by Malcolm Butler
Louisiana Tech returns to action this morning when the Bulldogs face North Carolina State at 11 a.m. (CT) at Carter-Findley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The contest can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with the pregame show starting at 9:30 a.m. Malcolm Butler and Teddy Allen will be providing a call of the action.
Tech (1-0) is coming off a bye week after defeating Nicholls State 25-17 in its season opener August 31 at Joe Aillet Stadium. North Carolina State (1-1) fell 51-10 to Tennessee last weekend after winning its opener 38-21 over Western Carolina.
“The loss to Tennessee was an anomaly of a performance,” said Cumbie. “It was night where everything went right for Tennessee and nothing went right for NC State. And Tennessee is really good, a top tier team. I know this will be a well-coached football game against a really good team.”
The game will mark the third time the two programs have met with the Wolfpack leading the series 2-0. NC State won 40-14 in 2013 and then 34-27 in 2021 with both games played in Raleigh.
The Wolfpack are one of just five P4 programs that have won eight or more games in each of its last four seasons under head coach Dave Doeren who enters his 12th year in Raleigh.
After holding Nicholls State in check, the Tech defense will be in for a tougher test against North Carolina State. Tech’s defense only allowed one TD and held Nicholls State to less than two years per rush and under 50 percent passing.
The Wolfpack are led by three-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Grayson McCall at quarterback. McCall transfered from Coastal Carolina and entered 2024 ranked fourth among active collegiate quarterbacks in passing yards with 10,448.
“He is one of the most consistent, well-known quarterbacks in college football over the last five years,” said Cumbie. “He has made a lot of plays at Coastal Carolina. Later in his career you have seen his development as a passer and being able to handle progressions and different looks. He can create plays with his feet. He is just a talented, experienced quarterback.”
Tech is expected to see the return of quarterback Jack Turner today, after Turner left the opener in the first quarter with a knee injury. The redshirt junior completed 4-of-8 for 70 yards, one TD and one interception before leaving.
“He has been a full go in practice this week,” said Cumbie. “He will be wearing a knee brace although I don’t think it will limit him mobility wise. And we will need that in this game. We will need our quarterback to extend plays and to be able to take off and run. I think he has a good week of practice.”
North Carolina State has recorded more interceptions (53) over the last three-plus seasons than any other P4 team in the county.
“It’s not a ton of coverage variations,” said Cumbie. “I think its the pressure that they get on the quarterback. They get to quarterbacks and flush them out of the pocket and force them into making bad decisions.”
The Bulldogs will look to improve on the running game today after averaging under 3.0 yards per carry in the season opener. Marquis Crosby and Donerio Davenport for 19 carries for 71 yards.
“In the run game, we didn’t create a lot of space,” said Cumbie. “I think we were content on getting into positions of blocks, but we didn’t move people against their will. And that’s what you have to do to be able to run the football effectively.”
The Bulldogs are looking for their first 2-0 start since 2020 and for their first win in the state of North Carolina (0-7).
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