CHAPEL HILL– North Carolina State Head coach Dave Doeren says he understands the magnitude of the Wolfpack-Tar Heels game Saturday in Carter-Finley Stadium.

****Listen to the full interview***

Coach Dave Doeren

But Coach Doeren says his 3-4 team has been plagued by injuries all year.

“Well, we’ve dealt with a lot of adversity from an injury standpoint this year. It’s created some tough situations. Some we’ve handled well, and some we haven’t. We sit here 3-4. Obviously, we aren’t satisfied with that record or happy with it. But I am happy with way our guys continue to work,” Coach Doeren says.

One of the most dangerous weapons in the Wolfpack’s arsenal is running back Shadrach Thornton. Last week against the vaunted Florida State defense, he totaled an impressive 173 yards. But what makes Thornton so tough to bring down?

“He just plays hard. You know, he’s a guy that runs with an attitude. He’s a finisher. He’s a north and south guy. He’s not a dancer. He’s a hard guy to bring down because of that. He gets his pads down and runs behind them,” Coach Doeren says.

Coach Doeren says he wants to put the Wolfpack in position for postseason play, but a lot of those plans will hinge on the outcome of Saturday’s 12:30 kickoff against the hated UNC Tar Heels. Emotions will sure to be riding high.

“That’s the challenge. You have to be able to execute regardless of how excited you are to play, you have to execute. We talk about it a lot, but when you cross the white line, it’s going to come down to them being able to do it. […] We look forward to that opportunity to just play within ourselves and play for each other and execute the plan,” Coach Doeren says.

The Tar Heels, on the other hand, will be hoping to throw a wrench in those plans and keep their own run at the postseason intact.

 

Related Stories
‹
Tar Heels Out For Revenge Against the Wolfpack
With the ACC Coastal Division wrapped up–and a spot in the conference title game against Clemson assured—the No. 14 UNC football team has already put together its best season since 1997. It’s not over yet, though, as the Tar Heels close out the year in Raleigh against their most-hated football rivals, NC State–seeking revenge for the […]
Tar Heels Try To Tame Wolfpack In Home Finale
The North Carolina football team, 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC, closes out its regular season with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday afternoon against its rival from Raleigh – 6-5 N.C. State.
Doeren Eager To See NC State Face Game Pressure
North Carolina State is down to its final days of preparation for coach Dave Doeren's first game with the Wolfpack.
Attorney: NC State's Thornton Receiving Counseling
The attorney for North Carolina State running back Shadrach Thornton says his client is receiving counseling that could lead to the dismissal of a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female.
No. 14 UNC Imposes Its Will, Rolls to 48-21 Blowout Victory Over No. 23 NC State
The 14th-ranked UNC football team responded to its first loss of the season in a big way on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, punching the No. 23 NC State Wolfpack in the mouth with a dominant physical performance on the way to a 48-21 victory.  Although this was the first time the two rivals had met […]
Tempers Flare as NC State Pulls Out 34-28 Overtime Victory in UNC Football's Season Finale
The season came to a crashing halt for the UNC football team on Saturday at Kenan Stadium, as a postgame brawl broke out in the endzone after NC State tailback Reggie Gallaspy scored his fifth touchdown of the game in overtime to give the Wolfpack a 34-28 victory. It was an all-too-familiar feeling for the […]
Orange High Football Standout Payton Wilson Officially Flips Commitment From UNC to NC State
Orange High School football star Payton Wilson announced Friday evening that he has committed to play next year for head coach Dave Doeren at NC State. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound outside linebacker–ranked No. 3 nationally at his position by 24/7 Sports–had previously committed to play at UNC. A torn ACL prematurely ended Wilson’s high school playing […]
Hines Helps NC State Run Past UNC in Tar Heel Football Season Finale
Looking to end the season on a high note with an upset victory on the road against a bitter rival, the UNC football team simply could not find a way to stop Nyheim Hines—who ran for a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday during NC State’s 33-21 victory over the Tar Heels. UNC […]
Black Friday: UNC Football Falls 28-21 to NC State on Senior Day
As shoppers flooded the stores the day after Thanksgiving, the UNC Football team had its own version of Black Friday at Kenan Stadium—losing 28-21 to the NC State Wolfpack on Senior Day in a sloppy game that eliminated the Tar Heels from contention for the ACC Coastal Division. The most common vision of Black Friday […]
UNC Football Focused on NC State, with ACC Coastal Chances Still Alive
When the UNC football team welcomes its bitter rival—the NC State Wolfpack—into Kenan Stadium on Friday, the Tar Heels will have one final opportunity to try and play their way into the ACC Championship Game. Needing a win against State and a loss from Virginia Tech to do so, however, head coach Larry Fedora said […]
›