The chase for first
Nov. 3—RALEIGH — The 22nd-ranked NC State Wolfpack host the 21st-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons this Saturday in an ACC conference showdown. Both teams are tied on record in conference and both teams have an opportunity to climb the divisional standings with a win this weekend to get their shot at the conference championship come December.
The Wolfpack got their sixth win of the season in a nail-biting, one-point victory against Virginia Tech last Thursday. NC State had to claw their way back into the game despite being down double figures at the half and was led by their freshman backup quarterback MJ Morris in his first start this season.
The Demon Deacons got a three-game win streak snapped in Louisville last weekend for their second loss of the season. Wake Forest suffered self-inflicted wounds with eight turnovers against a resurging Louisville team that caused a massive calamity in the third quarter.
The Demon Deacons go on the road once more but the 100-mile trip will be greeted with a hostile welcome. NC State lags behind its opponents in every major statistical category but will have the advantage of a packed Carter-Finley Stadium behind them.
Wake Forest's 38.9 ppg has them rated as the third-best offense in the ACC this season behind UNC and Florida State. Junior quarterback Sam Hartman is responsible for 22 touchdowns and passed for over 2,026 yds in the first eight games this season for the Demon Deacons.
The season is halfway through and NC State is currently rated the best defense in the ACC, only allowing their opponents 17.4 ppg. Junior linebacker Drake Thomas has a team-high 58 tackles and is a player to watch on the defensive side for the Wolfpack.
The Wolfpack offense has been inconsistent so far in conference play and averaged 16.8 ppg in their first four ACC games. Starting junior quarterback Devin Leary has been ruled out for the season so the Wolfpack will have to rely on the young freshman arm of Morris for the rest of the year. Morris went for 265 yds in the air and threw for three touchdowns in his college debut last weekend against Louisville.
The Demon Deacons junior defensive lineman Rondell Bothroyd has a team-high 5 sacks and will be a player the home team will be mindful of going into the game this Saturday.
Last season's game between the two conference rivals resulted in a Wake Forest 45-42 victory. Hartmen finished last year's game against the Wolfpack with 290 passing yds and three touchdowns to help his team overcome NC State. The Wolfpack have made the necessary improvements to compete on defense but rivalry games tend to carry unpredictability.
