Wolfpack dominates in shutout of WCU
There are still plenty of rough edges to smooth out. But after what amounts to a two-game preseason against overmatched directional opponents, the NC State football team is just where it hoped it would be heading into its first real test next week at West Virginia.
The Wolfpack followed up its opening day rout of East Carolina by taking care of the other half of the state on Saturday in a 41-0 shutout of shorthanded Western Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Coach Dave Doeren’s young team dominated every phase of the game, rushing for 309 yards and four touchdowns while holding the Catamounts to six first downs and just over 100 total yards total while recording its first shutout since 2015.
But as Doeren emphasized in his postgame comments, it’s still too early to celebrate. Because while State is off to a promising start, it’s only a start and things are only going to get tougher from here on out.
“We did some good things,” Doeren said after he Wolfpack’s 32nd straight win against an FCS opponent dating back to 1987. “Obviously there are things we have to do better. I was proud of the way we played for four quarters.”
.@PackFootball shuts out Western Carolina, 41-0.
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) September 7, 2019
Bam Knight runs for 119 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries while the Pack as a whole ran for 309 yards 👀#1Pack1Goal | @knight_zonovan pic.twitter.com/DJo8kOmq7j
State didn’t figure to have much trouble with WCU, which came into the game with an eight-game losing streak dating back to last September.
Its task got that much less demanding just before kickoff when it was announced that preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year Tyrie Adams and one of his starting offensive linemen were among four Catamounts suspended for a violation of team rules.
With a first time starter under center and a true freshman at right guard, WCU’s offense was essentially a sitting duck or a Wolfpack defense that has yet to allow a touchdown in eight quarters this season.
Taking advantage of its superior size, depth and experience, State (2-0) limited the Catamounts to just eight net yards on the ground. They weren’t much more successful through the air, either, with sophomore Will Jones throwing for just 98 yards on 15 of 27 passes.
“We manhandled them,” said sophomore defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who finished with three tackles and one of State’s three sacks in the game. “We came out strong, we were striking their offensive line. We were just letting them feel our presence and letting them know that they weren't going to run on us.”
That defensive aggressiveness didn’t just keep the Catamounts off the scoreboard, it also gave the Wolfpack’s offense a chance to settle in and find a rhythm after a slow start.
Tabari Hines puts a stiff arm on WCU defender Ronald Kent Jr.
Alim McNeill (29) and Joseph Boletepeli get ready to lower the boom on WCU quarterback Will Jones
Tight end Dylan Authenreith reaches out to make one of his three catches in the game
Quarterback Matthew McKay was 18 of 28 for 200 yards and a touchdown
Two-way player Cecil Powell, wearing C.J. Riley's No. 19, runs after making his first career catch
Sophomore quarterback Matthew McKay wasn’t nearly as sharp as he was in his debut against ECU, throwing balls over receivers’ heads and behind them for the first four possessions. State went 0 for 4 on third down conversions during that stretch, having only a 32-yard Christopher Dunn field goal to show for its efforts.
McKay finally settled in and posted solid numbers, going 18 of 28 for 200 yards and a touchdown before giving way to backup Bailey Hockman late for the fourth quarter. But it was the running game that took center stage for the Wolfpack on this day.
Freshman Zonovan Knight continued to impress by posting his first career 100-yard game, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Jordan Houston added 73 yards on eight tries for 51 yards, with each also getting a score. Walkon Will Dabbs even got into the act with 44 yards while playing out the string late.
On State’s first touchdown drive, early in the second quarter, Knight and Person combined for all but eight of 65 yards. On the next possession, Knight carried five straight times for 45 yards into the end zone.
“To me, it’s not about personal goals, it’s how we perform as an offensive unit,” Knight said. “Today we handled business.”
And yet, even though he Wolfpack put up big numbers on both the stat sheet and the scoreboard, McKay said there’s still plenty of room left for his offense to grow.
“We’re not where we need to be,” McKay said. “None of us are satisfied. We have so much work to do, play way better. But I’m excited to see what we’re going to do.”
Add us as a preferred source on Google