(11-22-2020 10:54 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(11-21-2020 11:25 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(11-21-2020 11:16 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I did not see the NCST vs. Liberty game.

LU will likely fall out of the top 25 but I give the program full credit: The progress made in only a few seasons ... strong.

It was a close, hard-fought game throughout. Statistically about even. The game turned on three plays in the fourth quarter:

1) With Liberty up 14-7 early in the fourth, an NC State punt backed Liberty up at their own 3 yard line. Liberty tried a delayed draw and the runner was swarmed under in the end zone for a Safety, making the score 14-9. Truthfully, the runner probably got the ball out of the end zone such that it should not have been a safety, but sadly, the replay didn't have a down-the-goal-line shot for some reason which would have been conclusive, so the call stood.

As an aside, that was the first Safety NC State had scored in 10 years and 1 day, since a November 20, 2010 game vs North Carolina.

2) With about 9 minutes left and facing 3rd and long from their own 20, the Liberty QB threw an ill-advised out pattern and it was intercepted, giving State the ball at the Liberty 26. That set State up for the TD that put them up 15-14 (they missed on the 2-point try).

3) Liberty drove the ball to the State 23 yard line and with a 1:20 to go they attempted a FG that would have put them ahead 17-15, but it was blocked.

Game over.

How did NCState look, Quo? I have not seen the Pack this year and loosely root for them (sister attended).

They looked pretty good. Tough and physical. They came in to the game 5-3 against an all-ACC schedule, including having played Pitt, Miami and UNC, so a pretty tough schedule. And they were clearly motivated to play Liberty. I know, that sounds weird rolling off the tongue, but they were prepared like they were playing a ranked team, which they were.

Liberty also acquitted themselves well. NC State clearly recruits better athletes, but Liberty slugged it out toe to toe and should have won.