Not only did N.C. State defeat Florida State, it played with a flair. The Wolfpack braintrust kept the Seminoles off-balance with a mix of running plays-wide, straight ahead, and even a couple of reverses. State also threw the ball 22 times-mostly downfield. Although the statistics were dead even, and Florida State certainly had its chances to win, credit should go to the N.C. State players and coaching staff. The Wolfpack out-thought and out-fought Florida State.
The 'Noles, for example, ran the ball well on their first drive of the game. But they got little from their rushing attack beyond the first quarter. N.C. State, by contrast, struggled on the ground early. However, whether through imagination or effort, the team was able to get its backs, Andre Brown and Toney Baker, into open space in the third and fourth quarters. State seemed to win the war in the trenches -- Tank Tyler and company shedding blocks and tackling ball carriers in one phase of the game and the Wolfpack offensive line running interference for Brown and Baker in the other.
Florida State threw for more yards than N.C. State, but the numbers were skewed by one play. Drew Weatherford escaped the N.C. State pass rush in the second quarter and found Lorenzo Booker alone on the sidelines, turning a near sack into a 73-yard broken play first down. Weatherford passed for 176 yards beyond that, but most of his completions came between the 20's. Florida State was able to get into the red zone just three times.
N.C. State, meanwhile, reached the red zone five times. The Wolfpack won despite being stopped once on fourth and goal from the one. But State was able to produce three touchdowns and a field goal from its other red zone visits.
Daniel Evans continues to be a difference-maker under center. This young quarterback uses all his resources-precise timing to get the backs into the secondary on running plays; and the full arsenal of receivers. Evans' execution and timing have made State's offense fun to watch. And his ability to throw the ball on the money has given the Pack's receiving corps a chance to make plays. And didn't they?
Young freshman Geron James entered the game in the second quarter and promptly snatched the first two passes thrown his way for 57 yards as Florida State defensive backs tried unsuccessfully to stop him. James later scored a touchdown. And saw his effort matched by Dan Bowens and John Dunlap.
Evans threw passes to spots where only his receivers could catch them. That James, Bowen, and Dunlap took passes away from Florida State makes as much a statement about State's sudden emergence in the 2006 ACC race as the Pack's defensive line shutting down the 'Noles running game.
And so, N.C. State, picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic Division, will meet Wake Forest, picked to finish last in that division, to see who will own first place midway through the season. And Florida State, picked to finish first, finds itself near the brink of elimination in the ACC's Championship Chase.
