The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530878
TRACKING THE PACK 18 ■ THE WOLFPACKER NUMBERS AND QUOTES Sponsored by Colony Tire & Service www.colonytire.com 4 Appearances by NC State in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament after the Wolfpack received an at-large bid to this year's tourney. It was the Pack's first invitation since 2017, coming on the heels of a late-year surge in which the team won four of its last six regular-season matches, including a 3-2 road upset of 10th-ranked SMU on Nov. 30. NC State finished the season with a 16- 13 record after falling to Florida, 3-0, on Dec. 6 in the tournament's first round. " These kids just get up and fight — these grown men get up and fight — and I'm proud of them. Every time [UNC] made a play on their sideline, we responded with a play on our sideline." — Football coach Dave Doeren on NC State's 35-30 win over North Carolina, a game in which the Wolfpack rallied for the decisive touchdown in the final minute to earn its fourth consecutive victory over the Tar Heels " I truly believe that God gives you the desires of your heart. I've always wanted to be a head coach. I put it on my heart that I want to be the head coach here one day, but it takes steps. I'm here where I'm at now because of that." — Football assistant Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay following his promotion from nickels coach to interim defensive coordinator after Tony Gibson left to become head coach at Marshall 77.9 Payton Wilson's overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus through the first 14 weeks of the NFL season. Wilson, who was drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers last April, had the seventh-best grade of any linebacker in the league with 350 or more snaps. In addition, his 7 percent missed tackle rate was eighth-best in the league. 6.7 Yards per carry by redshirt fresh- man running back HOLLYWOOD SMOTHERS in NC State's last four games of the regular season. Smothers gained 275 of his 432 rushing yards in that four-game span against Stanford, Duke, Geor- gia Tech and North Carolina. Five days after rushing for 83 yards and scoring the winning touchdown against the Tar Heels, Smothers announced that he plans to return to the Pack in 2025. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL PHOTO BY TAYLOR OLLASON/COURTESY PITTSBURGH STEELERS