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NC State heads into VMI game with extra chip on shoulder

On3 imageby:Ethan McDowell•09/13/23•

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Devan Boykin
Sep 9, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) is tackled by North Carolina State Wolfpack safety Devan Boykin (12) during the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

An Oct. 1 matchup with Clemson was NC State’s first loss of the 2022 season— a top-10 showdown that ended in a 30-20 defeat. The Pack responded well to that setback, defending home turf against a Florida State team that finished the year No. 11 nationally. 

Now, NC State is relying on its experienced leaders and growth from some younger contributors to bounce back from the Notre Dame game. Linebacker Jaylon Scott said the team has a 24-hour rule. The team can not dwell on a loss for more than a day.

That mentality is nothing new, and the Pack is relying on it to bounce back this week. 

“I felt like we responded how we usually do,” Scott said. “We just took it to heart, just got to work this week. We’re going to retouch on all of the small details that we need to refocus on and try to eliminate mental errors and communication errors.” 

Wolfpack safety Devan Boykin shared a similar sentiment. He said a lot of the Pack’s mistakes were “self-inflicted.” NC State studied the film from the Notre Dame game intently at the beginning of the week. Boykin said it was tough to watch. 

“It hurts a lot, just because we know that there was stuff that we missed out there, and it was because of our bad communication and our bad discipline with our eyes,” Boykin said.

Despite the disappointment from Saturday, the defensive back said NC State moved on early this week. 

The team emphasized throughout its press conferences that there is still a lot of football to be played, and experienced defensive lineman C.J. Clark pointed out that there are a few inexperienced players taking on major roles this season. He made sure to help keep the younger players’ heads up after the loss. 

Clark, one of the defense’s upperclassman leaders, also emphasized the importance of clear communication and said that will improve as players get more game snaps under their belts. The Notre Dame game will be a helpful learning opportunity for the more inexperienced members of the program, and the Pack lineman sees a clear path to improvement heading into the rest of the season. 

“With them seeing that on film and seeing what they did and how it hurt the team, I feel like they’re going to take it to heart, and we’re going to be better from here on out,” Clark said. 

Tight end Trent Pennix said Wednesday that the team is practicing really well right now, and the Pack spent the day fine-tuning some details following a great start to the week. Every day, he is coming back to the facility in the evening to watch extra film with his teammates and get ahead on the game plan. 

The Pack heads into its week 3 matchup with some extra motivation. 

“I’d say there’s more of a chip on everybody’s shoulder,” Pennix said. 

Bishop Fitzgerald is one of the Wolfpack safeties filling into a new role this year. He said the defense knows it is talented, but the unit lacked eye discipline against Notre Dame, and the defeat humbled the Pack. 

Head coach Dave Doeren wants the team to use the loss as motivation and, for Fitzgerald, that starts Saturday. 

“It’s kind of like a revenge game,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve got to let it out on VMI, what happened with Notre Dame, and hopefully that propels us for the rest of the season.”

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