Notebook: NC State falls short to No. 11 Miami in 44-41 thriller

NC State gained 410 yards on offense against No. 11 Miami Friday night. It was the second time this fall that the Wolfpack gained over 400 yards in a single game and the first since the 45-42 win over Wake Forest in the opener.

There was just one problem. Miami was able to produce 620 yards of total offense, the most the Pack has given up to an opponent through seven contests this season.

NC State (4-3, 4-3 ACC) lost 44-41 in heartbreaking fashion to the Hurricanes (6-1, 6-1 ACC) in a game with four ties and six lead changes on a cool, humid November night at Carter-Finley Stadium.

“It was a hell of a football game,” NC State head coach Dave Doeren said. “We just kept responding and they made one more play than we did at the end. We had our chances and didn't make enough plays.”

Despite the Wolfpack scoring its most points in a single contest since September, Miami quarterback D’Eriq King stole the show.

King completed 31 of 41 passes for 430 yards without any turnovers and scored all five of the Hurricanes’ touchdowns. He also ran for 105 of Miami’s 189 rushing yards on 15 carries including a long run of 42 yards.

“We wanted to force him to have to throw the football to beat us,” Doeren said. “He struggled with his deep balls throughout the season. Obviously, he got better at it during the bye week because he was on the money tonight. You got to give King credit, he played a hell of a football game for them.”

The Pack was able to consistently put pressure on King, mustering two sacks and five tackles for loss, but the Miami signal caller was still able to put together a career night.

“It's pretty tough when the quarterback can run and throw, he had a good game,” NC State junior nickel Tyler Baker-Williams said. “We came out with a game plan for him and we just fell short tonight. We played hard and with lots of focus on the back end of the defense, but it happens. Tough loss tonight.”

The bye week helped several players get rested during a 13-day break from game action, but the Wolfpack was still without two of its most crucial defenders. Team captain and junior safety Tanner Ingle and sophomore linebacker Drake Thomas were both unavailable Friday night.

“Playing again without Tanner Ingle, Tyler Baker-Williams slides over and plays free safety the whole game and hasn't done that all season,” Doeren said. “We had a true freshman at nickel that struggled for us at times. It's part of the deal when you have as many DBs out as we do.”

The NC State coaching staff had a decision to make following the road loss to UNC entering the bye week. Should they start redshirt junior Bailey Hockman at quarterback or freshman Ben Finley?

Hockman was listed as the starter on the depth chart Monday and played the entirety of the game. It proved to be the right decision too.

The southpaw signal caller completed 19 of 28 passes and had a career-best 248 yards with two touchdowns.

He also caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior wide receiver Thayer Thomas on a trick play. It was on the Wolfpack’s first possession of the night and put it ahead 7-0 with 12:44 remaining in the first quarter.

“I thought he played well,” Doeren said. “He got into a good rhythm, he was seeing things, he was putting the ball where our guys can make plays. Other than the one throw he missed to Emeka [Emezie] down the left sideline, I thought he was on target for most of the night.

“A couple of times they pressured him and obviously would love for him not to take a sack, but I thought he played really hard.”

Hockman set a season-high with three all-purpose touchdowns and tied for his longest completion of 2020 on a 34-yard connection with senior wide receiver Emeka Emezie on a third-and-six situation on the opening drive of the second half which set up the Pack to take a 31-24 lead four plays later.

He added seven rushing yards on seven carries including a season-best long run of 14 yards.

“The offensive line blocked their butts off,” Hockman said. “I'm so proud of them. We just got to keep putting it together, making that one more play that we had to make. I'm proud of the guys and we just got to keep working and keep building. It's only up from here.”

Like King, Hockman entered this game with doubts about his ability to throw the deep ball. Also like King, he answered those doubts by delivering multiple impressive passes throughout the game.

He averaged a career-best 8.85 yards per attempt and five of his completions went for a gain of 20 or more yards.

“My confidence has been the same whether I play bad or play good,” Hockman said. “I try to stay at an even plane and not try to fluctuate too much.”

The most explosive play of the night came on a special teams play from sophomore running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight.

After Miami tied the game 31-31 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Knight returned a kickoff from the end zone for a 100-yard touchdown.

He joined Nyheim Hines, Tobias Palmer and T.J. Graham on a shortlist of former Wolfpack players to have returned a kick-off for 100 yards.

“It's a great feeling. They had me listed as the third-string kickoff return guy this week. Just getting out there and actually making a play like that, it was big for my confidence. I'm sure it was good for the team's confidence, especially how close the game was.

“I really shouldn't have brought it out because it was in the end zone and we normally let those go. When I did bring it out, I didn't run the correct turn. It was all instinct and just luck, honestly.”

Knight made noise on offense as well. He ran for 45 yards on 13 carries and scored a one-yard touchdown with only one shoe.

“The play prior to that, my shoe just came off,” Knight said. “We wanted to run up-tempo and tried to slide it in real quick. Bailey got set and said, 'Hurry up, hurry up," so I just tossed it and lined up. I was worried about slipping because it was a little wet but everything worked out.”

Redshirt junior kicker Christopher Dunn also had an impressive night. He made all five of his PAT attempts and two field goals from over 40 yards including a 53-yarder that put the Pack ahead by 10 points with 14:55 to go in the fourth quarter.

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