By Mitchell Northam, Associated Press

Miami Hurricanes	6
NC State Wolfpack	20
Final

Raleigh, N.C.

On Saturday night, North Carolina State became eligible for a bowl game by defeating Miami 20-6, thanks to their strong defense that forced four turnovers and prevented any touchdowns from the visiting team.

The victory for the Wolfpack (6-3, 3-2 ACC) is the first over the Hurricanes (6-3, 2-3 ACC) since 2008. The win was also the 78th for Dave Doeren as N.C. State’s head coach, making him the winningest coach in program history.

Devin Boykin secured the victory for N.C. State by intercepting Tyler Van Dyke of Miami with less than 4 minutes remaining. Aydan White, Brandon Cisse, and Davin Vann also forced turnovers for the Wolfpack. In terms of offense, MJ Morris had 11 completions on 21 attempts, resulting in 123 yards and a touchdown for N.C. State.

Mark Fletcher Jr. led Miami’s offense with 115 rushing yards on 23 carries.

On Saturday, when Miami reached Wolfpack territory, they struggled with missed chances and were faced with N.C. State’s strong defense. The Hurricanes only managed to score once out of three attempts in the red zone and also failed a 45-yard field goal.

During the fourth quarter, Miami failed to convert on a fourth down at the 3-yard line after a 12-play drive that took over 7 minutes. The Wolfpack countered with an eight-play drive, resulting in Kendrick Raphael breaking through a Miami defender for a 31-yard touchdown run, extending their lead to two possessions. In the following two drives, Miami’s quarterback Van Dyke threw interceptions.

THE TAKEAWAY

The defense of the N.C. State Wolfpack was the deciding factor and potentially one of the strongest performances under Doeren’s leadership. This is the first instance in Doeren’s 11-year tenure that the team held an ACC opponent to fewer than seven points. Linebacker Payton Willis continued to lead the Wolfpack defense with 16 tackles, two pass breakups, and two quarterback hits.

In the game against N.C. State, Miami was able to move the ball effectively, but struggled to score when it counted. They only converted 4 out of 17 third and fourth down attempts and were only able to score three points in three red zone opportunities. This was also the second consecutive game where Van Dyke threw multiple interceptions and was unable to score a touchdown.

UP NEXT

The Miami Hurricanes will be facing off against their rival, the No. 4 ranked Florida State, next Saturday.

Next Saturday, the Wolfpack of N.C. State will take on Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Preview:

On Saturday, North Carolina State will welcome Miami for a game as both teams aim to continue their positive streaks. The Wolfpack emerged victorious against Clemson in their previous game.

After defeating Clemson in double overtime, the Hurricanes continued their winning streak by defeating Virginia in overtime. Miami has emerged victorious in the last four matchups between the two teams. The last time North Carolina State was able to beat Miami was in 2008. In their last two victories, the Hurricanes have successfully come back from double-digit deficits.

The teams’ defenses rank high in sacks within the Atlantic Coast Conference. Miami has the potential to achieve their sixth victory, surpassing their initial record under Mario Cristobal.

What is being risked?

Both the Hurricanes and Wolfpack are coming off wins that helped reclaim some lost momentum. Miami has won two straight games since falling to North Carolina, beating Clemson in double overtime and Virginia in another extra period. N.C. State regrouped from an ugly loss at Duke by beating Clemson at home. The winner climbs to the top of a jumbled middle section of the league standings filled with 2-2 teams.

KEY MATCHUP

The defensive lines are aggressively attacking the opposing team’s offensive lines. Miami and N.C. State have both been successful in pressuring the quarterback, with Miami ranking second in the ACC with 28 sacks and N.C. State close behind in third with 24. On the other hand, Miami has only allowed eight sacks, which places them second in the league, while N.C. State has allowed 16 sacks, tying them for sixth in the league.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

S Kamren Kinchens of Miami was recognized as the ACC defensive back of the week for his impressive performance against Virginia. He scored a touchdown after intercepting a pass in the second half and also recorded nine tackles during the game.

N.C. State’s wide receiver, Kevin “KC” Concepcion, has been named the ACC rookie of the week for the third time. This is due to his impressive performance in the Clemson game, where he accumulated 134 all-purpose yards. He contributed 83 yards in receiving and 51 yards rushing, scoring two touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURES

Miami has emerged victorious in the past four meetings, with the last two being decided by a total of four points. In the 2020 matchup, the Hurricanes secured a 44-41 win with a late touchdown in Raleigh. The following year, they won 31-30 at home. … N.C. State’s most recent victory against Miami was in 2008 on their home turf. … The Hurricanes have spent four weeks in the AP Top 25 rankings this season. … Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren tied the program’s coaching record for wins with his 77th victory last week, matching Earle Edwards. … Miami has come back from double-digit deficits in their last two wins. … N.C. State has accumulated 176 rushing yards in their last two games, including 64 in their matchup against Clemson. … Wolfpack linebacker Payton Wilson ranks sixth in the Bowl Subdivision for tackles per game with an average of 11.1. … Kinchens has made four interceptions in eight games this season, giving him a per-game average of 0.5, which is tied for sixth in FBS. … A win would allow the Hurricanes to surpass their first-year win total under Mario Cristobal. … Miami boasts the eighth-best run defense in the nation, allowing only 86.9 yards per game.

___

Receive notifications for updates on the latest AP Top 25 rankings throughout the season by signing up at this link.

Source: wralsportsfan.com