NC State turns the page toward Syracuse with a week of ‘hard work’

NC State coach Dave Doeren will place phrases around the Murphy Center from time to time to get his team focused for an upcoming game. And after the Wolfpack watched a 10-point fourth-quarter lead slip away in a 34-30 loss to Wake Forest, the team is focused on the “hard work” pillar of the program and finishing this week. 

The Pack (3-3 overall, 0-2 ACC) has turned the page with those two phrases on the top of everyone’s minds. Doeren said the word “finish” has been uttered by nearly everyone in the building, while it has been plastered everywhere. Those two mantras will be pivotal as Syracuse visits Carter-Finley Stadium this weekend. 

Doeren noted that a Sunday and Monday after a loss like the Pack had against the Demon Deacons “suck,” but the team has moved on to focusing on the Orange. They have no choice, either, as Syracuse boasts the No. 2 passing attack in the ACC, led by Ohio State transfer quarterback Kyle McCord. 

“What do you do when things aren’t working well? You don’t stop working,” Doeren said Thursday. “ You work harder. For us, we just need to finish. … I’m glad we get to play this week. I’m glad we get to be back on the field to compete and get back to it.”

As NC State looked towards Syracuse this weekend, the Pack has rallied behind freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who will make his third-career start. He was at the controls of the Pack’s loss to Wake Forest, where he took over a 10-point deficit and posted a career-high 272 passing yards with 2 touchdowns on 28-of-42 attempts after graduate signal-caller Grayson McCall departed with a concussion. 

Doeren was pleased with his team’s effort this week and noted that the Wolfpack is still growing as Bailey continues to learn on the fly. 

“Obviously, CJ’s getting a majority of the reps and we’re going through that,” Doeren said. “He’s excited, but he’s still young, so there’s learning that takes place on the field.”

Speaking of McCall, the quarterback was on the practice field Wednesday as a supportive teammate, Doeren noted. The signal-caller is currently recovering from the hit he took against Wake Forest, but was around the team for the first time since he was carted off. 

Doeren said it was good for NC State to see McCall back around the program after he was unconscious on the field for a moment before being transported to WakeMed hospital. 

“He’s OK, not that he’s OK like he had a concussion, but that he’s not as bad as he could have been from a hit like that,” Doeren said of McCall. “He’s doing well. Seeing that helps [the team]. He’s going to be a good coach. That guy’s really good at the game of football. It’s good to see him get back that way.”

The Wolfpack has also been without redshirt freshman running back Hollywood Smothers for the last two games, but Doeren said the Oklahoma transfer returned to the practice field Thursday. His status for this weekend’s game is unclear. 

While Smothers returned to the field, Doeren also said that redshirt freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers and sophomore wideout Kevin “KC” Concepcion both had good weeks of practice. He added that redshirt junior tight end Dante Daniels also did as he continues to improve, and redshirt junior safety Renté Hinton and redshirt freshman linebacker Kelvon McBride have also practiced well this week. 

“Seeing guys get better is one of the things I love about this sport still and the progress that young players make,” Doeren said. 

The Wolfpack is focused on this weekend’s game against Syracuse, which is set for 8 p.m. under the lights, the first night game at Carter-Finley Stadium this fall. Doeren looks forward to playing in front of a raucous sold-out venue against the Orange, who have yet to play outside through the first five weeks. 

“It’s a great team we’re playing,” Doeren said. “They’re 4-1, they just came off an overtime win. Got a lot of energy, good quarterback. Going to be a good football game.”