NC State football vs. Syracuse report card: D stands for Doeren after disappointing loss
SYRACUSE – NC State football struggled on offense without starting quarterback Devin Leary during a 24-9 loss at the hands of No. 18 Syracuse on Saturday afternoon.
The loss dropped the No. 15 Wolfpack to 5-2 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Here’s how we graded each phase of the Wolfpack’s loss to the Orange
OFFENSE: C-
Fans will be clamoring for an F after the Wolfpack failed to score a touchdown against the Orange, but that would be a disservice to the gutsy play from backup quarterback Jack Chambers. With starter Devin Leary done for the season, Chambers, the 25-year-old Charleston Southern transfer, played with heart, completing 18 of 30 passes for 160 yards while leading the team with 58 rushing yards on 19 attempts.
With that said, the Wolfpack offense made some huge mistakes on potential touchdown-scoring drives: a bobbled snap in the red zone and a dropped catch in the end zone from Thayer Thomas that might have turned the tide.
The offense has yet to score a touchdown since Leary went down last week with five minutes left in the third quarter against Florida State.
WHAT HAPPENED?Without Devin Leary, NC State's offense struggles in loss to No. 18 Syracuse
MORE ON CHAMBERS:Why backup QB Jack Chambers gave up a scholarship to play for NC State football
STARTING QB OUT:NC State football QB Devin Leary out for remainder of season
DEFENSE: B-
Once again, the defense did all it could to keep the offense within striking range of a win. Tanner Ingle and Aydan White both had first-half interceptions that kept points off the board, but eventually, the defense ran out of steam.
They had no answer for Syracuse receiver Oronde Gadsden, who hauled in eight catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Chris Dunn went 3-for-3 for all of NC State’s nine points in the win. He’s been the Wolfpack’s best offensive weapon of late, and that’s not a good thing. Colin Smith booted two kickoffs out of bounds resulting in favorable starting field position for Syracuse.
COACHING: D
No coaching staff is ready to lose its starting quarterback, but coach Dave Doeren and OC Tim Beck struggled to find effective play calls for Chambers and the rest of the offense. It’s a good thing the Wolfpack are entering a bye week. They need time to regroup.
OVERALL: C-
The Wolfpack fought admirably against a top-20 opponent but failed to convert on the few chances they had to change the game’s outcome.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State football vs. Syracuse report card: D stands for Doeren after disappointing loss
