The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER However, the edge goes to Finley, who delivered in the rivalry game, ar- guably the most important contest on the schedule. Finley completed 27 of 40 passes for 271 yards and 2 touch- downs without turning it over against the Heels. He also outdueled his North Carolina counterpart, ACC Player of the Year Drake Maye (29-of-49 passing for 233 yards, with a TD pass and an inter- ception). Individual Defensive Performance Of The Year Third-year sophomore cornerback Aydan White was so impressive in the 27-14 win over Texas Tech that he was named the Walter Camp National De- fensive Player of the Week for his per- formance. White had 5 tackles, including a sack, but his 2-interception performance stood out. That included an 84-yard pick-six, the longest interception re- turn for a score at NC State since 2001. The last Wolfpack player to be named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week had been former linebacker Nate Irving in 2010. Top Three Offensive Plays Of The Year 1. Super senior receiver Thayer Thomas' 35-yard score versus Vir- ginia Tech. On a play that might have saved the NC State football season, Thomas hauled in a perfectly thrown pass from Morris in stride inside the 5-yard line and did the little that was left for the score. That play would spark the comeback from down 21-3 to a 22-21 victory. 2. Thomas' 75-yard touchdown catch versus Connecticut. On the game's first play, Thomas, who was on the outside of the Connecticut cor- nerback, cut inside the UConn DB and leaped up to make the catch at the Hus- kies' 40-yard line, and he then sprinted away from four defenders for the touch- down. 3. Sophomore running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye's 22-yard run ver- sus East Carolina. The play did not re- sult in a touchdown, but Sumo-Karng- baye was touched nine times by Pirates defenders attempting to tackle him be- fore finally going down at the 1-yard line. Top Three Defensive Plays Of The Year 1. Third-year sophomore Devan Boykin's pick versus Florida State. NC State had rallied from down 17-3 at halftime to lead 19-17 in the fourth quarter, but the Seminoles were driving for a potential late score. The problem FSU faced was that kicker Ryan Fitzger- ald was in a slump, and Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell could not afford to play for a field goal. With the football just inside the NC State 23-yard line and 44 seconds left, the 'Noles stayed aggressive. However, Boykin had a read on the pass all the way and intercepted FSU quarterback Jordan Travis in the end zone with 38 seconds left. 2. Super senior Tanner Ingle's interception at North Carolina. NC State had controlled the rivalry show- down for almost the entire game, but UNC was threatening to steal the con- test late. After tying the score at 17-17, the Heels got the ball back at their 27-yard line with about five minutes left. On the second play of the possession, Drake Thomas pressured Maye into a hurried pass that was deflected by third-year sophomore defensive lineman Davin Vann at the line. Ingle then leaped over UNC tight end Kamari Morales for a juggling one-handed interception at the 29-yard line with 4:46 left. That play set up a Finley touchdown pass to fifth-year redshirt junior receiver Devin Carter for a go-ahead score. 3. White's pick-six versus Texas Tech. Already mentioned previously, White's interception returned to the house was the seventh-longest pick- six in program history. Offensive Breakout Player Of The Year Prior to this season, fourth-year red- shirt sophomore tackle Timothy McKay had never started a game. He briefly continued his role from 2021 as a top reserve for the first three weeks of the season before he was inserted into the starting lineup for the final nine games at right tackle. McKay went on to lead the NC State offensive line in pancake blocks and was named honorable mention All-ACC. Defensive Breakout Player Of The Year White was another player who was expected to be a reserve at the outset of the season with the return of the pri- mary 2021 starting cornerback duo — fourth-year redshirt sophomore Shy- heim Battle and super senior Derrek Pitts Jr. However, White started 10 contests and led all ACC cornerbacks in inter- ceptions with 4, earning first-team all-conference honors in the process. He became the first Wolfpack corner- back to be named All-ACC since David Amerson was a second-team choice in 2012. Best Interview Who will forget the quote that NC State head coach Dave Doeren relayed to Dave Pasch, the ABC play-by-play an- nouncer who had the call for the Wolf- pack's rivalry showdown with North Carolina: "They don't like us. We hate them. We are blue-collared. They are elitists. Their coaches talk down to us. They talk behind our backs recruiting negatively against our coaching staff." ■ Super senior receiver Thayer Thomas was responsible for two of the top offensive plays of the year — touchdowns of 35 and 70 yards against Virginia Tech and UConn, respectively. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP