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Game Balls: Standouts from NC State’s loss at No. 17 Duke

image_6483441 (3)by:Noah Fleischman•10/14/23•

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Caden Noonkester
Oct 14, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack punter Caden Noonkester (98) kicks the football during the first half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

DURHAM, N.C. — NC State’s offense could not move the ball well and its defense struggled to stop No. 17 Duke’s explosive attack in a 24-3 loss at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday night. 

The Wolfpack averaged 4.4 yards per play in the loss, while the Blue Devils gained 8.1 yards per play. Duke did most of its damage through big plays through the air behind redshirt freshman Henry Belin IV’s 4-of-12 passing night for 107 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. 

Belin averaged 26.8 yards per pass attempt as the Blue Devils gashed the Wolfpack secondary. He only attempted one pass in the second half, which was an incompletion.

Duke’s rushing attack was a problem for NC State’s defense as well. Jordan Waters led the Blue Devils with 13 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 9.5 yards per carry to lead all ball carriers in the contest. 

In all, Duke outrushed NC State 196-116 while it only relied on three ball carriers: Jordan Moore, Belin and Waters. 

TheWolfpacker.com is acknowledging those that provided a bright spot for the Wolfpack in its loss with four game balls after NC State’s third defeat of the 2023 campaign. 

K Bryaden Narvson: The Western Kentucky transfer was the lone bright spot for the Wolfpack’s scoring output. He drilled a career-long 57-yard field goal to put NC State on the board first in the first quarter. Not only did the field goal set a personal best for the Wolfpack kicker, it broke the program record, which was a 56-yarder made by Damon Hartman in 1990.

LB Payton Wilson: NC State’s leader stepped up on a night the defense struggled to find production. He led the Wolfpack with 11 tackles, including two tackles for a loss. Wilson also recorded a quarterback hit. 

WR Kevin Concepcion: The freshman phenom tried to will the NC State offense over a hump that it could not surpass against the Blue Devils. Concepcion caught six passes for 63 yards with a long of 21 on 10 targets. He also added four carries for 33 yards — the second-most among the Wolfpack’s ball carriers.

P Caden Noonkester: He was used early and often, and Noonkester was the most reliable player on the field for the Pack against Duke. He attempted six punts for 247 yards, an average of 41.2 yards per boot. The punter recorded a long of 55, while he pinned four kicks inside the 20-yard line and had one kick longer than 50 yards. He was key in helping flip the field, but the Blue Devils were able to utilize big plays to negate his effectiveness. 

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