
Tech drove well to start their second drive with first downs by Malachi Hosley, Eric Rivers, and King to get into field goal range. King laid two great passes to Dean Patterson and Jordan Allen that would’ve been touchdowns, but instead were drops and forced a 43 yard field goal by Birr to make it 14-10 with 13:49 left in the second quarter.
A sack by Akelo Stone to start the next Wolfpack drive did enough for force a three and out, Tech’s first successful defensive series of any kind all game.
Tech scored again on their next drive, starting with a 26 yard completion by Brett Seither. They needed three third down conversions on the drive, one being a defensive pass interference in the endzone, and the third a two yard score by J.T. Byrne to put Tech up for the first time 17-14 with 6:25 left in the half.
A big holding call on NC State’s next drive had them in a 3rd & 20 situation (Tech’s most vulnerable spot), which they converted on a 51 yard pass to Terrell Anderson to the redzone, where Will Wilson easily ran in for a 9 yard touchdown and a 21-17 lead with three minutes left in the half, setting up a potential double possession opportunity for Tech.
After three first downs to get to the edge of Birr’s range, King was sacked to Tech’s own 45 yard line. King hit Seither on the next play to set up a 54 yarder, which Birr missed.
With 54 seconds to go, C.J. Bailey was faced with a 3rd & 3, getting bailed out by Rodney Shelley on a clear defensive pass interference. Bailey hit Wesley Grimes two plays later for 24 yards, getting into field goal range. The Pack hit a 34 yarder to send the game into halftime at 24-17.
Tech did well to get to goal to go again to start the second half, getting Harpring in the game and getting a big third down conversion by Hosley. But, with two yards to go, Tech couldn’t hammer it home on three straight runs up the middle. On 4th & goal from within the 1 yard line, Tech false started, opting to play it safe afterwards and kick a field goal for a 24-20 deficit.
Did we play defense on the next series for NC State? No, not in the slightest. Duke Scott hit a 69 yard run to set up an easy Will Wilson touchdown run to go up two scores at 31-20.
Did NC State play defense on the next series for Georgia Tech? No, but eventually. A 68 yard completion to Eric Rivers put Tech in the redzone, but then went three and out from there, settling for another field goal to stay down 31-23.
Tech’s defense after one first down allowed got into an optimal spot with Bailey scrambling on 3rd & 6, but whaddya know, Teddy Hoffmann was standing completely alone deep downfield with nobody within 10 yards of him for the widest open 55 yard touchdown we’ll ever see. NC State went up 38-23 after the score.
The next Tech drive was a historic one, as Haynes King’s three yard touchdown run gave him his 84th TD responsible for, the most in Georgia Tech history surpassing Joe Hamilton. Tech was at least within a score at 38-30 with a quarter to go at this point.
NC State again was doing whatever they felt on the ground and through the air, getting three first downs from Duke Scott. A drop on 3rd & 5 saved Tech from facing another touchdown as the Pack settled for a field goal to go back up two scores at 41-30.
After seven drives in a row that resulted in scores or a missed field goal, Tech went three and out at the worst possible time.
NC State had all the room in the world on their next drive, getting a 3rd down conversion on a Bailey scramble then a 31 yard touchdown rush by Duke Scott to kill the game with the Pack up 48-30.
