With #1 and defending champion Florida State coming to Carter-Finley Stadium this weekend, an improving Wolfpack team looks to pull the upset in a place that has become what some media members call “a house of horrors” for the Seminoles. The Wolfpack has had more success against Florida State than any other conference school. For example:
1. Most victories against Florida State since they joined the ACC in 1992: 7
2. Most victories at Florida State since they joined the ACC in 1992: 2
3. First team to win at Florida State: 2001
4. Second team to beat Florida State: 1998
5. Number of times scoring 40+ points at Florida State: 2 All other ACC teams combined: 1
As you can see, the Wolfpack has become one of the de facto main rivals of the Seminoles, along with Clemson and Miami. As we look back at the past 10 matchups, we would be remiss not to mention the first two victories over FSU:
1998: NC State 24-7 in Raleigh. Second team to beat FSU in the ACC. Chris Weinke threw 6 interceptions as the Pack gave up 7 points on the first offensive play of the game and then shut out the Seminoles as Torry Holt and Jamie Barnette lead the way.
2001: NC State 34-28 in Tallahassee. First ACC home loss ever. Philip Rivers out-dueled Chris Rix. Ray Robinson continued his great play, including what may be the best spin move I have ever seen a Wolfpack player perform on the gridiron.
But now to the last 10 games in the series:
2005: NC State 20-15 in Tallahassee. First and only Wolfpack-Seminoles game I have attended in Tallahassee. Andre Brown ran for 65 yards and a touchdown on play number one. He ran for 179 yards on the day. Marcus Stone threw a TD pass to Anthony Hill. Coach Amato won for the second time in Tallahassee. Drew Weatherford threw 3 interceptions, which offset not one but two blocked punts by the Seminoles.
2006: NC State 24-20 in Raleigh. Another Thursday night Wolfpack-Seminoles matchup. Another classic game. Another Wolfpack comeback win. Daniel Evans, making his second career start, threw 3 touchdowns including the winning score with 10 minutes to go to his favorite target, John Dunlap. After pulling a victory out of nowhere against Boston College the previous week, this victory put the Pack squarely in the driver’s seat in the Atlantic Division with a 2-0 record. The good mojo was brought out early as the Stanley Cup was brought out onto the field between the 1st and 2nd quarter. The good mojo was continued as Evans threw the winning pass to what is being now called “Dunlap’s Corner.”
2007: Florida State 27-10 in Tallahassee. The Seminoles, now with former NC State head coach Chuck Amato back on the defensive staff, continued the struggles of the Pack as Florida State easily won 27-10. The Seminoles forced 4 turnovers, including a 43 yard interception return for a TD by Michael Ray Garvin which was the winning points as the Noles pulled away from a 10-10 halftime score. Daniel Evans threw 3 interceptions while Florida State was turnover free.
2008: Florida State 26-17 in Raleigh. Another Thursday night Wolfpack-Seminoles matchup. Another classic game. Different result. After Russell Wilson hit Owen Spencer on a 65 yard touchdown pass to give the Pack a 17-13 lead to open up the fourth quarter, Christian Ponder responded with a touchdown pass that gave the lead back to the Seminoles. Graham Gano added a couple of field goals late in the game to ensure that the Noles would go back to Tallahassee with a victory. The Noles dominated time of possession (over 38 minutes) and as Tom O’Brien said, “We just couldn’t get off the field.”
2009: Florida State 45-42 in Tallahassee. Even with Florida State struggling some, this game had more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Russell Wilson threw for 349 yards and 5 touchdowns. Jarvis Williams recorded two touchdowns. Owen Spencer had 5 catches for 165 yards, along with an 80 yard touchdown. But even with 538 total yards, the Seminoles eclipsed that by recording 555 total yards. After Wilson’s second TD pass to Williams put the Pack ahead 42-38 with less than 4 minutes to go, Christian Ponder broke the heart of Wolfpack Nation with a game winning TD drive that was culminated in Bert Reed’s 3 yard touchdown run with 1:36 left. A pass in the end zone on the last play of the game by Wilson was intercepted, ending the game and giving Florida State the victory.
2010: NC State 28-24 in Raleigh. Another Thursday night Wolfpack-Seminoles matchup. Another classic game. This time a better result. Round 3 of Ponder vs. Wilson. This game was evenly played in almost every aspect. In the fourth quarter, each team had a first and goal. Wilson threw a one yard touchdown pass on 4th and goal to George Bryan. Ponder fumbled on his play action attempt. Game. Set. Match. Wolfpack. The Wolfpack would have control of the Atlantic Division for the rest of the year after this victory, until the last day of the year when they lost to a Big 10 team.
2011: Florida State 34-0 in Tallahassee. The Seminoles were completely dominating as they held the Wolfpack to 166 total yards in a 34-0 shut out victory. EJ Manuel passed for 321 yards and 2 touchdowns. Their defense forced three turnovers while harassing Mike Glennon all day. The Wolfpack’s deepest penetration into Seminole territory was the Florida State 28 yard line. Jimbo Fisher didn’t have too many reasons to be upset as this game was never in doubt.
2012: NC State 17-16 in Raleigh. #3 ranked Florida State came into the game expecting to win easily and continue their march to the national title game. With the score 16-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, Mike Glennon lead the comeback for the Pack. First off was a 24 yard touchdown pass to Shadrach Thornton, who had a great catch and run. Next, with no time outs remaining, Mike Rose blocked a FSU punt and Glennon completed not one, not two, but three fourth down conversions on the final drive. The final 4th down was 4th down and goal with 19 seconds left. A rub route allowed Glennon to throw to a wide open Bryan Underwood in the end zone to complete the comeback win.
2013: Florida State 49-17 in Tallahassee. The score was not indicative of the this game. The Seminoles, on Bobby Bowden Day, came out on fire and the Pack stumbled out of the gate. At the end of the first quarter it was 35-0. At halftime, it was 42-0. In the second half, eventual national champion Florida State pulled eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and most of the other starters and the Seminoles cruised. One bright spot for the Wolfpack was the play of Shadrach Thornton, who had two TDs (including one of 72 yards) and 173 yards rushing.
In the last 10 years, Florida State has the edge 6-4. Gameday didn’t want to come here but would rather go see a middle of the pack (pun intended) matchup between Missouri and South Carolina. But even College Gameday is wary of a possible upset.
So, let’s make the entire stadium RED and see Jacoby Brissett and the vastly improved offense take on a Florida State team that has shown some vulnerability this year.
FSU is 3-5 in last 8 trips to Raleigh & all 5 times NCSU won they were unranked #NCSUvsFSU http://t.co/yQ5mTbrLcP pic.twitter.com/pZ9JOuUKr0
— ACC Football News (@accfootballnews) September 26, 2014
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