NC State football report card: Kansas State

No. 18 NC State wrapped up its 2023 campaign with a 28-19 loss in the Pop-Tarts Bowl Thursday night. No. 25 Kansas State led from the first possession and handed the Wolfpack its fourth loss of the fall. 

The Wildcats rushed for 258 yards, put together a 15 play, 72 yard drive in 7:24 of game time and defeated NC State despite playing true freshman quarterback Avery Johnson in his first career start

After allowing 20.2 points per game this season, the Wolfpack conceded four touchdowns against Kansas State. Offensively the Pack relied extremely heavily on quarterback Brendan Armstrong in his final collegiate contest. 

NC State recorded standout report card marks over the final five games of the regular season but, when facing off against one of the Big-12’s top programs, the Pack took a step back. 

NC State offense grade 

Grade— C-

Armstrong carried 17 of the Wolfpack’s 33 rushing attempts 121 yards Thursday night. NC State leaned on him early and often to pick up tough yards against a fast and physical Kansas State defense, and he ended up finishing as the program’s lone 100-yard rusher this season. The offensive line did a good job clearing up rushing lanes between the tackles and only allowed 1 sack in pass protection.

NC State’s offense looked limited throughout the contest, counting on Armstrong to make nearly every play with his legs, and Kansas State held wide receiver Kevin Concepcion to a team-leading 7 catches for 72 yards. Through the air, Armstrong completed 50 percent of his passes for 164 yards and threw his first interception since the Sept. 29 loss to Louisville.

From the second quarter into the third, the Pack scored on four of five possessions, but the offense started and ended the game slow. NC State ran just 7 plays on three fourth quarter drives.

Defense grade

Grade— C

NC State successfully disrupted Kansas State’s passing offense, holding Johnson to a 45 percent completion percentage, but the defense struggled to contain the Wildcats’ signal-caller on the ground. He ran 7 times for 71 yards and converted a few critical first downs that extended Kansas State drives after the Wolfpack did everything right on the previous downs.

During the Wildcats’ game-clinching fourth-quarter drive, they converted a third and 13, a third and 10, a third and 6 and a critical fourth and 1 play. After giving up 150 first half rushing yards, mostly to star sophomore back DJ Giddens, the Pack settled down defensively and allowed 4 rushes of 10 yards or more in the final 2 quarters after giving up 7 over the first 30 minutes of game time. NC State shut out Kansas State in the third quarter.

Giddens finished the game with 28 carries for 152 yards, the most yards the Pack’s defense has given up to running back all year. He forced 9 missed tackles and racked up 96 yards after contact, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).

NC State posted its worst PFF tackling grade of the season by far against the Wildcats at 41.5. The Pack missed a total of 17 attempts.

No Kansas State pass catcher finished with more than 52 yards. Cornerback Shyheim Battle (7 tackles and 1 quarterback hurry) and safety Sean Brown (7 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 pass breakups) tied the team lead for tackles. Each of the Wolfpack’s top-four tacklers Thursday evening were defensive backs.

Special teams grade 

Grade— B

NC State responded to a 30-yard fake punt conversion by the Wildcats with a 60-yard fake of its own that turned into a Trent Pennix rushing touchdown. Punter Caden Noonkester averaged 40.8 yards per boot on his 4 attempts, and a penalty wiped off one return that would have ended in a touchdown for Kansas State.

The Wildcats finished the game with -12 return yards, while wide receivers Keyon Lesane and Julian Gray ran back a pair of kicks for 49 total yards. Kicker Brayden Narveson missed a 52-yard attempt but drilled kicks from 49 and 26 yards out in his final collegiate contest.