Three things we learned about NC State football team in its 27-14 win over Texas Tech

Earlier in the week, N.C. State coach Dave Doeren wore a red T-shirt for practice with “GRIND” on the front.

In a way, it was a way of previewing how the game Saturday might go against Texas Tech. The No. 16 Wolfpack won, 27-14, but it was more a grind than a display of grand football.

The Pack offense played in fits and starts as quarterback Devin Leary continues to try and get in rhythm with his wide receivers. The Wolfpack did have one touchdown pass in the game — from slot receiver Thayer Thomas to running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye in the fourth quarter.

Most of the style points this night belonged to the Wolfpack defense: three interceptions, four sacks and allowing the Red Raiders to convert just two of 12 third-down plays.

Make it a 12th straight win at Carter-Finley Stadium, impressive in itself, and 3-0 start for the Pack. Make it a close win over East Carolina, blowout against Charleston Southern and now a hard-earned victory over a quality Power Five team from the Big 12 Conference in the Red Raiders (2-1).

What was learned about the Pack in the third game? Here are three things:

Payton Wilson can go the distance

The Wolfpack linebacker has had a string of injuries that could make the toughest of men quit the sport, but he can’t give it up. He loves football too much, loves his teammates, the program, the school.

Wilson, the ACC’s leading tackler in 2020, was injured in the opener against ECU a few weeks ago. He came out in uniform for the pregame warmup against Charleston Southern, but slipped into street clothes and did not play in the game, leaving some to wonder when — or if — he could make it through a game.

But Wilson was there Saturday, filling gaps, running down Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith, dropping into coverage, getting in on plays. By game’s end, No. 11 had a team-high 10 tackles.

“It’s a huge deal and I think the whole locker room is super happy for Payton and he was ear-to-ear smiling,” Doeren said.

Doeren has said because of all his injuries Wilson has had to adjust to a new normal, physically. He’s doing it and Saturday was another step.

“It was awesome, truly awesome,” Wilson said. “I haven’t played ball in a year and a half and just getting my confidence back and my mental back and being able to play a whole game without my body hurting, I mean I went through a lot to get where I am today.”

Sumo-Karngbaye is resilient

It wasn’t the kind of mistake any player wants to make — certainly not in a big game, with a national audience. It also was the kind of mistake that can deflate a guy the rest of a game.

But the Pack’s Sumo-Karngbaye refused to let a third-quarter fumble a foot or two from the goal line — a touchback after the ball bounced through the end zone — defeat him.

Doeren said he soon found Sumo-Karngbaye on the bench, his head drooping because of the fumble, caused when he was stripped from behind after grabbing a Leary pass.

Doeren said his coach-to-player conversation went: “You need to make up for that. You’re going to get a chance and when you get it you need to help the team because you let us down right there. You can. You go out there and be a difference-maker.”

Sumo-Karngbaye did. Thomas found him open for a 38-yard TD score, Sumo-Karngbaye saying he momentarily lost track of the ball in the lights but latched on to it.

“I thanked him after it and he thanked me for having his back,” Doeren said.

Backing up the bravado

Aydan White didn’t exactly say “Bring it” this week in talking about the Texas Tech passing attack, but the Pack cornerback didn’t turn to the standard football cliches, either.

“It’s a secondary’s dream to have a team that passes a lot,” White said Tuesday, four days ahead of the Pack’s game against Texas Tech. “You have more opportunities to make plays.”

And White made plays. He picked off two passes, going 84 yards on the first for a touchdown. Jakeen Harris had a third pick for the Pack.

“That’s a DB’s dream right there,” a smiling Smith said of the 84-yard pick, using that “dream” word again.