Harvey Dyson wasn’t supposed to be the guy who saved NC State from another painful fourth-quarter swing. But when Louisville’s Keyjuan Brown broke loose and looked ready to turn a 60-yard run into a go-ahead touchdown, Dyson chased him down from behind and ripped the ball free before the Cards could finish the job.
That play became the night’s defining moment, and Dave Doeren didn’t hide how much it meant.
“I thought Harvey Dyson’s pursuit forced fumble was one of the best plays I’ve seen as a coach in my career,” NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren said after the game.
Dyson finished with 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble that drew praise from everyone around him. Doeren said, “[Dyson] played like a guy that just won’t let the team lose,” and added, “You run a kid down like that as a defensive edge player and rip the football out, I mean, what an unbelievable play by Harvey Dyson.”
Even Popo Aguirre, NC State’s captain at linebacker and ACC Linebacker of the Week, was quick to single Dyson out.
“Harvey’s a dog,” Aguirre said after the game. “I’m just extremely happy for him. A big-time player in a big-time game.”
For Doeren, the play wasn’t some random burst of effort. He tied it directly to how Dyson works during the week.
“I remember running up to him and telling him I knew this was going to happen. He practices hard all the time,” Agguire said. “Now that he is consistently making more plays for us, I’ve seen him, especially at practice, demanding more from the guys and helping them understand the level of play they need to come to practice with,” Doeren said.
Dyson’s impact has been building since his arrival in Raleigh as a former Tulane transfer. Last season, he led the entire American Conference with 8 sacks. He also finished among the top three in the American in forced fumbles with 2 and tackles for loss with 12.
That edge has carried over to NC State. Through five games this season, Dyson has 11 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
Doeren said Dyson’s voice has grown louder in the locker room and around the team, too.
“Harvey’s really picked up his leadership here in the last two weeks,” Doeren said. “I’m proud of him starting to use his voice.”
He also explained the way Dyson has had to earn that influence.
“When you’re a new guy, you haven’t done anything yet,” Doeren said. “Even though you’re a good player at your previous school, you feel like you got to put it on film before you have that voice.”
And in the biggest moment of the game, Dyson put it on film in a hurry.
“This defense will need to elevate its play if it expects to win more games in the ACC, but with a player like Dyson, “It says that he’s all in,” Doeren said.
Doeren was blunt about the turnover itself, too, saying, “That wasn’t his play to make. Our linebackers and safeties are supposed to fit those gaps, and they didn’t, twice, Doeren said.
“But he made the play for us, and that’s what team players do. They find a way.”
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Wake Forest Has The Firepower To Test NC State Saturday
Wake Forests offense has enough established playmakers to make Saturday a meaningful test for NC State, starting with senior quarterback Gio Lopez and senior wideout Carlos Hernandez. Lopez has settled in as the centerpiece of the attack, while Hernandez has been one of the leagues more productive pass catchers and a reliable chain-mover. Add in the balance provided by the rest of the roster, and the Demon Deacons arrive with a group that has been good enough this season to demand full attention from a Wolfpack defense trying to keep pace in ACC play.
The challenge for NC State goes beyond just the obvious names on offense. Wake Forest also has defenders making noise, including linebacker Firenze, defensive end Langston Hardy and safety Davaughn Patterson, each of whom has contributed to a unit that has shown improvement and climbed into the mix in conference rankings. For the Wolfpack, the matchup is a reminder that this is not simply about containing one side of the ball. Wake Forest has enough firepower on both ends to turn Saturday into a real evaluation of where NC State stands. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Has A Defensive Problem Wake Forest Could Expose
NC State got the result it needed against Louisville, finally picking up its first ACC win of the season, but the film left a lot to sort through. The Wolfpack survived a 31-28 finish in part because they forced three turnovers, yet the defense also missed 23 tackles, the most in a game this season, and Louisville made them pay on the ground with 231 rushing yards on just 25 carries.
That kind of breakdown is hard to ignore with Wake Forest next on the schedule. The Deacons will look at the same tape and see opportunities, especially if NC States tackling remains uneven at the second level and in space, where Louisville repeatedly found extra yardage from Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown. The win bought the Wolfpack some breathing room, but it did not erase a defensive issue that could become much more dangerous if it lingers another week. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Faces A Real Test Against Wake Forest's Hottest Threat
Wake Forest heads into its rivalry matchup with NC State riding a stretch that has put quarterback Gio Lopez squarely in the spotlight. He was a key factor in the Demon Deacons recent success, including a strong outing against Stanford, and his play has helped give Wake Forest a steadier offensive identity as it works through the ups and downs that usually define this stage of the season.
For the Wolfpack, that makes this game a meaningful early measuring stick. Both programs have shown strengths and weaknesses, and coaches on each side have already pointed to the competitiveness of the matchup as the central theme. With Lopez playing at a high level and NC State trying to sort out its own answers, this rivalry has the feel of a game where every possession could matter. [Read more 🡒]