RALEIGH — North Carolina State’s offense is decidedly different from the Georgia Tech option.
Yet, the often pass-happy Wolfpack did a pretty good impression of the Yellow Jackets in the second quarter, ball-hogging and stemming Tech’s momentum.
After one play of the second quarter Saturday, the Jackets led 21-0, and it seemed as if they were headed toward their nation’s-best scoring average of 53.2 points.
The Yellow Jackets did not score again until 12 1/2 minutes remained, holding on to win 45-35 at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The second quarter was frustrating for the Tech offense, watching the Wolfpack go on a 19-play drive that consumed 9:45 of the second-quarter clock. The total time of possession in the second 15 minutes: N.C. State 12:29, Tech 2:31.
“Teams probably hate it when we do it,” center Jay Finch said. “We have our claim to fame, Paul Johnson death marches. You know, 19 [plays], 80-yard drives. As an offense, you feel like the game’s out of your hands.”
Johnson didn’t mind watching, since the Wolfpack didn’t score on that long march. N.C. State did force a three-and-out right after, however, and cut the lead to 21-7 on the next possession.
“Well, as long as you’re winning the game, it’s not as big of a deal,” Johnson said. “But it’s frustrating. We were on a little bit of a roll, and you’d like to get them off the field. At the same time, we didn’t give up a lot of points.”
Johnson said it’s no secret teams will try to control the clock and keep his offense off the field. When the Jackets got the ball back after N.C. State’s touchdown, with 1:15 left before halftime, they thought they had a quick answer, a 71-yard run by Roddy Jones, only to have it come back because of a holding penalty on Orwin Smith.
Johnson was disappointed the flag came from an official far away from where Smith was blocking.
“I haven’t seen the play [on tape],” he said. “I don’t know what — but boy, it came from 40 yards away.”
N.C. State quarterback Mike Glennon said the Wolfpack felt they had overcome Tech’s initial punch — three drives, 21 points – with its play in the second quarter.
“We got some momentum going into the half,” Glennon said. “We knew going in they had the No. 1 offense in the country and that we would have to score a lot of points, but unfortunately we didn’t score enough.”
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