NC State football: What they're saying about win at UConn

NC State football earned a hard-fought win to start the 2023 campaign with a 24-14 win at UConn Thursday evening. Here is some of what those who covered the game are saying.

Matt Carter, The Wolfpacker — Column: NC State football shows mixed bag in opener

The defense is still good. The kicking was good. Brayden Narveson did miss a 50-yarder but had the distance and he rebounded to make a 44-yarder. The offense ran for 209 yards thanks to Armstrong’s dual-threat capabilities.

That’s not a bad starting point, especially when considering offenses tend to improve more during a year than the defense.

There are still unknowns though, including how good is UConn? A year ago, the Huskies went 5-1 at home with some nice wins included. UConn also legitimately boasts good line play, especially on offense. But a rule of thumb is to take four weeks to get the landscape of college football. That’s an almost impossible ask in the era of instant hot takes, but on Sept. 23, the same venue will see Duke visiting.

Many believe that the Blue Devils could be on a team to watch in the ACC a year ago after a 9-win campaign.

It also remains to be seen if the NC State offensive line, who failed on a fourth and one in the fourth quarter and a few other third and shorts to create a push for bruising running back Delbert Mimms III, can improve enough so that NC State is not relying on Armstrong’s scrambling to consistently run the ball.

The lack of downfield passing is also a little disconcerting, given how much NC State struggled in that department a year ago even when Devin Leary was healthy and slinging the football. Six different NC State receivers did catch the football Thursday, so that might be a positive.

Ethan McDowell, The Wolfpacker — NC State locker room notes from the win over UConn

Armstrong set passing records at UVA, but his mobility stood out Thursday night. He wore a green limited contact jersey throughout fall camp, and Armstrong relished the opportunity to embrace live tackling. 

“He likes contact,” Doeren said. “One time, he got hit, and he was like, ‘Where’s that guy? I want to go run him over.’ The guy’s just a linebacker playing quarterback. I love that about him.”

Doeren also said the rest of the NC State football team will feed off of that mentality. 

The quarterback pointed out that enjoying contact is a part of loving football. Armstrong can make plays with his arm but, once he built some momentum rushing the ball, he was happy to help carry the offense on the ground. 

“I just felt like the game needed my feet,” Armstrong said. 

Jadyn Watson-Fisher, News & Observer — Three takeaways from NC State football’s season opening win at UConn

You have to win the first game to win them all, and N.C. State’s quest for an undefeated season continues.

The Wolfpack (1-0) began its season with a 24-14 win over UConn (0-1) on the road Thursday night, extending its series lead to 4-0. State is now 2-0 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, as well.

It was a dramatic game that featured an early UConn lead, some back-and-forth action and an injury to safety Rakeim Ashford. There were moments where the Wolfpack looked out of sync, but it managed to keep it together for the victory.

Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer — Did NC State football get an A for its performance at UConn

Coaching: C

Again, average is OK in Week 1 for the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae showed that he knows how to utilize Armstrong, but State can’t have its quarterback finishing with 19 carries.

Overall: C

Outside of Armstrong, it was a decent outing for the Wolfpack. The defense had its moments and it’s a road win, but NC State will need to be better than average next week against Notre Dame.

Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant: After quick start, offense stalls at UConn falls to NC State in season opener, 24-14

NC State responded with a nine-play, 66-yard drive on its first offensive possession that ended with quarterback Brennan Armstrong tricking the defense and trotting in for a 4-yard touchdown himself. The Wolfpack missed a 50-yard field goal early in the second quarter but got one to go from 44 yards as the clock ran out to take a 10-7 lead into the half.

Meanwhile, UConn’s offense went quiet. After their initial score the Huskies punted on four straight drives, only getting into NC State territory once.

“Offensively, we need to throw the ball better. It’s hard to throw against the type of defense they were playing, when they got the lead they were rushing three and dropping eight, rolling up on both wide-outs and making you check it down, that’s not easy,” Mora said. “Otherwise I think Joe kind of showed us what we like about him, which is poise, composure, making good decisions.”

After a pair of critical pass interference penalties on UConn’s defense, including one in a goal-line 4th down situation, NC State’s Delbert Mimms was able to rumble in for a 1-yard touchdown. Mimms’ score gave the Wolfpack a 17-7 lead with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.

“Dumb penalties. We hurt ourselves,” said safety Durante Jones, who made 14 total tackles. “Things that we know we’re not supposed to do, we did it… A couple pass interferences on the 4th and 2 goal-line stop and earlier in that drive played a part, so we just hurt ourselves. Then another thing, defensively we didn’t tackle good. I put a lot of that on myself because I have to do better getting a guy down like that, especially a veteran quarterback like that (who) we knew was a threat with his feet.”

Cole Stefan, The Daily Campus — Huskies start strong, but Wolfpack howl loudest in season opener

Heavily advertised as the biggest home game in the Jim Mora era, over 36,000 people packed the stands at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. That reported number marked the most fans in a season opener at the Rent since 2010, when the UConn football team battled the Texas Southern Tigers in front of over 37,000. 

Playing in front of a near sellout crowd, Connecticut started their season with a bang but cracked under the NC State Wolfpack’s multi-faceted pressure in a 24-14 defeat. 

“That was a disappointing game,” head coach Jim Mora said afterward. “We need to be more poised so that we do not have self-inflicted wounds.” 

Joe Fagnano made a swift first impression in his UConn debut, lacing a 14-yard pass right at Cam Ross three plays in and converting on fourth down with Jelani Stafford in the backfield. Their drive still alive, Fagnano kept his electric legs moving on a 10-yard rush and a 13-yard dash down the right sideline. Positioned in the red zone on the latter run play, Victor Rosa sprinted 18 yards through the defense and into the endzone as the Huskies got on the board. 

The Wolfpack entered the red zone almost immediately following the opening drive, picking up a first down and then some on each of their first two plays. Connecticut’s defense twice forced a third-down situation following those two big plays, remaining on the field when NC State converted both times on shotgun plays deep in enemy territory. Brennan Armstrong fooled everyone in attendance on the very next play, making everyone believe that UConn completed a tackle for a loss before walking into the endzone. 

Associated Press — North Carolina State beats UConn 24-14 in season opener

Ashford lay motionless for more then 10 minutes and was taken off the field on a stretcher. His condition was not immediately known, but coach Dave Doeren said after the game that preliminary reports from medical personal were “positive.”

“They’re going to keep him overnight to make sure, but every test they’ve done so far is OK,” he said.

The Wolfpack had to drive just 27 yards for the score and Armstrong’s second touchdown run of the game, an e 8-yard scramble up the middle gave the Wolfpack their winning margin.

“Having that extra runner as a quarterback kind of helps you as an offense, right,” Armstrong said. “I just felt like the game needed my feet and that’s just kind of what happened.”

UConn jumped out early, with quarterback Joe Fagnano hitting on all three of his passes on a 12-play, 75-yard opening drive. Rosa capped that off with an 18-yard touchdown run over the right side.

But the Huskies had just 50 yards of offense the rest of the half. The Wolfpack held the Huskies to 273 total yards.

Fagnano finished 14 of 26 for 113 yards and an interception, from linebacker Payton Wilson that sealed the win with under a minute to go.

“It was neck-and-neck and we were fighting hard and then we imploded a little bit there at the end of the third quarter,” UConn coach Jim Mora said.

Gtiffin Cunningham, Technician — NC State football brushes off UConn to win season opener

Although Armstrong struggled to connect with his receivers, he continued to run effectively. The graduate ran the ball a game-high 19 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

“I get some of the comments saying ‘oh I didn’t know you could run like that,’” Armstrong said. “I’m just happy we won today, however way it can help this team … that’s all that matters.”

Senior linebacker Jaylon Scott and redshirt junior defensive lineman Red Hibbler contributed to the defensive efforts with open-field tackles and a sack. Combined with the efforts of graduate linebacker Payton Wilson, the Pack effectively shut down the Huskies offense in the fourth quarter.

Wilson stood out during the game, making tackles, deflections and securing the game sealing interception, allowing Armstrong to take a knee for the final offensive snap.

“To win a game like [this], your best players have to make plays in key moments,” Doeren said. “And he’s one of our best players.”

NC State’s strong start to the season sets the stage for its home opener against Notre Dame next week at Carter-Finley Stadium at noon on Saturday, Sept. 9.

“It’s gonna be a big one,” Armstrong said. “I mean, I know everyone’s looking forward to this one. A big time game coming into our house. What else could you ask for?”