NC State Bowl qualifies after 20-6 win over Miami Hurricanes – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Behind a defense that forced four turnovers and didn’t allow a touchdown, North Carolina State is bowl eligible after beating Miami 20-6 on Saturday night.
The win for the Wolfpack (6-3, 3-2 ACC) is the first over the Hurricanes (6-3, 2-3 ACC) since 2008. The win was also the 78th for Dave Doeren as NC State head coach the winningest coach in program history.
Devin Boykin secured the win for NC State when he intercepted Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke with less than four minutes to play. Aydan White, Brandon Cisse and Davin Vann also created turnovers for the Wolfpack. Offensively, MJ Morris completed 11 of 21 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown for NC State.
Miami’s offense was led by Mark Fletcher Jr., who ran 23 times for 115 yards.
When Miami entered Wolfpack territory on Saturday, it was plagued by missed opportunities and ran into NC State’s stifling defense. The Hurricanes scored just once out of the three times they were in the red zone. Miami also missed a 45-yard field goal attempt.
In the fourth quarter, Miami turned the ball over at the 3, capping a fruitless 12-play drive that cost more than 7 minutes on the clock. The Wolf Pack responded with an eight-play drive that ended with Kendrick Raphael rebounding off a Miami defender en route to a 31-yard touchdown run, increasing the Wolf Pack’s lead to two possessions. Miami’s next two drives ended with interceptions by Van Dyke.
THE TAKING AWAY
NC State: The Wolfpack defense made the difference, turning in arguably one of its best performances of Doeren’s tenure. It’s the first time in Doeren’s 11 seasons that NC State held an ACC opponent to fewer than seven points. Linebacker Payton Willis once again led the Wolfpack’s defense, recording 16 tackles, two pass breakups and two quarterback hits.
Miami: The Hurricanes had some success moving the ball but couldn’t break through NC State’s defense when it really mattered. Miami was 4 of 17 on third and fourth down conversion attempts and came away with just three points on three trips to the redzone. It was also the second straight game in which Van Dyke threw multiple interceptions and failed to score a touchdown.
NEXT
Miami: The Hurricanes travel to rival No. 4 Florida State next Saturday.
NC State: The Wolf Pack faces Wake Forest next Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C
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