N.C. State Wolfpack Runs Away With Win, but Into Issues

RALEIGH, N.C. – Don’t be deceived by the 41-0 blowout victory for the N.C. State Wolfpack against the Western Carolina Catamounts. 

They weren’t happy about it, and they shouldn’t be.

N.C. State led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, but they only had – 25 yards passing, 32 yards rushing and were 0-3 on third-down conversions. 

“Today, I was disappointed,” said Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren, “I didn’t think Matt (McKay) was very sharp in the first quarter. Didn’t really give our run game an opportunity with two incompletions in the first drive, but then he settled in.” 

After the shakey first, Doeren went to the running game in the second quarter, and the running backs never let up. The Wolfpack led the Catamounts 24-0 at halftime. N.C. State finished the game with 324 yards rushing and four touchdowns rushing.

Freshman running back Zonovan Knight led the way with 19 rush attempts for 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Ricky Person, Jr. and freshman running back Jordan Houston both had one rushing touchdown. 

“Not the happiest,” said Wolfpack redshirt sophomore Matthew McKay, “but I’m glad we won as a team, but I definitely feel like I can do a much better job of executing the plays, so Imma just come back here and learn and just get better.” 

N.C. plays West Virginia on the road in a hostile environment next Saturday for their first game against a Power Five opponent. 

Today’s effort won’t cut it. 

“It has to get a lot better,” Doeren said about the passing attack. “You’re not gonna run the ball for 300 yards when you start playing these ACC teams if you can’t throw it downfield. It’s not gonna happen, so we gotta get better for sure.”

(Feature photo courtesy of Lawrence Davis)