N.C. State Wins First ACC Game Against Syracuse

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Syracuse Orange and North Carolina State Wolfpack both had bye weeks and question marks at quarterback heading into the game. 

After the Wolfpack’s 31-13 loss to Florida State in Tallahassee, head coach Dave Doeren made a change at quarterback. He announced redshirt freshman quarterback Bailey Hockman as the starter on Monday, after redshirt sophomore quarterback Matthew McKay won the three-way position battle in fall camp and started the first five games. Hockman went 21-40 for 208 yards passing and one touchdown pass against Flordia State.

Orange redshirt sophomore Tommy DeVito suffered an upper-body injury in the fourth quarter against Holy Cross on Sept. 28. Devito had an 11-day break before tonight’s matchup; and on Sunday, he acknowledged that he was a little banged up, but said he was “good to go” for the game. 

DeVito was healthy enough to suit up – not to produce. 

That, along with an excellent defensive performance, aided the Wolfpack to a 16-10 victory over the Orange.

Impact Players

Orange senior linebacker Andrew Armstrong: He had a career-high, and tied the game-high, with 14 tackles, one for loss, and an interception for the only turnover of the game.

Wolfpack junior linebacker Louis Acceus: He finished with a career-high in tackles, and tied the game-high, with 14 total tackles, three for loss.

Wolfpack redshirt sophomore wide receiver Thayer Thomas: The Wake Forest, N.C., native hauled in his two targets for 35 yards receiving. He also threw a 32-yard touchdown passing for the first touchdown of the game.

Game Commentary 

• The Wolfpack gained 43 yards on their first two offensive plays to advance the ball past midfield to the Orange’s 16-yard line. But they settled for a 32-yard field conversion by sophomore kicker Chris Dunn to give them a 3-0 with 11:08 in the first quarter. 
• The Wolfpack stalled in scoring territory on their second drive after early success. Dunn made a 43-yard field goal to give his team 6-0 lead over the Orange with 5:17 left in the first quarter. 
• After their first three possessions, the Syracuse offense had only 9-yards of total offense for three consecutive three-and-outs. 
• Both teams combined for 125 yards of total offense, N.C. State 98 yards and Syracuse 27 yards in the first quarter. 

  

• After escaping pressure for an eternity, Leary barely got the ball away. He had Thomas wide open downfield for a would-be touchdown 
• Syracuse can’t get anything going. The limited mobility of DeVito is putting a fork in their offense. 
• After a sleepy second quarter for both offenses, Thomas connected with redshirt freshman running back Trent Pennix for a 32-yard touchdown pass from a trick play. The first touchdown of the game put the Wolfpack up 13-0 with 1:16 left in the half. 
• The Orange drove the ball 61-yards down the field after the Wolfpack touchdown to set up a 44-yard field goal attempt. But, redshirt sophomore kicker Andre Szymt kick hit the left upright, and the Wolfpack kept their 13-0 lead at the midway point.  
• After driving the ball to the Orange’s 26-yard line on the opening drive of the second half, Hockman threw an interception to Armstrong on a broken running back screen pass. 
• The Orange went three-and-out on the ensuing possession. 
• On third-and-goal at the Orange’s 6-yard line, Syracuse senior defensive back Evan Foster dropped a routine interception. The Wolfpack settled for a 23-yard field goal by Dunn with 4:18 left in the third quarter. The took 14 plays, 69 yards, and ate 5:32 of the clock. 
• Szymt converted a 32-yard field goal to give the Orange their first points of the game with 54 seconds left in the third quarter. The Wolfpack led 16-3. 
• DeVito connected with a redshirt junior wide receiver Trishton Jackson on a 2-yard touchdown pass with three minutes left in the game. After the converted point-after-attempt, the Wolfpack held a 16-10 lead. 
• Syracuse had a final drive with 1:48 left to tie or win the game, but penalties cut their comeback hopes short.
• Hockman finished 16-27 for 205 yards passing with one interception.

Quick Hits 

• The Wolfpack coaching staff opened the playbook up for Hockman from the start. 
• The Orange’s offense moved the chains for the first time of the game with just over a minute left in the first quarter off two plays in the wildcat formation. 
• DeVito got sacked five times, had negative 39 yards rushing and went 11-15 for 115 yards passing in the first half.
• N.C. State had 129 yards passing on their first two drives of the second half. They had 146 yards passing in the first half.
• Jackson finished with a career-high of nine receptions. 

Firsthand Perspective

“He did some good things,” Doeren said about Hockman’s performance. He’s got to learn what do when things aren’t there. He took some sacks when he didn’t get rid of the ball and was trying to do too much. He did some good things. He made some great passes, I thought he directed things well. He took care of the football for the most part.”

“The way he plays is the way he plays,” Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said about DeVito’s hesitancy and potential limitations. ” … I told him to go out there and play. I saw a young man who was out there battling – trying to help us win.” 

What’s Next 

The Orange (3-3, 0-2 ACC) host Pittsburgh on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. 

N.C. State (4-2, 1-1 ACC) travels to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to play Boston College in an ACC Atlantic Division matchup on Saturday, Oct. 19, at noon. 

(Feature Image courtesy of Lawrence Davis)