NC State missed a field goal and turned the ball over three times in scoring territory, and there’s not much else to the outcome than that. Some teams are good enough to overcome the turnovers, but this State team is not among them.
The Wolfpack managed to put a late scare into the Orange with a pair of big plays, the first a 75-yard touchdown pass to Noah Rogers, the second a 72-yard connection with Hollywood Smothers, but there wasn’t enough time left, and the late life served only make the missed opportunities more nagging.
Syracuse held a 3-0 lead when NC State marched into plus territory and a Kendrick Raphael carry would have had the Pack set up in the red zone, you know, had he not fumbled. State’s first second-half possession saw it knocking on the door of the red zone again, only for CJ Bailey to lose the ball while being sacked. After Syracuse scored on its ensuing possession to take a 17-7 lead, State turned the ball over inside the Orange 30 for the third time.
This very easily could have been a much different game, but for the second straight week NC State could not sustain its successes and instead found some winning plays for the other team. It’s one thing to lose; losing like this is rather difficult to take, especially given the dire need for a breakthrough. The guys had it there for the taking and just would not grab it.
So it goes with mediocre teams, I suppose. This season is one step closer to the dumpster.