NC STATE (3-5, 1-3) at MIAMI (5-3, 2-2)
DATE: Saturday, November 3, 2007
TIME: Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. (EDT) at The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL (73,319)
RADIO: Wolfpack Sports Network: 11:30 a.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ESPNU
OPPONENT—Miami was idle last week after beating Florida State 37-29 on October 20. That game was marked by nine turnovers, five by FSU.
The Hurricanes scored two touchdowns in eleven seconds late in the fourth quarter to win. The second score, a 27-yard fumble return by Colin McCarthy ensured the victory and broke a two-game ‘Canes losing streak.
Prior to the two quick scores, Miami’s chances to win appeared bleak after Kirby Freeman was stopped at the FSU one-yard line on fourth down with 5:29 left. The ‘Canes trailed 29-24, but Freeman, who replaced injured Kyle Wright at quarterback in the first half, drove Miami 83 yards in 90-seconds. When Freeman connected on a 13-yard pass to Dedrick Epps with 1:15 remaining, Miami took the lead 30-29.
On the next possession, FSU quarterback Xavier Lee was hit by Miami defensive tackle Teraz McCray. McCarthy picked up the loose ball and ran to the end zone for the clincher. It was the ‘Canes first defensive TD of the season.
Lee threw for 208 yards, completing 14-of-32 attempts, but was intercepted twice and lost two fumbles.
The Seminoles wasted five field goals by Gary Cismesia and Antone Smith's first 100-yard game of the season. Smith finished with 114 yards on 22 carries.
Wright, who hurt his left ankle, was 6 of 10 for 88 yards, but threw an interception that was returned for an FSU touchdown. Freeman was picked off twice and was 4-of-11 for 59 yards.
On Tuesday when he met with reporters, Miami coach Randy Shannon didn't sound especially optimistic about having Wright under center Saturday against N.C. State despite his quarterback’s return to practice.
“I won’t know (who will start) until Friday. Kirby won two games for us this year. It’s good that we have both of those guys, because you never know when you are going to need someone,” said Shannon.
Injured senior wide receiver Lance Leggett should be back. He returned to practice during the off week and is expected to play. Leggett is seventh among active ACC receivers with 84 career receptions.
The strength of the ‘Canes is a defense that combines both speed and power, especially up front. Eight starters returned from the ’06 unit that was seventh in the nation and allowed only 16 points a game. This year’s numbers aren’t quite as good, but are still very impressive.
Miami has the 20th ranked pass defense in the nation and is also solid in the Red Zone. Opponents are averaging only 22 points and 188 passing yards against the Hurricanes. The ‘Canes have allowed the fewest number of Red Zone touchdowns in the ACC this season, only 7 in 20 attempts.
Scoring on Miami at home is even tougher. The ‘Canes have yet to allow a point in the first half this season in five games at the Orange Bowl, outscoring opponents 71-0 during that time. Overall, the Hurricanes are giving up only 12 points a game at home.
The defensive leaders are two All-America candidates and a linebacker who could be the ACC’s leading tackler by season’s end.
Junior end Calais Campbell (6-8, 280) is outstanding. A speedy and powerful pass rusher, Campbell is getting plenty of attention from pro scouts and is a candidate for most national post-season defensive awards. He and McCray (6-1, 286, Sr.) each have a team-leading 8 tackles for loss and 5 sacks.
With starters Glenn Cook and Romeo Davis out for the season with injuries, Tavares Gooden (6-2, 238, Sr.) has stepped up. Gooden was moved from outside to middle linebacker and he has become one of the ACC’s leading tacklers, averaging 9.5 stops a game. McCarthy, an outside linebacker is an old-school player who is also very active.
In the secondary, safety Kenny Phillips (6-3, 210, Jr.), is a candidate for post-season honors. The ‘Canes leading tackler (52) is one of the best defensive backs in the ACC. Last season, he picked off four passes. This year, his backup, Randy Phillips (6-0, 204, Jr.) leads Miami with 2 interceptions.
Miami’s defense ranks fourth in the ACC with 24 sacks, including 9 against Duke.
The Hurricanes are still trying to find some answers offensively, especially in the passing game. Miami is averaging 25 points, but only 180 of its 338 yards a game come through the air.
Wright is second in the ACC in passing efficiency, but has thrown as many touchdown passes as interceptions (9). He also has the fewest number of attempts (142) and completions (88) of any quarterback listed among the league’s top passers.
Jenkins, Miami’s leading receiver (22), is one of Wright’s favorite targets. The senior recorded his third 100-yard game of the season after catching four passes for 106 yards against FSU. Leggett and sophomore Sam Shields (16 catches, 2 touchdowns) are also threats to make big plays.
Protecting Wright is a line with good size and decent experience. Redshirt senior left guard Derrick Morse, a third-year starter (6-4, 320), is the ‘Canes best offensive lineman. There is little experienced depth behind the starters except for Junior Chris Rutledge (6-5, 302), who can play either tackle position.
The Hurricanes running game is impressive and is No.3 in the ACC, averaging 157 yards a game.
Miami’s running backs, Javarris James, Graig Cooper and Shawnbrey McNeal might be the youngest backfield in the nation. James is a sophomore while Cooper and McNeal are freshmen. All three are fast and elusive.
Cooper is the ‘Canes leading rusher with 564 yards and a fine 5.9 yard per carry average. He ranks fourth in the nation among freshmen ball carriers. James, the cousin of NFL star Edgerrin James, led the team in rushing in ’06 (802) and has 416 yards this season with 4 touchdowns.
In the kicking game, Miami’s return men have put up average numbers and have no touchdowns. Punter Matt Bosher is coming off his best game of the season. The redshirt freshman has a 37.6 average for the season, but against FSU he averaged nearly 46 yards a boot.
Senior Francesco Zampogna may have lost his job as place-kicker. He has converted 9-of-14 field goal attempts, but did not kick in the FSU game.
Darren Daly, a junior from Dublin, Ireland, took over and nailed a 44-yard field goal and was 4-4 in extra point kicks against the ‘Noles.
Evan though he didn’t do any kicking, Zampogna did help the ‘Canes score against the Seminoles. He threw a 26 yard touchdown pass to tight end DajLeon Farr on a fake field goal. It was Miami’s fifth trick play in the kicking game this season.
NOTES: Saturday’s game will be NC State’s first (and last) visit to the Orange Bowl since Miami joined the ACC in 2004...Miami holds a 7-3-1 lead in the all-time series with the Wolfpack...Saturday’s game is UM’s Homecoming. Miami is 45-23 in Homecoming games at the Orange Bowl...In the Wolfpack’s last two games, Daniel Evans has averaged 341 passing yards with 6 touchdowns and only two interceptions while completing 61 percent of his throws...State remains last in the ACC in turnover margin (-16), but has either broken even or won the turnover battle in each of its last two games...The Pack will be trying to win it’s first ACC road game under Tom O’Brien and extend its winning streak to three straight games...State has the third-best passing offense in the ACC (248) while Miami has the league’s No.2 pass defense (188)...Darrell Blackman is third in the ACC in all-purpose yards, averaging 136 and recorded 130 yards against Virginia last week...Jamelle Eugene has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of his last 3 games, averaging 92 yards during that stretch...Offensive guard, Curtis Crouch became the ninth Wolfpack starter this season to suffer an injury that caused him to miss a game when sprained his ankle on October 20th...Six Wolfpack starters have undergone knee surgery this season. State has 12 quarterback sacks in its last 2 games and has moved to seventh in the ACC (20) tying Boston College... Miami receiver Darnell Jenkins has been thrown the ball 11 times on third down this season. He’s caught 10 for 98-yards and 10 first downs...Miami has forced 20 turnovers in eight games, one short of their 13-game total last season...Linebacker Ernest Jones leads the Pack in tackles, averaging 9.5 stops a game...DaJuan Morgan who had 12 tackles against Virginia, is the Pack’s “Disrupter.” He leads the team with 9 pass break-ups... NC State has scored in 147 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in ACC history...The Wolfpack’s last overtime game was a 27-21 win at home over Wake Forest in 2004...State is 6-4 in overtime games...NC State’s third down defense has been solid, holding opponents to 34 percent efficiency...Donald Bowens who caught 11 passes for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns against Virginia, is now the Pack’s leader in receiving yards (454)...Twenty-two Wolfpack players hail from the state of Florida...State’s defense has held opponents to 65 yards or less in the third quarter, five times this season...Turn your clocks back an hour before you go to bed Saturday night. It’s the end of Daylight Saving Time.
INJURIES--NC State: WR John Dunlap (ankle)-questionable; OG Curtis Crouch (ankle)-probable; TB Andre Brown (fractured foot)-out: LS Corey Tedder (broken hand) –out for season; RB Toney Baker (knee)--out for season; TE Anthony Hill (knee)-out for season; FB John Kane (concussion)-out for season; TE Rashad Phillips (rehab from auto accident)-out for season. Miami: QB Kyle Wright (ankle)-Day-to-day; WR Lance Leggett (foot)-probable; DT Antonio Dixon (knee)-questionable.
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Courtesy: Peyton Williams/NC State
