University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
NC State
UConn Gridders Challenge No. 12 NC State
9/22/2022 10:50:00 PM | Football
UConn Athletic Communications / Sept. 23, 2022
TV: YES, NESN+
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/ncsu/football/Â Â
There's quite a distance between the University of Michigan and North Carolina State – over 650 miles – but they are not that far away from each other when it comes to the Top 25 college football rankings.
The UConn football team is well-aware of both the mileage and the rankings. Fresh off a trip to No. 4 Michigan at Ann Arbor last week, the Huskies (1-3) journey to Raleigh Saturday to meet No. 12 NC State (3-0) at Carter-Finley Stadium (7:30 p.m., YES, NESN+).
"For us, it's not just about who we're playing or where we play – it's got to be about how we play," UConn head coach Jim Mora said. "More than that, it's about how we prepare, what's our mindset?"
After a decisive loss at Michigan, it might have been understandable had the Huskies spent time licking their wounds and feeling a bit sorry for themselves. Mora was not surprised that it wasn't the case.
"They've rebounded and come back with a high level of motivation and concentration," the head coach said. "They've been focused, they've worked hard. It's a very resilient group. I just don't see these guys relenting at all. It's very refreshing as a coach to be around a group of young men like that."
The Huskies will be hearing a sold-out crowd (56,919) at Carter-Finley Stadium and facing a team that is clicking on all cylinders. The Wolfpack have defeated East Carolina, Charleston Southern and Texas Tech on their way to No. 12 in the rankings. NC State is riding a 12-game home winning streak, last losing there on Nov. 6, 2020.
"Their speed an athleticism defensively just jumps out at you," Mora said. "Offensively, what stands out to me are the two running backs (Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, Jordan Houston). Those guys are special. They are really good inside and outside runners. They don't go down easy. It's the best duo we've seen so far."
In the Wolfpack's three games, Sumo-Karngbaye has rushed for 203 yards and Houston has added 138 yards. Quartreback Devin Leary has completed 48 of 81 passes for 570 yards and 5 touchdowns, with just one interception.
"The quarterback is starting to play better and better," Mora said. "He's got confidence. We have to cover him and have to cover him longer."
UConn is clearly battling the injury bug as it faces NC State. Top rusher Nate Carter (405 yards) is out with a shoulder injury, joining quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson, running back Brian Brewton and receivers Cam Ross, Keelan Marion and Nigel Fitzgerald on the sidelines. One bright spot is that running back Devontae Houston will return to the lineup after missing the game against Michigan.
Freshman quarterback Zion Turner has completed 44 of 86 passes for 390 yards and 4 touchdowns, with three interceptions. Aaron Turner has been the top receiver with 13 receptions for 163 yards.
"Coming here, I knew it wasn't going to be easy," Zion Turner said. "When you have a team that was what they were last year, it's going to be hard to turn things around. It's not going to happen the first week or the second week, it's going to take time. Now that I'm in the starting role, I've got to get the chemistry going and everything flowing."
Turner has been impressed by what he's seen of the Wolfpack defense on film.
"Those guys really fly to the ball," he said. "They play a really aggressive defense. They're coming to take our tails off. We have to be on point with our execution and our effort has to be 110 percent."
UConn and North Carolina State have played twice before, the Wolfpack winning both – 31-24 in Raleigh in 2003, and 10-7 at Rentschler Field in 2012.
"This three-game stretch that we've gone through has been really tough," Mora said. "But I haven't seen any letdown, I haven't seen any change in attitude, any change in demeanor. Nobody's hanging their heads, nobody is pointing fingers. They are all in and that's a good feeling to have as a coach."Â Â Â Â Â Â
