The offense continued to struggle as the Miami football team lost 20-6 at North Carolina State on Saturday night. Miami drops to 6-3 overall and 2-3 in the ACC with the loss. The Hurricanes won most of the stat battles but their inability to convert on third down and in the red zone was the difference in the game.
Tyler Van Dyke continued to struggle. Van Dyke completed 17 passes in 33 attempts for 146 yards, with no touchdowns, three interceptions and a lost fumble on the Miami nine that led to a North Carolina State field goal. The Miami football team was dominant defensively for most of the second half.
North Carolina State gained five total yards on their first three drives of the second half as Miami forced three consecutive three-and-outs. Trailing 10-6, Miami had a 12-play 72-yard drive in 7:35 that ended when North Carolina State stopped Mark Fletcher on fourth and one from the three-yard line.
North Carolina State responded with an eight-play, 97-yard drive in 4:44 to essentially put the game away with 5:03 remaining. Kendrick Raphael ran 31 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 17-6 when Miami failed to wrap him up. NC State finished with 108 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Miami held North Carolina State to 231 yards. North Carolina State gained 169 yards on its two TD drives. The Wolfpack did enough to win. Miami had one field goal, an interception thrown by Van Dyke and the stop on downs in its three red zone trips. North Carolina State had a TD and two FGS in three red zone trips.
The Miami football team had six trips inside the North Carolina State 30 with two field goals, the stop on downs and three interceptions thrown by Van Dyke. Miami finished four for 15 on third-down conversions. The Hurricanes entered the game 20th nationally converting 45.74 of their third down conversions.
North Carolina State quarterback M.J. Morris completed 11 passes in 21 attempts for 123 yards with one TD and one interception. North Carolina State star receiver KC Concepcion had six carries for 22 yards and five receptions for 61 yards to account for 35.9 percent of North Carolina State’s yards.
Miami will travel to 9-0 and fourth-ranked Florida State next week. The Seminoles have won two straight games versus the Hurricanes. Florida State has already clinched a berth in the ACC Championship game. Louisville who Miami hosts in two weeks has the inside track for the other ACC Championship game berth.