NC State coach Dave Doeren took off his black hat twice to Wolfpack followers behind the bench on Friday, then clasped his fingers collectively, sprucing the Wolfpack hand signal.
Doeren was greeting followers at Financial institution of America Stadium for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, however this was earlier than the sport, not a victory salute.
As soon as a serious soccer foe for the Pack within the ACC, Maryland secured a 16-12 victory in entrance of a 37,228 crowd to present the Massive Ten victory.
A season that started with the Pack aspiring massive to win the varsity’s first ACC title since 1979 ended with an 8-5 document. On a cloudy day, a sport with seven area objectives and one aim ended with extra errors than drama.
Ben Finley began out because the quarterback for the #23 Wolfpack, but it surely would not be a repeat of his wonderful passing efficiency as he beat North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Terps (8-5) did not let the Pack work, and Wolfpack receivers weren’t in a position to discriminate sufficient to present Finley a adequate goal.
“I truthfully did not do what it took to win that sport,” mentioned a grieving Finley. “We struggled as we did on offense. More often than not, we did not at all times agree … and I take full duty for that”
Because the nation’s prime shooter, 2022 Lou Groza Award winner Christopher Dunn did his job for NC State, tying the bowl document with 4 area objectives and setting an NCAA profession document (97). The Wolfpack protection has been very strong, some punishing hits all season, stopping Maryland’s fourth-down video games twice within the first half.
However the Terrapins performed extra offensive play than the Pack within the first half, together with Tualia Tagovailoa’s 19-yard area aim towards Octavian Smith Jr. Like Pack’s Dunn, Chad Ryland did all his hits.
The Pack drew 13-12 with 9:23 within the fourth quarter on Dunn’s fourth shot of the sport. This got here after a bouncing blockage by Rakeim Ashford, a younger safety guard who had been used on particular groups for a lot of the season.
Wolfpack wanted one other cease, however Tagovailoa’s 30-yard move to the slim finish was the massive sport Terrapins wanted at that time as Corey Dyches was third behind. Ryland’s third 45-yard area aim introduced Maryland 16-12 with 5:36 left within the fourth quarter.
The Pack’s final place ended with nook tie Jakorian Bennett receiving a Finley move with 2:28 left in Maryland 49.
Regardless of “quite a few” issues offensively, Doeren mentioned: “We had an opportunity to win. We went into the fourth quarter and we had soccer and we did not make it.”
Many anticipated MJ Morris to start out at QB for the Pack, but it surely was Finley who took all of the snaps and threw 22/48 for 269 yards with two interceptions.
“It was good and dangerous,” Doeren mentioned of Finley’s play. “Typically I believe he rushed issues. There have been some drops that damage his numbers. He shot effectively. He fought, he made some performs for us.
He educated effectively and I believe he has excessive expectations for a way he’ll play. I believe he would have informed you he hadn’t met them.
After the sport, Doeren mentioned Morris, who hasn’t performed since his decrease physique damage on the Boston School sport, had been experiencing some ache throughout his final bowling follow.
“We’d like to play him,” Doeren mentioned. “She was upset, we have been upset. We thought it greatest for her future to not put her in a scenario like this.”
Dunn was his dependable self with three area objectives within the first half, whereas the Pack offense was one-dimensional – NC State had 18 quick yards within the first half and 27 within the sport.
“That was a extremely tough half for us,” Finley mentioned. “We could not run the ball, we could not arrange the working sport. Tough. If you cannot proceed the working sport, you’ll be able to’t begin an assault.
“A lot of the sport we have been enjoying behind the chains. Dangerous penalties, third and lengthy.”
Down 10-3, Wolfpack scored the primary and aim in Maryland 2 within the second quarter after Finley linked up with 22-yard tight-end Chris Toudle. However the Pack didn’t try a run as Finley had three shorts and Dunn got here in for the second area aim.
“Preserving them on the sector saved the day as a result of we weren’t as clear as we needed to be on offense,” mentioned Maryland coach Michael Locksley.
Tagovailoa, a second-team All-Massive Ten choice, did not begin on Friday — a “coach choice”, Locksley mentioned with out elaborating — however was quickly changed. Terps have been additionally extra environment friendly on the third fall towards a Wolfpack protection who was adept at getting off the sector on the third fall.
The one aim of the sport got here in a 3rd and 14th sport from NC State 19. Tagovailoa discovered Smith on a pale course to the left aspect of the tip zone, and Smith was dragging his foot as he fell off-bounds with the ball.
Finley fired some good and never so good photographs as he handed 185 yards within the opening half. Operating again Michael Allen was injured, and Devin Carter, one of many stars of the Pack within the North Carolina win, entered the NCAA switch portal and didn’t play.
Additionally lacking: offensive coordinator Tim Beck, who left the NCSU program to turn into head coach at Coastal Carolina.
This story was initially printed December 30, 2022 at 15:58.
For over 30 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has coated NC State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats and is now in its eleventh season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Winner of a number of state and nationwide authoring awards, Alexander coated the 1997 relocation of the Hurricanes to North Carolina and was a part of The N&O’s information of Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.
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