The NC State Wolfpack lost to Notre Dame on Saturday 45-24. NC State kept the Fighting Irish in check for the first quarter, but after a rain delay, Notre Dame took control. This Saturday, the Wolfpack will look to get right in a home bout against the VMI Keydets.
NC State Outlook
The Wolfpack fell to Notre Dame in a matchup where Brennan Armstrong threw three interceptions. Turning the ball over to a top-10 team killed the NC State momentum, and Sam Hartman’s four passing touchdowns took the game out of reach. Outside of two explosive plays, the defense played well. Payton Wilson had 14 tackles, while Davin Vann had two sacks. The team totaled five tackles for losses and four sacks, one forcing a fumble from Hartman. Offensively, the run game was abysmal. Jordan Houston only mustered 26 rushing yards, tying Armstrong to lead the team. The passing game showed promise, as transfers Dacari Collins and Brad Rozner caught touchdowns.
This matchup against the VMI Keydets should prove as an opportunity for the offense to work through its struggles. Armstrong needs to be more accurate, but the receiving corps needs to find ways to get open. Rozner had a great 10-touchdown season at Rice last season; look for Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae to get him more involved in week three. Kevin Concepcion is leading the team in receptions with nine, and Keyon Lesane has tallied 75 yards in the air. A receiver has to step up and provide a reliable weapon to Armstrong for the Wolfpack offense to be effective. On defense, NC State remains solid, but the long chunk runs have been the team’s kryptonite. The defense needs players other than Wilson, Vann, and standout corner Aydan White to step up and contribute.
VMI Outlook
VMI enters this contest at 1-1, most recently falling to Bucknell 21-13 last weekend. The Keydets often play in low-scoring games, reminiscent of most service academies. The team is also in its first year with head coach Danny Rocco. Quarterback Collin Ironside has passed for 459 yards and three touchdowns through two games, and the Keydets feature a two-headed rushing attack with Rashad Raymond and Hunter Rice. VMI will be competitive if Ironside can find a way to drive the ball downfield, but the Wolfpack defense will not make this an easy task. Thankfully for the Keydets, receiver Chance Knox has been very productive, with 11 catches for 152 yards. Knox will have his work cut out for him facing White and Shyheim Battle, but the inexperienced Wolfpack linebackers will also have to guard Aiden Twombly. Twombley also has eclipsed 100 yards this year and has 21.3 yards per catch.
The VMI defense will rely on its linebackers to slow the NC State offense down. Three linebackers have more than 15 tackles, led by Evan Eller with 20. However, the Keydets have not created much havoc. They only have three sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. The Keydets will have to create extra possessions to keep this game close, and the most likely way is through interceptions and keeping the Wolfpack run game locked down. NC State is working a lot of kinks out on offense, so there is a chance that the Keydets can keep the Wolfpack from scoring a lot of points.
NC State vs. VMI Prediction
The Wolfpack is coming off of a tough home loss to the Fighting Irish and is trying to find its identity on offense. Expect the defense to limit VMI from scoring. Ironside may find some success targeting Twombly against the linebacker group of NC State. However, Armstrong and the Wolfpack offense will be able to run a bit better and hopefully find some success in the passing game. With two teams that tend to play in lower-scoring games, this game will likely not be the high-scoring affair the Wolfpack saw last weekend. NC State will work on the passing game, run the ball well, and should come out on top in a commanding fashion.
Score Prediction: NC State 38 VMI 7
Photo courtesy: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
