Last week, the Pack defeated an ECU Pirates team perhaps undeserving of its #15 ranking.
This week State got spanked 41-10 by a 13-ranked South Florida team that looked every bit the part.
Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe unleashed a surgical strike on the Nate Irving-less Pack defense, carving them up for 20-of-29 passing, posting 31 points in the first half alone.
How's this for a stat: The Bulls had more first downs (29) than the Pack had rushing attempts (27). The two numbers were intertwined closely, as State had no choice but to wing the ball around the field while playing catch-up the entire game.
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Harrison Beck only completed nine of his 32 pass attempts for 239 yards, which--another crazy stat--was an absurd 26.6 yards per completion. In that stat is the essence of Beck; the name of his game is bombs galore, some that connect but many that don't, or do so to the opposing team. His three picks against the Bulls only worsened his atrocious interception-to-TD ratio against BCS opponents: 12 to zero. Yikes.
The weather decided to play a part in the game, as an unexpected torrential rain lead to two safeties when snaps squirted over the heads over Beck and punter Bradley Pierson. It also cleared out the majority of the stadium, as folks unprepared for the rain decided it wasn't worth a good soaking to see the Pack get its lunch money taken.
In a day of upsets, the Pack was not to join the ranks of spoilers. State was outgunned and overmatched the entire game, missing its quarterback and best defensive player. From here the Pack will try to regroup and prepare for Boston College, a team with something to prove to its former coach.
Welcome to the meat of the schedule.
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