Presbyterian vs. NC State by the numbers: That's a lot of time for a lot of nothing

Box Score

(Yds/carry stats are calculated after removing sacks from the equation.)

For a game that ended with such a decisive result, it was pretty weird. Presbyterian was outstanding on third downs, converting on eight of 17 opportunities, and as I mentioned yesterday, the Wolfpack's time of possession was only about 22 minutes.

Presbyterian scored zero points and averaged a paltry 3.6 yards per play, yet the Blue Hose offense was on the field for a huge portion of the game. Those realities feel bizarrely mismatched, even with PC's success on third downs. Thirty-eight minutes of possession implies a certain level of success offensively that Presbyterian never approached.

The Hose had two drives of 7+ minutes and 14+ plays, but both ended with squandered scoring chances. They also had an eight-play drive that lasted 5:32 but covered only 30 yards. I imagine every member of that offense is in the midst of an existential crisis right about now.

Only one of Presbyterian's plays went for more than 20 yards, so basically the Hose were just kinda ... out there ... you know, hangin' out and stuff. Strolling around the midfield region to no concrete end. You could make a case that they should have been fined for loitering.

State's time of possession heading into the fourth quarter was 13:11. Strange, strange game in that regard. I don't know how to go about finding the record for highest time of possession in a scoreless effort, but Presbyterian has got to be up there after Saturday.